Maryland Rides Three-Game Streak Into Palestra

Transcription

1 Contact: Kevin Messenger (phone) (fax) Men s Basketball Notes December 7, Maryland Rides Three-Game Streak Into Palestra COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins, ranked No. 17 in this week s USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, carry a three-game win streak into Saturday evening s game against defending Ivy League champion Penn. The Game Facts and Coverage Gm. 8 Maryland at Pennsylvania Date: Saturday, Dec. 9, Time: 7:30 p.m. Site: The Palestra (8,700) TV: Live regional telecast on HTS. (Jon Gurevitch, play-by-play; Jim Lynam, color) Radio: All Maryland games are carried live on the Maryland/Learfield Radio Network. Flagship stations are WBAL (1090-AM) in Baltimore and WMAL (630-AM) in Washington, D.C. Pregame show 30 minutes prior to tipoff. (Johnny Holliday, play-by-play; Chris Knoche, color) umterps.com: Maryland sports news on the World Wide Web, updated daily. Terps, 4-3 and winners last Wednesday night over Stony Brook, enter Saturday s bout with the Quakers with a string of seven consecutive games holding opponents to 40.7 percent shooting or less. In each of the last four games, Maryland opponents have failed to shoot better than 37.9 percent. In winning their third straight game on Wednesday, the Terps got 19 points apiece from a trio of hot shooters as Lonny Baxter (8 of 10), Juan Dixon (6 of 12) and Byron Mouton (6 of 7) combined to blister the nets for 69 percent shooting. As a team, Maryland shot 54 percent to Stony Brook s 36. Maryland blocked 12 shots and recorded 20 steals while limiting the Seawolves starters to just 13 of 39 shooting in the runaway win. The victory was Maryland s nation s-leading 72nd consecutive home win over a non-conference opponent. Point guard Steve Blake contributed a career-high 13 assists with four steals. Terence Morris scored 12 points including a 6-for-6 effort at the charity stripe where Maryland shot 82.8 percent overall. At the historic and tradition-filled Palestra, Maryland battles a Penn team that is coached by former Gary Williams assistant Fran Dunphy, now in his 12th season as head coach of the Quakers. Dunphy served under Williams while the pair coached together at American University for two seasons ( and ) in which the Eagles combined for 45 wins and advanced to a pair of NIT appearances. Terps, Quakers And History At The Palestra The Palestra is billed as the most storied gymnasium in the history of collegiate basketball. First used in 1927, The Palestra has hosted more games, more visiting teams and more NCAA tournaments than any other facility. Maryland has been one of those visiting teams 13 times, but it s first made history. The Terps, on Feb. 9, 1927, became the first visiting team ever to beat Penn at The Palestra, knocking off the Quakers just one month after the first game ever played there, Penn vs. Yale on New Year s Day. Since that time, Maryland lost 12 straight to the Quakers at The Palestra between 1928 and Penn has never played in College Park and the only other time the teams have met was on Jan. 21, 1997 when the Terps won a neutral-site game, , at Baltimore Arena. -01 Maryland Terrapins Roster Head Coach: Gary Williams (Maryland 68) / 12th year at Maryland ( , ACC) / 23rd year overall ( ) Probable Starters (G-GS) Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG Notes G/F 1 Byron Mouton (7-3) Jr. Rayne, La Shot 14 of 19 in his last two games F 44 Terence Morris (7-7) Sr. Frederick, Md Multiple blocked shots in six games this season C 35 Lonny Baxter (7-7) Jr. Silver Spring, Md pts, 8-10 FG, 7 rebs, 5 steals vs. Stony Brook G 3 Juan Dixon (7-7) Jr. Baltimore, Md th in Terp history with 91 career 3FGs G 25 Steve Blake (7-7) So. Miami Lakes, Fla Career-high 13 assists vs. Stony Brook Terp Reserves (G-GS) Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG Notes G 12 Drew Nicholas (7-0) So. Hempstead, N.Y Back-up point guard leads Terps with FGs C 33 Mike Mardesich (7-0) Sr. Boston, Mass Co-captain, 108 consecutive games played F 54 Chris Wilcox (6-0) Fr. Raleigh, N.C pts, team-high 8 rebs vs. Stony Brook F 45 Tahj Holden (7-0) So. Red Bank, N.J Nine rebs, five blocks in 32 min. at BB&T Classic F 15 Danny Miller (7-4) Jr. Mt. Holly, N.J One of nine players averaging over 10 mpg F 21 LaRon Cephas (4-0) Sr. Wilmington, Del Increased minutes in each of three years G 11 Calvin McCall (2-0) So. Miami, Fla Pair of 3FGs vs. Stony Brook were first of career C 40 Matt Slaninka (0-0) Fr. Hyattsville, Md Played at DeMatha HS * indicates blocks per game MARYLAND (4-3, 0-0 ACC) N20 1 [6/6] v. Louisville-ESPN... W N21 1 [6/6] v. [8/8] Illinois-ESPN... L N22 1 [6/6] v. Dayton... L N29 2 [13/14] v. [23/23] Wisconsin-ESPN... L ot D2 3 [13/14] v. Michigan-WDCA... W D3 3 [13/14] v. Geo. Washington-WDCA... W D6 [19/17] Stony Brook... W D9 [19/17] at Penn-HTS... 7:30 p.m. D13 Md.-Baltimore County... 8 p.m. D23 Norfolk State-HTS... 1:30 p.m. D27 Chicago State... 8 p.m. D30 Md.-Eastern Shore-HTS... 1:30 p.m. J2 * at Clemson-RJ... 8 p.m. J6 * Georgia Tech-RJ... 1:30 p.m. J10 * North Carolina-ESPN... 7 p.m. J14 * at Florida State-RJ... 1:30 p.m. J17 * Wake Forest-ESPN... 9 p.m. J21 * at NC State-ABC... 3:30 p.m. J27 * Duke-ESPN... 8 p.m. J31 * at Virginia-ESPN... 9 p.m. F4 * Clemson-RJ... 1 p.m. F6 * at Georgia Tech-HTS... 7 p.m. F10 * at North Carolina-CBS... 1 p.m. F14 * Florida State-RJ... 9 p.m. F17 * at Wake Forest-RJ/ESPN2... 1:30 p.m. F20 * NC State-RJ... 8 p.m. F24 Oklahoma-ABC... 3:30 p.m. F27 * at Duke-RJ... 8 p.m. M3 * Virginia-CBS... 2 p.m. M at ACC Tournament-RJ/ESPN.. TBA [ ] indicate gametime AP and USA Today/ESPN rankings * Atlantic Coast Conference game 1 Maui Invitational at Lahaina, Hawaii 2 ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Milwaukee, Wisc. (Bradley Center) 3 BB&T Classic at Washington, D.C. (MCI Center) 4 ACC Tournament at Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome) -01 ACC Standings ACC Overall Teams W L Pct. W L Pct. Duke Wake Forest Virginia Clemson NC State Ga. Tech No. Carolina MARYLAND Florida State Saturday, December 9 Kentucky vs. Georgia Tech, Delta Classic, Philips Arena (ESPN), Noon Georgia vs. NC State, Delta Classic, Atlanta, Ga. (FSNS- HTS), 2:30 Florida State at Vanderbilt (FSNS-SUN), 5:00 Clemson at South Carolina (FSNS-SUN), 7:00 Maryland at Penn (HTS), 7:30 North Carolina at Texas A&M (FSNS), 9:00 Michigan at Duke (ESPN), 9:00 Wednesday, December 13 UMBC at Maryland, 8:00 Saturday, December 16 New Hampshire at NC State, 2:00 Wofford at Clemson, 4:00 Georgia at Wake Forest (RJ), 8:00 Sunday, December 17 Jacksonville at Florida State (SUN), 1:00 Buffalo (SUNY) at North Carolina (RJ), 1:30

