Just when you think it couldn't get much worse...
COLLEGE PARK // Maryland senior guard Chris McCray, the Terps' leading scorer and one of their top defenders, has been declared academically ineligible and will miss the rest of the season, the university announced Monday.
The spring semester officially begins Wednesday, the same day the Terps will tip off in an ESPN-televised game at 7 p.m. against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
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"I'd first like to apologize to my family, teammates and coaches for not meeting NCAA standards, but I'll continue to pursue my criminal justice degree," McCray said in a release issued Monday afternoon by the athletic department. "I'll learn from this experience and look forward to becoming very productive in life and as a student here at Maryland."
Athletic director Debbie Yow said Maryland will continue to pay for McCray's scholarship and he will be enrolled in classes during the spring semester.
To be remain academically eligible, a student-athlete's grade point average must not fall below 2.0. The university declined to release details of McCray's case, citing the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act.
McCray led Maryland this season with an average of 15.2 points and averaged 3.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals. He also was an 89.7-percent free-throw shooter.
He started 15 games, came off the bench in another because he was late for a team meeting and missed one with an ankle injury.
Last summer, McCray was arrested in College Park after allegedly refusing to leave the scene of a fight. He was charged with resisting arrest and two other misdemeanor counts, but the charges were dropped in October after he completed 20 hours of community service as part of a diversion program.
On the court, McCray's absence undoubtedly will take its toll on a team that had to adjust its lineup heading into the season, after former point guard John Gilchrist left school early to pursue a professional career.
"It's tough to minimize it, because you're talking about 15.5 points, a guy who has played in a lot of important games over 3 1/2 years and is a captain," said Chris Knoche, a former player and coach at American University who is in his seventh season as the analyst for the Terps' radio broadcasts.
"There's really no way to sugarcoat it, but it's like if Chris had been injured. You have to have faith and confidence in the way you've recruited and the way you've developed players. While you feel badly about the events, it's opportunity time for [Sterling] Ledbetter and Mike Jones. There are a lot of guys who are itching to play."
The news came at a time when junior point guard D.J. Strawberry has a touch of the flu, sophomore forward James Gist hasn't been feeling well and senior forward Travis Garrison is facing charges of second-degree assault and fourth-degree sex offense for an incident that allegedly occurred in late October in a College Park bar.
Maryland coach Gary Williams was not available for follow-up questions Monday. He has experimented with his lineup this season, at times interchanging Ledbetter and Parrish Brown at point guard and moving Strawberry to the wing. The Terps also might use more zone because McCray was probably their best on-ball defender.
"Anytime this happens at a point in the season where roles have been defined and you've got some continuity, it's an issue," said Jay Bilas, a college basketball analyst for ESPN. "Somebody else is going to have to step into his place. How they respond is obviously going to be the most important thing.
"It hurts," Bilas added, "but there's nothing set in stone as to whether they're going to go to the NIT or the NCAA tournament. There's a lot of basketball left to play."
McCray, a native of Capitol Heights, has attended summer school since he has been at Maryland and was not on academic probation. His high school coach, George Wake, said he was surprised to hear the news.
"He was a solid C student, C-plus student," Wake said of McCray's grades at Fairmont Heights High School. "He never told me of any problems. I talk to him off and on as much as I can."
According to NCAA rules, McCray is allowed to practice, but he is not allowed to play in games or travel with the squad. That officially made Saturday's 81-72 win over Virginia Tech the last game of his collegiate career. McCray finished with 21 points, two assists and two steals, and he shot 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Now, the Terps head to Atlanta for the first of two road games this week, as they will face Temple in a non-conference game Saturday. Maryland (13-4, 3-2 ACC) is looking for its first ACC road win this season in three tries. Knoche said the loss of McCray isn't reason enough to assume Maryland is back on the path to the National Invitation Tournament.
"I don't think it's time to throw in the towel at all," Knoche said. "This is when you realize the value of having Gary Williams as your coach. Not only will he not let you throw in the towel, he's going to come out punching."
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