Great Guard Play Is One Reason TSN Likes The Terps
10/31/2001 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2001
The Sporting News has chosen Maryland as its preseason No. 3 ranked men's basketball team. One of the reasons TSN cites is the Terps' sterling backcourt combination of Steve Blake and Juan Dixon.
1. Great guard play. With Steve Blake and Juan Dixon, Maryland boasts one of the best backcourts in the nation (TSN's third-ranked backcourt, actually). Blake can manage a team as well as any point guard in the country. He rarely forces the issue on offense and can knock down the open jumper. He also led the league in assists last season, averaging just shy of seven per game. Dixon, meanwhile, can do it all on both ends of the floor. He can run the break, hit the outside shot and create scoring opportunities off the dribble. Dixon also possesses a deadly mid-range jumper, which makes him nearly impossible to defend one-on-one. And he doesn't save his energy for offense. He led the league in steals last season with 95. His batteries just never seem to run out.
Take a look at the rest of the TSN preview by visiting their website.