2 MARYLAND at Pennsylvania HEAD COACH GARY WILLIAMS A three-time National Coach of the Year finalist and the 10th-winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, Gary Williams (Maryland 68) is in his 12th season as head coach of his alma mater. He has transformed the Maryland program into one of the nation s most formidable, and has built a following that has consistently resulted in sellout crowds at Cole Field House. A former Terrapins point guard, Williams was a starter under coach Bud Millikan during the 1965, 1966 and 1967 seasons. He was the team captain as a senior. As the Maryland coach, Williams has produced more than 20 wins in five of his last six seasons. Williams is the 29th-winningest active coach in America with 428 wins. Williams, at Maryland, boasts a overall record which includes four years at American ( ), four at Boston College ( ) and three at Ohio State ( ). In his 23rd season as a Division I head coach, Williams has coached in 10 NCAA Tournaments and guided six different teams to the NCAA Sweet 16. He has guided teams to the NCAA Tournament at each of his four coaching stops, and is the only coach in America to direct programs in each of the ACC, Big Ten and Big East conferences. Williams is one of six 400-win coaches who now engineer the programs at their respective alma maters (Jerry Tarkanian, Fresno State; Lou Henson, New Mexico State; Gale Catlett, West Virginia; Larry Hunter, Ohio). He notched his 400th win with a season-opening win over San Francisco on Nov. 17, He recorded his 200th victory at Maryland during a win over No. 23 Kentucky one month later. Williams, in the ACC, needs 11 ACC victories to become the ninth coach overall and the second from Maryland (Lefty Driesell) ever to reach 100 wins in the league. ACC Coaching Victories All Games 1. Dean Smith, North Carolina Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech Charles Lefty Driesell, Maryland Terry Holland, Virginia Norman Sloan, NC State Frank McGuire, UNC & USC Dave Odom, Wake Forest Carl Tacy, Wake Forest Gary Williams, Maryland ACC Coaching Victories ACC Games 1. Dean Smith, North Carolina Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Frank McGuire, UNC & USC Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech Charles Lefty Driesell, Maryland Terry Holland, Virginia Vic Bubas, Duke Norman Sloan, NC State Bud Millikan, Maryland Dave Odom, Wake Forest Gary Williams, Maryland Everett Case, NC State A Terrapin Win Sends the Terps onto a four-game win streak, their longest of the season. Would be the Terps first at the Palestra since 1927 when Maryland earned distinction as the first team ever to beat Penn at its new home (26-21 on Feb. 9, 1927). Is the 79th victory for Maryland s senior class of Mike Mardesich, Terence Morris and LaRon Cephas. Mardesich has played in every victory, Morris in 77. Rankings Maryland is No. 19 and 17, respectively, in the AP and USA Today/ESPN polls of Nov. 26. Penn is unranked. Records Maryland is 4-3 following its win over Stony Brook and its championship in the BB&T Classic. Maryland posted an semifinal victory over Michigan, and a win over George Washington. Penn is 0-5 after its home-opening loss to LaSalle on Thursday. Penn lost at Penn State last Saturday. Series Histories Against Penn, the Terps have met the Quakers just once since Maryland defeated Penn on Jan. 21, 1997 as Keith Booth exploded for 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting, while adding 12 rebounds and four steals at Baltimore Arena. In the series overall, Penn won 12 straight games, all in Philadelphia, between and a win on Dec. 6, The Quakers own a 12-2 series advantage, but have never played in College Park. Maryland s only other win in the series was a decision on Feb. 9, 1927, the schools first meeting. It was just the eighth game ever played at The Palestra and marked Penn s first loss at the storied arena. Next Games Maryland returns to Cole to face UMBC on Wednesday, Dec. 13 (8 p.m.), then breaks for semester exams until hosting Norfolk State on Saturday, Dec. 23 (1:30 p.m.). Maryland hosts Chicago State during the holiday break on Wednesday, Dec. 27 (8 p.m.), followed by its final pre-acc tuneup, against UMES on Saturday, Dec. 30 (1:30 p.m.). The Terps open play in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Clemson on Jan. 2 (8 p.m.). Co-Captains Maryland has named co-captains for the current season seniors Mike Mardesich and Terence Morris. Combined, they have 215 games experience during their four-year careers (Mardesich 108, Morris 107). Comcast Center Maryland basketball teams will play in the Comcast Center beginning in the season, thanks to a $20 million naming rights gift to the university announced on Jan. 5, Last summer, Comcast increased its gift by $5 million in order to include naming rights on the floor. The gift is part of a business partnership that also includes the provision of cable television services to university residence halls. The Comcast gift is the largest single donation ever to the flagship campus, and it matches the largest known corporate naming gift in the United States for a college athletic facility. The $25 million represents a significant portion of the university's