Oct 12, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Midnight Madness at Maryland was a celebration of the past, a glimpse toward the future and a housewarming party rolled into one.

The defending NCAA champion Terrapins formally opened their lavish new on-campus home, the 17,950-seat Comcast Center, on Friday night.

College basketball practice were allowed to start at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and a number of programs took advantage of the weekend start for a Midnight Madness.

Maryland's event featured many of the staples of the past, such as a laser show, dunking lines and a short scrimmage. But this was unlike any of the 32 versions of Midnight Madness that preceded it.

For the first time, the Terrapins were coming off their first NCAA title. And they were strutting their stuff in a different building.

The $125 million Comcast Center replaces Cole Field House, which served as the Terrapins' home for 47 years.

"It's great to leave Cole with a national championship. That place really deserved it," coach Gary Williams said. "But we're really looking forward to this year. The Comcast Center is as good as any on-campus arena, if not the best. This place was built for basketball. It's incredible how you can see from the highest seats."

Unlike Cole Field House, the Terrapins' new home has a television screen on the scoreboard. Ninety minutes before midnight, fans were treated to a look back to Maryland's run to the title, culminating with the 64-52 win over Indiana in the championship game.

"That's really the first time I've seen it. I guess we won," Williams deadpanned.

The Terrapins will hang the championship banner before the regular-season opener against Miami of Ohio on Nov. 24. By then, the players should be used to their new surroundings.

"This place is really, really big," senior forward Tahj Holden said. "It's very nice, they did a very good job. All the bright lights, all the seats, it seems like we're an NBA team now."

Steve Blake, the lone returning starter from last year's team and a starter on the squad that also went to the Final Four in 2001, can't wait to start playing in his new home.

"I like it. It's going to be great, it's going to be loud," he said. "Twenty years from now, people will remember that we were the first team to play here. It's nice to be here to open the building. It's the start of something new."

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer