Oct. 13, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Qualify for the NCAA tournament? Done it, eight years running.

Final Four? Been there, too.

There's only one hurdle left for Maryland, and coach Gary Williams knows it.

Amid the smoke from the fireworks that accompanied the introduction of the 2001-02 Terrapins basketball team at Midnight Madness, Williams grabbed the public address microphone at 12:15 Saturday morning and told the 14,000 fans at Cole Field House exactly what they wanted to hear.

"We went to the Final Four for the first time last season," Williams said. "This year, we want to win a national championship!"

This Midnight Madness was unlike the dozens that preceded it, in part because the Terrapins were coming off their initial foray into the Final Four. Players from that team -- which lost to eventual-champion Duke in the NCAA semifinal round -- were given the jerseys they wore in the game during a ceremony shortly before midnight.

"It was probably more a celebration of last year," Williams said later. "It's good to do that tonight, because practice officially starts now. You do it tonight because you don't want to celebrate [Saturday afternoon] in practice."

Midnight Madness usually turns the focus on campus from the sputtering football team to the successful basketball program. It's an event the football players usually avoid, given their status as traditional underachievers.

This year, however, the football squad is unbeaten and the talk of the town. A portion of the team assembled behind one of the baskets late Friday night and quickly became part of the celebration.

"Six-and-oh!" the crowd chanted before the basketball team was introduced.

Williams displayed no jealously. Rather, he expressed a desire to play off their success.

"We want to ride the wave of the football team and get going early this year," he told the crowd.

Later, Williams said he admired the way the football team has battled through distractions created by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a deadly tornado that hit the campus on Sept. 24.

"This has been a really tough month, not just because of 11th but also what happened here," Williams said. "They've done a great job just getting ready to play. They had a game canceled, that never happens. I just wanted them to know that we appreciate it."

The fans in packed Cole Field House showed their gratitude to a basketball team that went 25-10 last season and has the potential to pull off a rousing encore.

The cheers began during the alumni game at 10:30 p.m. and carried through the final basket of the varsity's 15-minute intrasquad scrimmage. Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter and Steve Blake, the team's three most important players, tied for high-scoring honors with 12 points apiece.

The players showboated throughout the exhibition, putting on some moves that would earn them a lecture from the coach if used in a game.

For Williams, the best part about the scrimmage was the final buzzer.

"I'm glad it's over," he said. "You always worry about someone getting hurt, no one got hurt. Now we can start practice healthy."

View this AP story as it originally appeared on CNNSI.com.