share of the cost of construction on the planned $124 million arena, which is being constructed on the north side of the campus under the auspices of the Maryland Stadium Authority. Williams Weekly Media Among his many other obligations with his team, the community and the media, Maryland coach Gary Williams takes time weekly for three different interview shows on radio, TV and the Internet. WBAL s Steve Melewski hosts the Gary Williams Radio Show, which airs Thursday nights on stations throughout the Maryland/Learfield Network from 7:05 to 8 p.m., beginning Dec. 7. (Next week s show will air on Tuesday, Dec. 12 due to a scheduling conflict.) Beginning in late December and continuing through the ACC season, Voice of the Terps Johnny Holliday hosts the Gary Williams Coach s Show weekly on HTS. Every Monday, Williams appears for 30 minutes beginning at noon in a live chat session on ESPN.com. Pronunciation Guide 21 LaRon Cephas (F)... luh-ron SEE-fuss 45 Tahj Holden (F)... Tahj (rhymes with mirage) 33 Mike Mardesich (C)... MAHR-duh-sitch 1 Byron Mouton (G/F)... MOO-tahn 40 Matt Slaninka (C)... SLAN-uh-kuh

3 TERPNOTES Getting Healthy Beginning the season ranked No. 5 by the Associated Press, the Terps stumbled out of the gate against a nationally-prominent schedule and sending Maryland to a 1-3 record. Since returning from Maui and Wisconsin, however, the Terps have put on their defensive bootstraps and more or less dominated three straight opponents. Since its season-opening win over Louisville, Maryland has crept above the.500 mark for the first time this season. Maryland s four victories have come by an average of over 27 points. Maryland has shot over 40 percent in every game and averages 47 percent, compared to under 40.7 percent in every game for its opponents and an average of 38. Some Stony Brook Numbers Below are some key numbers from Wednesday s win over Stony Brook: The 48-point margin of victory was the 19th largest in Maryland history and the Terps largest since a 52-point win (100-48) over Coastal Carolina on Jan. 2 last season. Maryland s 107 points marked the 86th game in school history that the Terps have eclipsed the century mark. Maryland s 82.8 free throw percentage (24 of 29) was the team s best since shooting 15 of 17 for 88.2 percent against St. John s in the 1999 NCAA Sweet 16. Maryland starters Byron Mouton (7-8), Terence Morris (6-6), Lonny Baxter (3-5) and Juan Dixon (4-4) combined to shoot 20 of 23 from the charity stripe, for 87 percent. Defensive Pressure Just as in when Maryland led the ACC in defensive field goal percentage (40.2), the Terps have limited -01 opponents less than 40.7 percent shooting in all seven games. In each of last weekend s BB&T games, Michigan and GW were both held to exactly 35.1 percent (20 of 57) the lowest by Terrapin opponents this season. Stony Brook shot 36.2 percent on Wednesday, while Seawolves starters were held to just a 33.3 percent clip (13 of 39). Since the loss to Dayton, Maryland opponents have been held under 38 percent in four straight games. In four wins, Maryland opponents have not shot better than 37 percent. Opponents from the field this season: Louisville 36.6; Illinois 40.5; Dayton 40.7; Wisconsin 37.9; Michigan 35.1; George Washington 35.1; Stony Brook 36.2; Season Average 37.6 Swat That! Maryland led the ACC and set a school record with 6.7 blocked shots per game in This season, the Terps are at it again with an average of 8.1 through seven games. Maryland has at least six blocked shots in six of seven games. MEN S BASKETBALL December 9, / Pennsylvania Four different players (Lonny Baxter, Tahj Holden, Mike Mardesich, Terence Morris) have had at least three blocks in a game this season. Three different players (Baxter, Holden, Morris) had a pair of blocks vs. Michigan. Eight different players contributed to 12 blocked shots against Stony Brook. Three different players (Baxter, Mardesich, Morris) had multiple blocks against Stony Brook. Morris has had multiple blocks in six of seven games. Maryland blocked a Maui Invitational record 13 blocked shots in its loss to Dayton. The Terps were led by Baxter s tournament record of six by an individual. Mouton Makes Most Of Change Maryland junior Byron Mouton has made the most of his first three starting assignments for the Terrapins, sparking the Terps to three straight wins. His inspired play continued last Wednesday with 19 points on 6 of 7 shooting, five rebounds and a pair of steals and floor burns against Stony Brook. Mouton, who also scored a team-high 14 points off the bench in a loss against No. 23 Wisconsin, totaled 37 points on 15-of-25 (60%) shooting from the field in three games last week against the Badgers, Michigan and GW. His energetic play also led to eight rebounds, four assists, a pair of steals and a block. He was named to the all-tournament team at the BB&T Classic, alongside junior teammate Juan Dixon. The 6-6, 215-pound transfer from Tulane led Maryland with 8-of-12 shooting in the BB&T championship game, including a 3-pointer at the close of the first half. His inspiring, high-energy play led to a Maryland-high 31 minutes on Sunday, scrapping for loose balls and diving into the scorer's table. In his last two games alone, Mouton has shot 14 of 19 from the floor, and scored 17 and 19 points, respectively, against GW and Stony Brook. For the season, Mouton leads the Terrapins with an impressive 62.7 percent shooting clip. Not bad for a guy who s offensive repertoire consists mostly of slashing, off-balance and turnaround jumpers in traffic. A Change In Lineups With Byron Mouton s insertion into the starting lineup, it marked the first time in two seasons that Maryland coach Gary Williams adjusted the Terrapin lineup without cause by injury, illness or senior night. Champions & Fifth Title Game Maryland won its third BB&T Classic championship last Sunday with its win over local co-host George Washington. The Terps avenged a defeat to the Colonials in the 1999 cham- TERPS BY THE NUMBERS 3 Maryland-native all-stars Lonny Baxter (Silver Spring), Juan Dixon (Baltimore) and Terence Morris (Frederick) all are recent first team All-ACC selections and national player of the year candidates. 