Dec. 2, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland basketball squad moved up in the rankings this week with the release of the Dec. 2 Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Polls, and is now the No. 9/8 team in the country. The Terps broke into the top 10 in both polls for the first time in 2002-03 after claiming top 10 rankings in every poll a season ago.

The new-look Terps are off to a strong start, posting a 3-0 record that opened the season and the $125 million, state-of-the-art Comcast Center. Maryland plays in its first away contest of the 2002-03 campaign on Tuesday, squaring off against No. 10/11 Indiana (4-0) as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, will be the site for a rematch of the 2002 national championship game that the Terps won, 64-52, to capture the first NCAA title in program history. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN at 9 p.m.

The Terps return to a familiar place for this weekend's 8th annual BB&T Classic at MCI Center in Washington, D.C. The home of the Washington Wizards was the site of four Terrapin victories last season, including two that captured Maryland's second straight BB&T title and two that boosted the Terps into the NCAA Sweet 16. MCI Center now serves as the home court for the Terps' all-time scoring leader, ACC Player of the Year and Final Four MVP, Juan Dixon of the Wizards.

The Terrapins take on Notre Dame (RV/RV) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the BB&T opening day's late game. Unranked Gearge Washington, this year's tournament host, plays No. 2/2 Texas at 1 p.m. to open the tournament. The winners meet at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, following the 1 p.m. consolation game.