Dec. 14, 2001
Maryland vs. Oklahoma Game Notes in PDF Format
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland (No. 3 AP, No. 2 USA Today/ESPN) travels to Norman, Okla., on Friday, Dec. 21 to take on Oklahoma (No. 24 AP, No. 22 USA Today/ESPN) in a nationally televised non-league matchup on ESPN. Tipoff is 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT).
* It is the fourth time that Maryland and Oklahoma have met on the hardwood, and the second straight season in which the teams will meet in a top 25 matchup. Last season, 20th-ranked Maryland downed No. 16 Oklahoma in College Park, 68-60, behind 23 points from Juan Dixon, all in the second half after changing sneakers at the intermission.
* Maryland has maintained its No. 2 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll for a second straight week. The ranking matches the highest ranking in Terrapin history.
* Maryland is at least 8-1 after nine games under Gary Williams for the fourth time in his 13 seasons in College Park. A win over OU would produce at least a 9-1 mark for just the third time during his tenure at Maryland.
* The Terrapins' eight-game win streak is currently tied as the third longest in the country, through games of Dec. 13. The nation's longest win streaks: 18-Duke, 9-Marquette, Missouri, Oklahoma State, 8-Boston College, Butler, Maryland, Miami, Mississippi State.
* The second-winningest coach in Maryland history, Gary Williams won his milestone 250th game on the Terrapin sidelines with the win over Monmouth on Dec. 11.
* In their last outing, the Terps raced past Monmouth with a 13-0 run to begin the second half, and outscored the Hawks 45-18 in the second period as Maryland posted a 91-55 non-conference win at Cole Field House. It was the Terps' largest margin of victory this season, in what was their 82nd consecutive non-league victory at Cole, dating to December 30, 1989. Five Terrapins scored in double figures, behind 18 points from Juan Dixon, a season-high 17 from Byron Mouton, 11 from Tahj Holden and 10 apiece from Lonny Baxter and Chris Wilcox. The sophomore Wilcox led the Terps with a career-high 13 rebounds.
TERP STREAKS
* Maryland has won eight straight games overall - the fourth time that Gary Williams and the Terps have posted a streak of eight or better since he took over the program in 1989-90. It is the fourth-longest during the Williams Era.
* The Terps own an eight-game home win streak dating to last season.
* Counting the final month of the 2001 season when the Terps played five NCAA Tournament games and won 10 of their last 12 (including a Feb. 24 win over Oklahoma), Maryland has won 18 of its last 21 games. Its only losses have come to Duke and Arizona.
* Maryland owns the nation's longest non-conference homecourt win streak which spans 82 games. Wins over Monmouth and William & Mary (Dec. 27) will secure the streak for 12 consecutive years - the streak began on Dec. 30, 1989 against Alcorn State. The Terps' last non-league home defeat was on Dec. 12, 1989 vs. Coppin State.
* Maryland has played 121 consecutive home games at Cole Field House since suffering consecutive home defeats. The last time Maryland lost back-to-back home dates was during the 1992-93 season.
RECORDS AND RANKINGS
* Maryland is 8-1 after their eighth straight victory, a 91-55 win last Tuesday over Monmouth. The Terrapins finished their 2001 season with a 25-11 record and their first trip to the Final Four.
* Oklahoma is currently 5-1, pending three games before meeting the Terps: Dec. 15 vs. High Point (N.C.), Dec. 16 vs. Bethune-Cookman and Dec. 18 vs. Eastern Illinois. The Sooners have won four straight including last Saturday's 71-67 overtime victory over Louisiana Tech. Oklahoma was 26-7 last season, losing to upset-minded Indiana State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
* Maryland is No. 3 by the Associated Press and No. 2 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Oklahoma is No. 24 by the AP and No. 22 in the coaches poll. Other Maryland opponents in this week's rankings: Duke (1,1), Illinois (10, 8), Arizona (6, 7), Virginia (7, 6), Wake Forest (19, 20). Connecticut and NC State each are receiving votes in both polls.
ON DECK
* Maryland hosts William & Mary on Dec. 27 and opens ACC play at NC State on Dec. 30. The game at NC State is the Terps' second of six Sunday night games on FOX Sports Net.
GARY WILLIAMS HOLIDAY TV SPECIAL
* Gary Williams' annual holiday television show, hosted by local broadcast celebrity Johnny Holliday, will air on Comcast SportsNet on Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 1:30 p.m. The hour-long show, the Gary Williams Christmas Special, begins the series of Gary Williams TV shows which run on Comcast through the remainder of the Maryland basketball season. The holiday show will originate on Christmas afternoon from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. It will repeat throughout the holidays.