3 Only Lefty Driesell-coached teams of 74, 75 and 76 finished second or better in the ACC standings in three straight years. Williams and the Terps can match that mark in Maryland s consecutive trips to the BB&T Finals. 5 Consecutive years without change on the Terps coaching staff. The staff Williams (12th season), Hahn (12th), Dickerson (5th), Patsos (10th). Also reflecting its continuity are trainer J.J. Bush (29th season), equipment mgr. John Bowie (12th) and dir. of basketball operations Troy Wainwright (5th). 7 Consecutive games that opponents have shot 40.7 percent or lower. 8.1 Maryland s average blocked shots per game. 13 Career-high assists for Steve Blake vs. Stony Brook. 14 Consecutive games with double-digit points for Lonny Baxter, dating to the final seven games of his sophomore season. 22 Consecutive weeks in the AP Top Average wins in seven straight NCAA Tournament seasons under Gary Williams. Maryland boasts 20- win seasons in five of the last seven years, and a.500 or better ACC record in seven straight Maryland s average margin of victory in four wins this season. 31 Maryland s win over Michigan reflected the second-largest point differential in BB&T history All seven Maryland opponents this season have been held under 40.7 percent shooting from the floor. 72 Nation s-longest non-conference home court win streak which lasts more than a decade. Terps last non-league home defeat was Dec. 12, 1989 vs. Coppin State. The streak began on Dec. 30, 1989 against Alcorn State.

4 MARYLAND BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK QUOTING GARY WILLIAMS Following are transcripts from Gary Williams Dec. 4 chat with basketball fans on ESPN.com. On offensive patience: Each year, the offense takes awhile before you really get smooth with it, and you have to go through some frustration. However, we've become more patient as the season's gone along and hopefully we will continue to be a patient team as we get into our conference schedule. On Byron Mouton: Byron Mouton gives our team a personality that gets us fired up. He is a strong physical guard Mondays at Noon which gives us a different look in the backcourt. He is also one of those players that finds a way to put the ball in the basket. He's not necessarily a pure shooter, but he gets points on the board for us. When the offense breaks down, Byron usually finds a way to score. On improved rebounding: We have been a better rebounding team since the Maui Tournament. We have learned a few things about our players and, certainly Mike Mardesich and Tahj Holden have been two of our better rebounders during this current stretch of the season. We hope to continue to improve because we have the potential to be a very good rebounding team. On Dick Bennett s resignation at Wisconsin: Coach Bennett did not tell me after the game that he was going to resign. I think he had that on his mind ever since the Final Four appearance by his team. Hopefully, he feels good about his decision and, whether he gets back into coaching or not, he has already proven that he's an outstanding coach. On Mike Mardesich as a team leader: Mike has done a great job for us coming off the bench and backing up Lonny Baxter. He gives us a seven-footer that's a very strong defensive player, and he's not afraid to commit to going after the basketball. I think Mike enjoys being a senior and as a co-captain he provides us with a great deal of leadership. On Chris Wilcox: Chris Wilcox will be a great player. He is our only freshman that is playing, and it's a tough situation when the other players were here last year and they already know what we are doing going into the season. Chris is learning very quickly, and this past weekend he contributed greatly to our team. On Terence Morris: Players earn playing time by what they do on the court, and at practice. We try to put the right combination out there that can win games for us. We have had some great play off the bench, and those players have been directly responsible for our wins this past weekend in the BB&T Classic. However, we need Terence to get back to his old form as the year goes on, and I'm sure he will. On playing Penn at the Palestra: I grew up watching games in the Palestra. It's a chance for our players to play in one of the most historical arenas left in college basketball. Fran Dunphy, the coach at Penn, was my assistant at American U., and he does a great job with the Penn program. They won the Ivy League title last year. pionship game, and won the title in to claim their third crown in the tourney s six years (1996, 1998, ). The Terrapins advanced to the BB&T title game for the fifth consecutive time in six seasons overall, this year besting GW for the second time in the tournament s championship game. Maryland s BB&T title games: Dec. 8, 1996 Maryland 74, GW 68 Dec. 8, 1997 GW 70, Maryland 66 Dec. 7, 1998 Maryland 92, DePaul 75 Dec. 5, 1999 GW 74, Maryland 69 Dec. 3, Maryland 71, GW 63 Four All-Tourney Picks With the naming of Byron Mouton and Juan Dixon to the BB&T Classic all-tournament team, Maryland s current roster boasts four different players that have earned that distinction: Lonny Baxter (1999), Juan Dixon (1999, ), Terence Morris (1998) and Byron Mouton (). Strength Of Schedule Taking a look ahead at the -01 schedule, based on preseason AP rankings, Maryland will experience just one stretch this season in which it will encounter more than two games at a time without facing a ranked opponent. Maryland s six-game string after the BB&T Classic will be the Terps only span of more than two games without a ranked opponent. Road Warriors Maryland played its first six games all away from Cole Field House. It was Maryland s longest streak away