Jan. 16, 2002
Maryland vs. Duke Game Notes in PDF Format
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Hottest Rivalry in College Hoops Continues - AP Feature
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland (No. 3 AP, No. 3 USA Today/ESPN) takes a 3-0 ACC mark and a five-game win streak into Thursday's highly-anticipated battle against top-ranked Duke. It is the eighth meeting between the two schools since Jan. 9, 2000. The game will be carried live on ESPN, with a 9 p.m. tipoff.
* Maryland remained in the top five in both major polls this week, for the eighth week this season. Maryland opened the year at No. 2 by the AP, and has spent a total of four weeks at No. 2 this season. The Terps' lone first-place vote in this week's AP poll was its first of the season.
* A Maryland win at Cameron Indoor Stadium would mark the Terps' third straight win in Durham to become just the third team since 1985 to win three straight on the Blue Devils' home floor. Maryland already is one of just four squads to win at Cameron in back-to-back seasons since '85: North Carolina ('89, '90), North Carolina ('94, '95, '96), Wake Forest ('93, '94, '95, '96, '97).
* A Maryland victory also would mark the Terps' first 4-0 start in the ACC since 1996-97, and just the second in Gary Williams' tenure as head coach.
* The Terrapins and Blue Devils waged a four-game series last season that was one of college basketball's most hotly contested in history. Maryland owned double-figure leads in all four games, but won just one, and the team that led at the intermission lost all four games. >From an unthinkable 10-point deficit that was overcome during the final minute for Duke's overtime win in game one, to a Maryland win on senior night at Cameron, to a last-second tip-in in the ACC Tournament, to a Final Four meeting on the nation's largest stage - last season's series was indeed a classic.
* Maryland has won 13 of its last 14 games, and 23 of its past 27 games dating to last year's Final Four campaign.
* Maryland and Duke have combined to win 50 of their last 56 games, with three of those losses coming to each other. Maryland's only other losses have been to Arizona and Oklahoma, Duke's to Florida State.
* In their last outing, the Terps outlasted Georgia Tech in a game which saw Maryland's 68 percent first-half shooting threaten to blow the game open. However, the Jackets came back to narrow the 48-35 intermission deficit and rally to within 85-83 with less than a minute to play. Juan Dixon made the play of the game with a crafty steal and a daring lob to Chris Wilcox for an alley-oop dunk with 24 seconds to play. Dixon then added four FTs in the final 10 seconds to ice the game. Dixon finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Lonny Baxter posted 21 points with nine rebounds. Byron Mouton contributed 19 points and Wilcox added 14 as Maryland stayed unbeaten in the ACC.
* A Naismith and Wooden Award player of the year candidate, and a top contender for national defensive player of the year honors, senior guard Juan Dixon enters Thursday's game at Duke just three 3-pointers shy of breaking the Maryland record for 3-point field goals. Exhibiting his prowess on both ends of the floor, he also is just 10 steals from becoming the first player in ACC history to boast 1,800 points and 300 steals. On track to challenge school records in points and steals also, he can become the first player in ACC history to own both records at his school.
TERP STREAKS
* Maryland has won five straight games, and 13 of its last 14.
* The Terrapins own a seven-game ACC regular season win streak dating to last season.
* The Terps own an 11-game home win streak dating to last season, including eight home wins to begin 2001-02. Maryland's eight straight home wins represent the Terps' longest season-opening home streak since starting 1999-00 campaign with eight straight. The last time Maryland won more home games to begin a season, the Terps went undefeated (16-0) at Cole in 1994-95.
* In Maryland's last three ACC home games, the Terps have won by 29, 35 and 33 points. To end last season, Maryland beat NC State 95-66 and ended the home campaign with a 102-67 rout of No. 7 Virginia. Last Wednesday, the Terps dismantled North Carolina 112-79.
* Maryland has played 124 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.
* Maryland owns the nation's longest non-conference homecourt win streak which spans 84 games and over 12 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. The streak will continue at the Comcast Center in 2002-03.
RECORDS AND RANKINGS
* Maryland is 13-2 overall and 3-0 in the ACC after last week's 112-79 win over North Carolina and a 92-87 road decision at Georgia Tech.
* Duke is 14-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC following a 76-57 win at NC State on Sunday, and a 104-79 home win over Georgia Tech.
* Maryland is No. 3 by the Associated Press and No. 3 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Other Maryland opponents in this week's rankings: Duke (1,1), Virginia (10, 9), Illinois (11, 10), Oklahoma (5, 5), Wake Forest (14, 13), Arizona (15, 18). Connecticut, NC State and Temple each received votes in both polls.
ON DECK
* The Terrapins return to Cole Field House to host Clemson on Sunday, Jan. 20 (6:30 p.m., FOX Sports Net).
