Oct. 12, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Official college basketball rankings by the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN won't be released until November, but preseason publications around the country are ranking the Terrapins consistently among the nation's top five teams. Most are picking Maryland for a return trip to the Final Four on the basis of nine returning letterwinners, including starters Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake, Juan Dixon and Byron Mouton.

One media outlet, however, has chosen Maryland as its No. 1 team. Says CollegeInsider.com:

1. MARYLAND: Yes, Maryland. Lonny Baxter gets help inside from Tahj Holden, Juan Dixon steps up a bit more and Steve Blake orchestrates Gary Williams' game plan. The three-headed destruction crew of Baxter, Blake and Dixon may very well be the best three pack of basketball talent in the college game. This team is well coached, well oiled and obviously very battle tested. Besides, aren't you a little tired of all the Duke & UNC hype? It's Terrapin time!

Here is a look at the College Basketball Top 25 by CollegeInsider.com, released earlier on Friday.

CollegeInsider.com College Basketball Top 25
1. MARYLAND
2. Duke
3. Florida
4. Kentucky
5. Illinois
6. Oklahoma State
7. Kansas
8. St. Joseph's
9. Memphis
10. UCLA
11. Virginia
12. Missouri
13. Temple
14. Iowa
15. Oklahoma
16. Cincinnati
17. Syracuse
18. Georgetown
19. Texas
20. Stanford
21. Mississippi
22. Boston College
23. Fresno State
24. North Carolina
25. Hawaii