from home to begin a season since the Terps began playing in Cole Field House in It was the longest streak away from home to begin a season since 1941, overall. Measuring Sticks When Maryland lost three straight games last month, criticism was pointed toward its less-thandominating inside presence. Now seven games into the season, here are a few tendencies which tell the story. Maryland s Record When: Outrebounding the opponent Outrebounded by the opponent Shooting more free throws Shooting fewer free throws Some Things Are Constant Maryland has never trailed at halftime in any game this season... Maryland has outshots its opponent from the field in every game this season: Maryland has been above 40.6 percent in every game, while Terrapin opponents have shot below 40.7 percent in every game. Turnover Progression Since committing 20 turnovers against Louisville and 17 against Dayton, Maryland has improved in virtually every game in the turnover category. The Terps totaled just 12 miscues in each of its recent games against Wisconsin and Michigan. The Terps had 14 in the win over GW, and registered a season-low 10 turnovers in Wednesday s win over Stony Brook. All-America Marylanders Among the Terrapins five returning starters is a trio of All-America candidates who each has earned first team All-ACC honors within the past two years. Each of the three also has been tabbed as a preseason candidate for the Naismith and Wooden national player of the year awards. The key stat for Maryland fans: all three are Maryland natives Lonny Baxter (Silver Spring, Md.), Juan Dixon (Baltimore, Md.) and Terence Morris (Frederick, Md.). Tough On The Inside Lonny Baxter led the ACC with 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in a sophomore campaign which also saw him produce 15.6 points. Touted among the top centers in the nation, his inside muscle has continued to pay dividends. Baxter leads Maryland in points (16.7), and is second with 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks after seven games. He was one of three 19-point scorers against Stony Brook, shooting 8 of 10 from the field and adding seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Baxter scored a season-high 20 points in the loss to Dayton. Baxter was ranked as high as the No. 2 (Lindy s & The Sporting News) center in the country in preseason publications. Fearless Scorer Juan Dixon led the Terps with 18.0 points and was second in the ACC in scoring last season. He led the ACC with 2.7 steals per contest, and was third in the circuit while shooting better than 44 percent from 3-point range through 16 league games. Dixon joined Baxter among 19-point scorers against Stony Brook. He scored a season-high three 3-pointers while hitting all four free throw attempts, adding three assists and three steals. Dixon played perhaps his best game of the young season with 19 points against Michigan on 7 of 10 shooting. His two 3-pointers were his first of the season. He was an all-tournament selection at the BB&T Classic, averaging 16 points in two games. A slasher and creative scorer, Dixon is currently second on the team in scoring with 13.4 points. He leads the team with 13 steals. Dixon was ranked the top shooting guard in the country by Lindy s, and the No. 2 shooting guard by Dick Vitale s Preview and The Sporting News. 26 From 36th To 1,000 Junior Juan Dixon is within 26 points of becoming the 36th player overall to score 1,000 points in a Maryland uniform, and the 16th ever to reach the plateau as just a junior. Dixon teammate Terence Morris passed the 1,000-point barrier last season in his 81st career game. Dixon has played 76 games to date, and is within range of passing 1,000 any game.

5 MARYLAND BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK Mr. All-Around Terence Morris may be as complete a player as the Terrapins have ever seen. Morris completed his junior season with career averages: 15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals. His versatility has helped the Terps lead the ACC in blocks and steals in back-to-back seasons, and he has earned honorable mention All-America honors in three consecutive seasons. Morris leads the Terps in rebounds (5.7) and blocks (2.4), and is third in scoring (12.6). Morris opening game vs. Louisville was dominating: 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Morris had three blocks in each of the Terps first two games vs. Louisville and Illinois, and contributed four against Dayton. He has had multiple blocks in six out of seven games this season. He has had multiple blocked shots in 47 of 75 games in the last three seasons, and three or more blocks in 32 of those games. Morris, selected to play on the USA Select team of college all-stars that faced the U.S. Olympic Team on Sept. 2 in Hawaii, was rated in the preseason as the nation s top swing forward by Dick Vitale s Preview and The Sporting News. Morris: Shoot, Pass, Defend In his final college season, Terence Morris is prominent among Maryland s all-time leaders in blocks (3rd), steals (8th), 3FGs (10th), rebounds (14th) and points (14th). Morris became the 15th player in Maryland history to surpass 1,000 career points in just his junior season, eclipsing the plateau on Jan. 9, against Duke. His career scoring high was a 26-point game as a sophomore at No. 11 Kentucky. He matched it last season with a 26-point effort vs. Clemson. In three games against Kentucky the past two seasons, Morris has scored 26, 25 and 22 points (24.3). During a junior campaign in which he was ballyhooed much of the preseason as the nation s top player, his unselfish play helped the development of then-sophomore stars Baxter and Dixon. How? Morris passing abilities proved as accurate as any 6-9 forward in the country four or more assists eight times, and three or more assists in 16 games. Terps On The Career Charts Terp veterans Terence Morris, Lonny Baxter, Juan Dixon, Mike Mardesich, Danny Miller and Drew Nicholas all figure on Maryland career statistical charts. Sophomore guard Steve Blake will enter the Terps career assist leaders later this season. MARYLAND CAREER POINTS Points 1. Len Bias, , Albert King, , Adrian Branch, , John Lucas, , Tom McMillen, , Laron Profit, , Greg Manning, , Derrick Lewis, , Gene Shue, , Terence Morris, 1998-present... 