Terrapins Open Exhibition Season With Globetrotters

Nov. 12, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terrapin basketball squad (No. 13 AP/No. 15 USA Today/ESPN) plays host to the Harlem Globetrotters in the first of two preseason exhibition games scheduled at Comcast Center. The Globetrotters bring an impressive 3-1 record from their Fall College Tour into this evening's tilt, which airs on ESPN2. It is the country's first college basketball game to be televised this season.

The new-look Terrapins square off against their first opponent since defeating Indiana, 64-52, in the NCAA title game in April - and these are not the Harlem Globetrotters that spray confetti on the crowd and torment the woeful Washington Generals time and time again. Since beginning their college tour in the fall of 2000, the Globetrotters have posted a 13-3 record. This fall the Trotters knocked off Purdue, St. John's and Western Kentucky before falling to Vanderbilt last evening, 70-68, on an 18-foot buzzer beater by the Boilermakers.

After the meeting with the Globetrotters, the Terrapins have one more scheduled tune-up before opening their regular season slate. The EA Sports All-Stars will visit College Park on Tues., Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. in a game that will be aired live by Comcast SportsNet.

The Terps open the 2002-03 regular season with a home game against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. That game will be televised on ESPN2 as well. Maryland plays three home games at Comcast Center in the first week of the season, as it also hosts The Citadel on Nov. 27 and Duquesne on Nov. 30.

Terps Ranked No. 13/15 In Preseason Polls

With a seasoned backcourt in All-America candidate Steve Blake and Drew Nicholas, an experienced frontcourt in Tahj Holden and Ryan Randle and a host of talented newcomers, the Terrapins earned a pair of top 15 rankings in the preseason polls. The Terps are ranked 13th according to the preseason Associated Press poll released Monday, and were 15th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll released on Nov. 1.

Several of the Terps' 2002-03 opponents earned a preseason top 25 ranking in the first polls of the year, including No. 6/6 Duke, No. 7/7 Florida and NCAA finalist and No. 21/21 Indiana. ACC rivals NC State, Virginia and Georgia Tech received votes in both polls, as did BB&T Classic opponent Notre Dame. Possible BB&T opponent Texas is No. 4/5 respectively.

Scouting The Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters began their Fall College Tour prior to the 2000-01 basketball season and have seen its popularity increase over the past few years. Now in their 77th season, the Globetrotters were inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame this past September.

With a roster of former NBA and collegiate players for the college tour, the Globetrotters are 3-1 this fall, dropping their first decision of the tour to Vanderbilt on Monday. Facing a deficit for most of the game, the veteran Trotter squad finally tied the game with 14 seconds to play but were sunk by an 18-foot buzzer-beater by Commodore junior Matt Freije.

Eleven-year NBA veteran Cedric Ceballos has been the most consistent Trotter on the college tour, averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game. He is a former NBA slam dunk champion who averaged 14.3 points per game, playing with the Phoenix Suns, L.A. Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. He did not play last night against Vanderbilt.

Sharpshooter Todd Day led the Globetrotters with 20 points at Vanderbilt. He averaged 12.8 points during his ten years in the NBA with Milwaukee, Boston, Miami, Phoenix and Minnesota.

Olden Polynice, who logged 14 years in the NBA, has been a force off the bench for the Globetrotters. Polynice nearly made the Philadelphia 76ers squad this fall after playing for Seattle, the L.A. Clippers, Detroit, Sacramento and Utah. At 38-years of age, Polynice more than doubles the ages of freshmen Travis Garrison, Chris McCray and John Gilchrist.

Did you know?

Two former Maryland Terrapins under Gary Williams played for the Globetrotters at different times in their careers - Johnny Rhodes and Exree Hipp.

Johnny "Ace" Rhodes played for the Terps from 1992-1996 and was a three-time All-ACC selection. He still owns all the Maryland marks for steals in a game (9), a season (110) and career (344).

"Mr. Exciting" Exree Hipp was a teammate of Rhodes' in the mid-1990s and was a three-time all-conference selection as well.

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