Thunder & Lightning Edition No. 5
1/7/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2002
Thunder & Lightning All-America Update in PDF Format
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MARYLAND ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATES
LONNY BAXTER vs. North Carolina (Jan. 9, 7:30, ESPN2) - Lonny Baxter returns to action on Thursday after missing the Terps' victory last week over Norfolk State, with a sprained right ankle. Baxter and the Terps host a UNC squad which beat Maryland twice last season, despite his combined 39 points and 17 rebounds in the two games. The senior is one of the country's most agile and most bullish big men, and can be found among ACC leaders in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and blocked shots. He is just four points shy of becoming the 14th Maryland player ever to accumulate 1,500 career points. He is averaging 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds for the season.
JUAN DIXON vs. North Carolina (Jan. 9, 7:30, ESPN2) - Maryland's leading scorer with 18.0 points per game, and the ACC's leader in steals with 2.9 per game, Juan Dixon continues to be one of the nation's best players on both ends of the floor. Dixon guides the Terps into Thursday's contest with the Tar Heels after leading Maryland with 17 points in a 92-69 win last week over Norfolk State. He has led the Terrapins in the scoring column in each of the last three games, including a 21-point effort on 12-of-14 free throw shooting in an ACC-opening win at NC State on Dec. 30. Dixon is currently third in ACC history in steals, and just 32 points from becoming the sixth Terp to reach 1,800 points.
THUNDER & LIGHTNING ALL-AMERICA CAMPAIGN
Maryland's THUNDER&LIGHTNING combo of Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon is as lethal an inside-outside duo as any in the country.
The senior tandem strikes on both ends of the floor. Both are local products of the Baltimore-Washington area who have literally worked their way into the nation's spotlight, guiding the Terrapins to the 2001 Final Four and leading Maryland to a hopeful repeat performance as seniors.
Baxter muscles through the lane with remarkable agility for a 260-pound man of his size - maneuvering his way to West Regional MVP honors last season while averaging a double-double through five NCAA Tournament games.
Dixon electrifies fans and tortures opponents with quickness and relentless tenacity which have resulted in ACC-leading points and steals totals for three straight seasons.
Collectively, they make Maryland a versatile threat against the nation's top teams. Individually, they are among the country's craftiest, toughest and most difficult players to defend.
THUNDER&LIGHTNING.
Baxter and Dixon.
Coming to an arena near you.