1, Exree Hipp, , Will Hetzel, , Tony Massenburg, 1986/ , Evers Burns, , Jay McMillen, , Joe Smith, , Juan Dixon, 1999-present Lonny Baxter, 1999-present MARYLAND CAREER REBOUNDS Rebounds 1. Len Elmore, , Larry Gibson, Tony Massenburg, 1986/ Albert King, Johnny Rhodes, Will Hetzel, Terence Morris, 1998-present MARYLAND CAREER BLOCKS Blocks 1. Derrick Lewis, Cedric Lewis, Terence Morris, 1998-present Joe Smith, Larry Gibson, Obinna Ekezie, Lonny Baxter, 1999-present Tony Massenburg, 1986/ Len Bias, Buck Williams, Walt Williams, Ben Coleman, Laron Profit, Keith Booth, Mike Mardesich, 1998-present...70 MARYLAND CAREER STEALS Steals 1. Johnny Rhodes, Laron Profit, Keith Booth, Terrell Stokes, Walt Williams, Dutch Morley, Juan Dixon, 1999-present Terence Morris, 1998-present MARYLAND CAREER 3FGs 3FGs 1. Johnny Rhodes, Walt Williams, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Teyon McCoy, / Duane Simpkins, Laron Profit, Juan Dixon, 1999-present Terrell Stokes, Exree Hipp, Terence Morris, 1998-present Mario Lucas, Steve Hood, John Johnson, Keith Gatlin, / Danny Miller, 1999-present Drew Nicholas, -present...48 Matt Roe, Rudy Archer, Mardesich Closing In On Marks Senior co-captain Mike Mardesich is closing in on Maryland records for career games played (108) and consecutive games played (108). The 7-foot reserve center needs 24 more games this year to surpass the existing record of 131 games, by Len Bias ( ). He needs to play 19 more games in succession in order to eclipse the existing mark of 126 consecutive games played by Keith Booth ( ). TERPS SIGN A PAIR TO LETTERS OF INTENT Maryland head basketball coach Gary Williams has announced the signing of a pair of Eastern basketball stars to national letters-of-intent. MICHAEL GRINNON, a senior at St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, N.Y., will attend Maryland beginning in fall As will junior college transfer RYAN RANDLE of Allegany College in Cumberland, Md. Randle, who will attend Maryland as a junior next season, hails from Texas where he attended Duncanville High School. Grinnon, a 6-6, 195-pound shooting guard who is considered to be fundamentally sound, averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals last season at St. Dominic, a traditional Long Island powerhouse. He s a great outside shooter, said Williams. He really knows how to play the game. He has had a great summer and fall going into his senior year of high school. Grinnon played for the Lightning at the annual Charlie Weber Tournament, held Sept at Maryland s Cole Field House, and also competed at fall tournaments at Rutgers and Connecticut. Described by one recruiting publication as a very cerebral type of player, Grinnon is an outstanding student and a member of the National Honor Society. Ryan will be a good player for us, said Williams. We have followed him at Allegany and since we ll lose Terence [Morris], Mike [Mardesich] and LaRon [Cephas] after this season, we needed a good big man who is also athletic. Randle, 6-9 and 250 pounds, is in his sophomore season at Allegany, the same school from which the Terrapins successfully recruited All-American Steve Francis. He will attend Maryland for his final two seasons. At Allegany, he helped lead his team to a 28-2 record as a freshman. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and led the team with 31 blocked shots. Coming off the bench, he also added 43 assists and 27 steals to display the ball-handling skills that set him apart from an ordinary big man. Said Randle s coach at Allegany, Bob Kirk, Even though he didn t start for us last year, he was the best player on the team. We ve never had anyone who is as capable a player except for Steve Francis.

6 MARYLAND BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK IN THE POLLS Maryland is one of five ACC teams in the AP Top 20. Maryland s preseason No. 5 ranking by the Associated Press is the highest by a Gary Williams-coached team. AP Rankings December 4, (Record)... Pts. LW 1. Duke (59) (7-0)... 1, Michigan St. (9) (5-0)... 1, Kansas (1) (7-0)... 1, Stanford (6-0)... 1, Arizona (5-1)... 1, Tennessee (6-0)... 1, Seton Hall (4-0)... 1, Florida (3-0)... 1, Illinois (5-2)... 1, Notre Dame (4-0)... 1, Wake Forest (6-0) USC (4-0) Syracuse (7-0) North Carolina (3-2) Connecticut (6-1) Virginia (4-0) Wisconsin (3-1) Cincinnati (3-1) Maryland (3-3) Oklahoma (5-1) Arkansas (5-1) Utah (4-2) Alabama (3-0) NR 24. St. John s (4-2) Iowa St. (5-0) NR Others Receiving Votes: Iowa 120, Kentucky 111, Temple 106, Mississippi 73, Georgetown 54, Charlotte 48, DePaul 38, Gonzaga 28, Texas 26, Oregon 20, Purdue 20, Xavier 19, St. Bonaventure 16, Toledo 15, George Washington 13, SMU 13, Dayton 12, Marshall 9, LSU 8, Missouri 8, Oklahoma St. 7, Wyoming 7, Georgia 6, CS Northridge 5, Villanova 5, Ohio St. 4, Arizona St. 3, UL Lafayette 2, Penn St. 2, So. Mississippi 2, Georgia St. 1, Holy Cross 1, Minnesota 1, Pepperdine 1, Vanderbilt 1. USA Today/ESPN Rankings December 3, (Record)... Pts. LW 1. Duke (30) (7-0) Michigan St. (5-0) Stanford (1) (6-0) Kansas (7-0) Arizona (5-1) Tennessee (6-0) Illinois (5-2) Seton Hall (4-0) Florida (3-0) Notre Dame (4-0) Wake Forest (6-0) North Carolina (3-2) Connecticut (6-1) Syracuse (7-0) USC (4-0) Oklahoma (4-1) Maryland (2-3) Cincinnati (3-1) Virginia (4-0) Wisconsin (3-1) Arkansas (5-1) Utah (4-2) Temple (4-3) St. John s (3-2) Texas (5-1) NR Others Receiving Votes: Georgetown 54, Iowa St 44, Kentucky 42, Charlotte 34, DePaul 32, UCLA 25, Iowa 23, Missouri 22, Memphis 16, New Orleans 14, NC State 13, Pepperdine 13, Utah St. 13, Dayton 12, Xavier 12, Marshall 11, So. Mississippi 