Terrapins Host Clemson On Sunday
1/18/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2002
Maryland vs. Clemson Game Notes in PDF Format
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland (No. 3 AP, No. 3 USA Today/ESPN) takes a 3-1 ACC mark and an 11--game homecourt win streak into Sunday's Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with visiting Clemson. The third of Maryland's six games on the ACC's new FOX Sports Net Sunday night game of the week, this week's game with the Tigers tips at 6:30 p.m. ET.
* A Maryland victory will keep the Terps in an early first-place tie in the ACC standings, and move the Terrapins within one win (4-1) of their 5-1 ACC start a year ago - matching the school's best ACC start in history.
* Maryland tries to raise its season-opening home record to 9-0 on Sunday when the Terps battle Clemson. The last time Maryland won more than eight straight at home to open a season was in 1994-95 when the Terrapins finished 16-0 at Cole Field House.
* 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.
* Maryland has won 13 of its last 15 games, and 23 of its past 28 games dating to last year's Final Four campaign. Maryland's five losses in the stretch have come to Arizona, Duke (3) and Oklahoma.
* In their last outing, the Terps fell victim to 12 second half turnovers and Duke's 51 percent shooting as the Blue Devils pulled away for a 99-78 victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The long-heralded rematch of 2001 Final Four opponents lived up to its billing with 24 lead changes and two ties through the opening period - and 30 lead changes overall. But just as in each of last year's four meetings, the trailing team at the intermission won the game. Duke overcame Maryland's slim 49-48 halftime advantage and used nine straight points by Jason Williams to command a six-point lead with 16:12 to play. The Blue Devils pushed the lead to 10 with 12:30 to play, before Drew Nicholas' fastbreak jumper pulled the Terps within 73-70 at the midway point of the second half. Duke, however, outscored Maryland 26-8 over the final ten minutes. Senior center Lonny Baxter led Maryland with 24 points and eight rebounds.
* 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 Sunday's game with Clemson just two 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 nine 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 of its last six games, and 13 of its last 15 - losing only to top-ranked Duke and No. 5 Oklahoma during the stretch.
* The Terrapins have won seven of their last eight ACC regular season games 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 13-3 overall and 3-1 in the ACC after Thursday's 99-78 loss at top-ranked Duke.
* Clemson is 11-7 overall and 2-3 in the ACC following setbacks last week to NC State, 80-79, and Wake Forest, 96-55.
* 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 travel to Wake Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 23 (7:30 p.m., ESPN2) before returning to Cole Field House to host Florida State on Saturday, Jan. 26 (4 p.m., RJ).
* The Terrapins close out the first half of the ACC round-robin schedule at Virginia on Thursday, Jan. 31 (7 p.m., ESPN).
