KAEO: Chaz Williams

[MJatUM]

That's why I said someone and not I will...

I agree with you completely.

[UMass87]

Sound like a job for IV.

[chdavis295]

He did not

[UMass1991]

Speaking of Chaz, does anyone else find it interesting that we are reading comments from the players that the mentality and the comaraderie is much better this year than last when some had other interests in regards to themselves. Seems brotherhood wasn't all that strong last year. Why I am posting this here, well, to me, I think the guys are talking about Chaz and are kind of glad he is gone.

[Roadtrip]

It is probably impossible to play D1 ball at Chaz's size without having considerable ego. There were times when this got in the way of Chaz playing team ball, but that comes with package. Part of me will miss the speedy little guy, but my calm, rational side will welcome a more controlled offense.

[UMass87]

I think the trashing of Chaz re chemistry is occurring in another thread.

[Swampy]

CW was one of the best point guards to ever play at UMass, period.

[Floridafan71]

Agreed,one of best UMASS point guards ever.Three years that wouldnot have been the same with anyone else.
Back to tourney after how many years!

[MikeUMA]

Little bombshell from Jeff Goodman:

UMass will miss Chaz Williams' toughness, ability to make a play at any point. However, team chemistry should be vastly improved.

https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/ ... 0885508096

For a team whose mantra was Brotherhood, this was a bit surprising to see. Would love to hear his thoughts on this, off the record.

[DKera]

^
I think there was somewhat of a disconnect between Chaz and the rest of the team for the last two seasons, at least. From what I remember, there was some tension between Chaz and Terrell Vinson towards the end of the 2012-13 season....not only does Goodman's comment not surprise me, I think it kind of confirms what a lot of people believed regarding the team chemistry over the last couple years.

Obviously it doesn't need to be stated again and again what Chaz did for this program. Whether or not he is the best point guard in team history (I think he is, others may disagree), there is no question he is primarily responsible for reviving the program over the past three years.

At the same time, I am interested to see if/how the team chemistry improves without Chaz's dominant personality this season, and how that translates in terms of the team's play on the court.

[NilesGold]

I think it's important to note that even if the team chemistry does turn out to be better this year, that shouldn't necessarily reflect poorly on Chaz. Chaz was a big personality, he received far and away the most recognition/accolades of any UMass player over the previous 3 years. Maybe his teammates became envious. Maybe Chaz got a little carried away with being in the spotlight and it rubbed teammates the wrong way. Regardless, it doesn't make him a bad person or player, but it is entirely possible that the team will have better chemistry and perform better this year despite, or even because of, Chaz' departure.

[MJatUM]

I love how people feel the need to defend Chaz as one of the best PG in school history in response to people's claims that maybe he was egotistical and/or not the best teammate/leader. The two are not mutually exclusive. It might not even be all Chaz's fault either.. The team might as well have been U-Chaz the way it was covered nationally last year.

[NilesGold]

^ Did someone actually refer to Sean Carter as a cancer? I do remember Chaz making comments about Vinson, or what we assumed to be in reference to Vinson, but I don't recall all that much being made of it. Certainly the numerous reports this year in reference to chemistry are more than I can ever remember from previous years.

[njumass08]

Woah. That's quite a swipe.

[MikeUMA]

^
We're on this in the 2014-15 thread.