11, Louisville 10, Alabama 9, George Washington 9, SMU 9, Gonzaga 7, St. Bonaventure 7, BYU 6, Purdue 6, Indiana St. 5, Oklahoma St. 5, Wyoming 4, Central Michigan 2, Jacksonville 2, Toledo 2, Georgia St. 1, Richmond 1. Right behind Mardesich is fellow co-captain Terence Morris who has played in 107 games overall. He missed last season s game at Clemson to end his consecutive games streak at 83. Career-High For Blake Sophomore Steve Blake has capably handled point guard duties for the Terps since his first day on campus as a true freshman. He is fast becoming one of the best veteran point guards in the country. In just 23 minutes against Stony Brook, Blake dished a career-high 13 assists, recording the most by a Terrapin since Steve Francis recorded 13 against Virginia in Through seven games, Blake s 7.3 assists exceed last season s 6.3 average. He boasts at least five assists in every game. With his 13 assists and just one turnover against Stony Brook, Blake raised his assist-turnover ratio to nearly 2.5-to-1. Last season, Blake was regarded as one of the country s top freshman, and in preseason he has been tabbed as one of the top 11 point guards overall. He spent the past summer touring with the U.S. Under-20 team and earning a silver medal at the World Championships qualifying tournament in Brazil. Nicholas Fills Dual Role Shooting guard. Point guard. Regardless of which role he has been asked to play, Long Island native Drew Nicholas has been outstanding early in his sophomore season. -01 Rankings Watch Terps and Opponents In The Polls Maryland AP High/Low 5/19 Maryland USA High/Low 6/17 Maryland Sagarin High/Low 9/26 Associated Press N N N D SCHOOL ps Duke Illinois Wake Forest North Carolina Virginia Wisconsin Maryland Oklahoma Dayton rv rv rv 24 rv George Washington rv NC State rv rv rv - - Michigan rv USA Today/ESPN N N D SCHOOL ps Duke Illinois Wake Forest North Carolina Oklahoma Maryland Virginia 25 rv Wisconsin Dayton rv rv rv rv Louisville rv rv rv rv NC State rv - rv rv George Washington rv Michigan rv Sagarin Ratings N N D SCHOOL ps Duke Illinois Virginia Wake Forest Maryland Oklahoma Wisconsin North Carolina Dayton Georgia Tech NC State George Washington Louisville Mostly a reserve shooting guard as a freshman while Juan Dixon spelled Blake briefly at the point, Nicholas has assumed backup chores as a sophomore. At the same time, he has become one of the Terps most deadly long-range shooters. Through seven games, Nicholas has averaged 18.1 minutes and 7.1 points per outing, while contributing 18 assists and six steals. Similar to Blake, he boasts nearly a 2-to-1 assist-turnover ratio. Nicholas has also improved his marksmanship from the field, scorching the nets for 69 percent at Maui and 53 percent overall. He has shot 11 of 19 from 3-point range. Nicholas has been the Terps most lethal distance shooter, leading the team with 11 treys in seven games. In the loss to Dayton, Nicholas hit four of five 3-point shots to finish with 12 points, five assists and a pair of steals. Noting The Quarterback Sophomore guard Calvin McCall has gotten into the act for the Terps of late, ever since joining the squad following the conclusion of the football campaign. Wednesday against Stony Brook, McCall netted the first, and second, 3-pointers of his career and finished with six points in 10 minutes. All 12 Maryland players (excluding probable redshirt Matt Slaninka) scored in last Saturday s game against Michigan, including McCall who made his first basketball appearance of the season.

7 MARYLAND BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK McCall, who scored four points in his hardwood debut with an assist and a steal, was a quarterback on the Maryland football team last season, who played in 9 of 11 Terrapin football games as both a starter and reserve. He appeared in 13 basketball games as a redshirt freshman in 1999 joining the hoops squad in December after finishing second among Div. I freshman (to Virginia Tech s Michael Vick) in passing and total offense on the gridiron. 3-Point Goals Five different Terrapins scored 30 or more 3- point baskets in , and added this season is former Tulane scoring sensation Byron Mouton (who made 46 treys at Tulane in ). Maryland boasts a 171-game streak with at least one 3-pointer, dating to March 18, Early ACC Leaders An early look at Maryland among ACC statistical leaders (through games of Dec. 5) shows sophomore guard Drew Nicholas is second among league 3-point percentage leaders at 62.5 percent, trailing NC State s Archie Miller (14-19,.737)... Steve Blake is third in the league in assists with 6.3, trailing Virginia s Donald Hand (7.5) and Duke s Jason Williams (6.9)... Terence Morris is third in the circuit with 2.5 blocks, tied with Antwan Scott of Wake Forest and trailing UNC s Brendan Haywood (4.0) and Georgia Tech s Alvin Jones (3.6)... Lonny Baxter is fifth with Baxter also is seventh in the ACC with 16.3 points per game. Team-wise, Maryland leads the ACC with 7.5 blocks per game, is fourth in field goal percentage defense (.378) and fifth in field goal percentage (.465) and steals (7.8). Depth Factor Maryland is one of America s deepest and most athletic teams in -01. The Terrapins return all five starters from their team a year ago, plus their top three reserves. Added to the mix are Byron Mouton, runner-up as the 1998 Conference USA Rookie of the Year, who plays both the 2 and 3 positions; and 6-10 freshman Chris Wilcox who logs minutes at the power forward and center positions. The Terps are at least two, and as many as four players deep at every position on the floor. Terps In The Polls Maryland carries a string of 22 consecutive weeks in the AP Poll. The current streak began on Nov. 22, 1999 last season with the Terps peaking in the No. 12 position last season on Jan. 3,, and at No. 5 in the AP s preseason poll. Maryland finished last season ranked No. 17. Maryland was No. 5 in the AP preseason poll, reflecting