Aug. 16, 2001

By Andy Katz, ESPN.com
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Defending national champion Duke improved itself without practicing as a team yet.

Now it's Maryland's turn.

And USA Basketball can take credit for fueling the race in the ACC and, ultimately, the national title chase with its summer tours of Japan and China.

Duke forward Carlos Boozer led the United States to the gold medal at the World Championships for Young Men in Saitama, Japan, on Sunday with a team-leading 15.9-point average. The tougher and more confident Boozer elevated his game by being a monster on the offensive backboard and posting up whenever the game was in the halfcourt.

Teammate Chris Duhon, freed of playing alongside national player of the year favorite Jason Williams for three weeks, left Japan as an even more potent player by averaging a second-leading 11.9 points, shooting 40 percent on 3s and contributing 54 assists as the primary point.

Incoming Duke wing Dahntay Jones wasn't a starter but the Rutgers transfer was a gem of a defender, a Duke necessity, and made 60 percent of his shots.

"I'm happy for those guys because they completed the goal and got it done with the gold," said Maryland's Juan Dixon of Denver, where the U.S. team is training this week against a collection of college and pro players from the Colorado area before leaving Saturday for China. "Now it's our turn to go out there, have fun and hopefully execute as well.

"Me and (fellow Terp) Lonny (Baxter) look forward to putting Maryland on the map and helping ourselves out there," Dixon said. "Hopefully we'll keep it going like the other team and bring back the gold medal."

Dixon and Baxter, along with Fresno State's Melvin Ely, are expected to be the primary targets for the 12-member World University Games team heading to Beijing, China, on Sunday. The U.S. team is the favorite but could end up meeting host China and potential 2002 No. 1 NBA Draft pick 7-6 Yao Ming en route to the gold.

The World University Games aren't usually as competitive as the World Championships for Young Men. Traditionally, the tougher teams compete in that tournament, even though it has an age limit of 21 and under. But the secondary goal to the gold is the likely invaluable development Dixon and Baxter will get to position themselves to compete with Duke in the ACC (Don't be offended, Virginia, but the preseason expectations have Duke and Maryland a notch above).

"This will be such a good thing for Juan and Lonny because they were the two guys who stepped up for us when Terrence Morris didn't score as much," said Maryland coach Gary Williams of the former Terp Morris on the team's run to the Final Four last March.

Maryland could have had a trio on this team like Duke did on the last one had Tahj Holden not injured his Achilles tendon. Fearing an injury to start the season, Williams said Holden decided to withdraw from the trials before the team convened in Denver last Sunday.

"Juan and Lonny assumed the responsibility to score," Williams said of his 1-2 scorers last season at 18.2 and 15.6 points, respectively. "Any time your role changes in the summer time, in an organized situation -- not the summer league -- it's good for a player. There is pressure on them and everyone else because the U.S. is expected to win the gold. That's a different type of pressure than being at Cole Field House. They are not in their comfort zone in China. This will make them better players."

U.S. coach Jerry Dunn of Penn State is already experimenting with the pair of Terps. Dunn said Dixon would likely be the starting shooting guard along with either Seton Hall point Andre Barrett or Gonzaga point Dan Dickau. But Dixon could spend some time bringing up the ball. He wants Dixon to use his versatility to his advantage.

"This is an opportunity for me to handle the rock and go to the basket," Dixon said. "Coach (Dunn) is going to put me in a situation where if the point guard is being denied then the two-guard gets the ball. I've been doing that for the most part (when Maryland point Steve Blake is in the same situation) to create for my teammates."

Baxter will alternate in the post with or alongside Ely and Texas' Chris Owens. But he'll use the 6-8, 250-pound Baxter in a high-low offense with one of the big men at the top of the free-throw line. Dunn is enamored by Baxter's ability to finish. Williams said he's expecting Baxter to come back with even more confidence.

Baxter doesn't shy away from challenges, especially playing against taller, although rarely stronger, players in the post. Playing with the 6-11 Ely should be a good prep for Baxter to join Chris Wilcox in the fall. Williams said the 6-10 Wilcox gained 20 pounds on his 220-pound frame. But Wilcox isn't yet nearly as talented as Ely, the shot-blocking and true low-post producing Bulldog.

"He's so aggressive and everyone has to go hard against him," Baxter said of Ely. "His presence opens up a lot for both our games."

Ely, who should get plenty of national publicity because of the World University Games, will benefit from Baxter and Owens, too.

"I've had so many looks because of Baxter," Ely said. "He's so big and strong that when he gets the ball everything opens up. They'll be pressuring him and it frees me up for a lot of great looks. He's a force down low so I can go outside. I'm getting used to this. I hope my four-man (either Hiram Fuller or Noel Felix) will be ready when I get back to Fresno State."

Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian said Ely should be in shape when he returns, something that has dogged Ely during his four-year career. Ely, who earned back his fourth season of eligibility this month after getting close enough to graduating, concurred and is anticipating he'll be further ahead than he has been at this point in the year. He's also relishing the competition and barometer to gauge himself with the likes of Baxter and Owens.

"We don't get a lot of looks or exposure at Fresno State so I wanted to take advantage of this," Ely said. "We don't get the exposure like the kids from Maryland."

But exposure doesn't mean as much if they don't get better over the summer.

This is their golden chance.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.