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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 32-4;
15-1 in ACC (1st)
Postseason: Beat Indiana 64-52 in NCAA Tournament title game.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Blake 8.0
Rebs: Blake 3.8
Assists: Blake 7.9
FG: Randle 52.4%
3pt: Nicholas 39.6%
FT: Holden 83.6%
01-02 Stats:
Maryland | ACC
KEY LOSSES
Juan Dixon | 20.4 ppg
Lonny Baxter | 15.2 ppg
Chris Wilcox | 12.0 ppg
Byron Mouton | 11.1
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Steve Blake | Senior
G | Drew Nicholass | Senior
G | John Gilchrist | Fresh
F | Tahj Holden | Senior
C | Ryan Randle | Senior
Player to Watch
Steve Blake
Senior Guard
Lone returner for champs will be asked to take more big shots than ever.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Eight months after their meeting in the national title game, Maryland and Indiana get to do it again. This meeting comes in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge, and it will be played in Indianapolis. Both rosters look completely different, but the passion should be there.
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MARYLAND TERRAPINS
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If it weren't for Gary Williams' track record as coach who develops talent and above all else wins games, we'd say right here that Maryland is in for a precipitous fall from its 2002 national championship. Ah, the heck with it. Maryland is in for a fall this season. How could it not? The Terps should be good, but no way are they national contenders again. Not this soon. And don't fall for the bit about Maryland starting four seniors. The Terps are starting four seniors, but it's 6-3 point guard Steve Blake -- an All-American candidate -- and three longtime role players (6-3 Drew Nicholas, 6-9 Ryan Randle and 6-10 Tahj Holden). Not a lot of offense there. While there should be plenty of offense on the bench, with the exception of junior college transfer Jamar Smith, that offense might be a year away from contributing much. Then again, Williams get as much out of the talent he has as anyone in the country. With the Terps replacing NBA draft picks Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter and Chris Wilcox, and senior Byron Mouton, Williams will need to do it again.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Blake doesn't get the national respect he deserves. North Carolina coach Matt Doherty routinely gushes about Blake, and with reason. Blake is an underrated shooter (34.4 percent on 3-pointers) who annually is among the country's leaders in assists and is one of the better perimeter defenders in the ACC. This season Blake will get the chance to show he can score more than his 2001-02 average of eight points per game, an attempt that will be aided by the arrival of freshman point guard John Gilchrist.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Holden and Randle have been quality ACC big men, but in a supporting role. It remains to be seen if they can handle the offensive, and defensive, assignment of opposing teams' front-line big men. They will be aided a pair of 6-9 newcomers, Smith and freshman Travis Garrison, a McDonald's All-American.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
With the ACC as balanced as ever, the Terps ought to hover somewhere in the upper third of the league thanks to its veteran leadership, young talent and proven coach. Anything close to the success of last season is a stretch, though.
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