the highest preseason ranking by a Gary Williams-coached team, and the sixth time in Terrapin history that Maryland has begun in the Top 5. A total of 26 teams nationally have been ranked No. 2 at least once, but never have been ranked No. 1. Maryland leads the way among those teams with 18 No. 2 rankings, while Louisville is second with 15. Maryland has appeared in 42 of the last 44 polls, 46 of 49, 52 of 58 and 65 of the last 73 polls since Dec. 9, Of those 73 polls since December 9, 1996, Maryland has been in the Top 10, 24 times. The Rebounding Game One Of Country s Elite Maryland is one of just ten schools to have participated in each of the last seven NCAA Tournaments. Only Arizona, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Purdue, Temple and UCLA join the Terps as teams that have competed in each of the last seven NCAA men s basketball tournaments. Maryland is the only team in the ACC that has advanced to the ACC Tournament semifinals in each of the last six seasons, the best streak in Terrapin history. Last season s ACC championship game appearance was the Terps first since Best Eras The Terps 74 wins between the 1998, 1999 and seasons reflect the best three-year stretch in Terrapin basketball history in terms of total wins. Likewise, Maryland s 34 ACC wins those past three seasons reflect the best threeyear stretch of ACC victories. The Terps 1998, 1999 and seasons also mark the first threeyear period with consecutive double-digit wins in ACC play. Maryland needs 20 more wins this season to assure the best four-year stretch in the program s history. The current four-year mark is a stretch of 97 wins between 1972 and A 20-win season in -01 would match the school s best mark for consecutive 20-win seasons, five between 1972 and Wins Maryland s 53 wins over the past two seasons are bettered by only six teams nationally: School Two Seasons Duke 66-7 (.904) Michigan State (.844) Connecticut (.831) Cincinnati (.848) Tulsa (.786) Gonzaga (.771) Stanford (.828) Maryland (.768) Auburn (.791) St. John s (.757) G-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D Cole Field House is the site of the nation s longest non-conference home win streak (now 72 games), and Maryland has ranked in the Top 20 among national attendance leaders for three straight seasons. The Terps ranked 20th (13,377 avg.) among national attendance leaders in 1998, 15th (school record 14,474 avg.) in 1999, and 17th (14,148 avg.) in. Last season, the Terps ranked 10th nationally and played before a school-record 503,648 fans overall. That figure was up from a previous record of 473,626 and a No. 12 ranking in Maryland played to 99.8 percent capacity for its entire season at 14,500-seat Cole Field House during the season. Maryland has averaged more than 13,000 fans for every home game in each of its last six seasons. The Terps currently average 13,206 at home in -01 (one game). During the last seven seasons, the Terps have achieved six of the top seven single-season home attendance averages in school history. TERP PRESEASON AWARDS & RATINGS Maryland and its players were prominent throughout the preseason among position rankings and preseason All-America teams releaed by publications nationwide. Team Preseason Rankings The Terps were ranked as high as No. 3 by FANSonly.com, Preview Sports and SLAM Magazine. A listing follows: ACC Basketball Handbook (4), Athlon Sports (Final Four), Basketball News (4), Blue Ribbon College Basketball (4), CBS Sportsline.com (4), Dick Vitale s Preview (6), ESPN.com (5), FANSonly.com (3), FOX Sports.com (6), HoopsTV.com (4), Lindy s (4), Preview Sports (3), SLAM Magazine (3), The Source Sports (4), The Sporting News (5), Street & Smith s (9). Terence Morris, Sr., F Naismith and Wooden Award Player of the Year candidate Best NBA Prospect, Lindy s No. 1 swing forward, Dick Vitale s No. 1 small forward in nation, The Sporting News No. 4 small forward in nation, Lindy s First Team All-American, Playboy First Team All-Rolls Royce Team, Dick Vitale s Second Team All-American, Athlon Sports Second Team All-American, Preview Sports Second Team All-American, The Sporting News Second Team All-ACC, Lindy s First Team All-ACC, ACC Basketball Handbook First Team All-ACC, Athlon Sports First Team All-ACC, Dick Vitale s First Team All-ACC, Preview Sports First Team All-ACC, The Sporting News First Team All-ACC, Street & Smith s Juan Dixon, Jr., G Naismith and Wooden Award Player of the Year candidate No. 1 shooting guard in nation, Lindy s No. 2 shooting guard in nation, Dick Vitale s No. 2 shooting guard in nation, The Sporting News First Team All-American, Athlon Sports First Team All-American, Preview Sports Second Team All-Rolls Royce Team, Dick Vitale s Second Team All-American, The Sporting News First Team All-ACC, Athlon Sports First Team All-ACC, Dick Vitale s First Team All-ACC, Lindy s First Team All-ACC, Preview Sports First Team All-ACC, Street & Smith s Second Team All-ACC, ACC Basketball Handbook Second Team All-ACC, The Sporting News Lonny Baxter, Jr., F/C Naismith and Wooden Award Player of the Year candidate No. 2 center in nation, Lindy s No. 2 center in nation, The Sporting News No. 4 center in nation, Dick Vitale s Second Team All-American, The Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American, Athlon Sports Best Rebounder in ACC, The Sporting News First Team All-ACC, Lindy s First Team All-ACC, The Sporting News Second Team All-ACC, ACC Basketball Handbook Second Team All-ACC, Athlon Sports Second Team All-ACC, Dick Vitale s Byron Mouton, Jr., F Top 10 Transfer in nation, Lindy s Top Impact Transfer in ACC, Dick Vitale s Steve Blake, So., G No. 11 point guard in nation, The Sporting News No. 13 point guard in nation, Dick Vitale s No. 13 point guard in nation, Lindy s Best Playmaker in ACC, The Sporting News Second Team All-ACC, The Sporting News Third Team All-ACC, Athlon Sports Third Team All-ACC, Lindy s Honorable Mention All-ACC, ACC Basketball Handbook