March 30, 2002

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA -- Now, finally, the Maryland Terrapins can forget about last year.

Led by Juan Dixon and Chris Wilcox, Maryland buried 365 days worth of frustration Saturday night with a 97-88 victory over Kansas in the NCAA tournament semifinals.

Having already accomplished plenty this season, this Maryland squad becomes the first in the rich history of the basketball program to play in the championship game. On Monday night, the Terrapins (31-4) will face Indiana, which beat Oklahoma in the first semifinal.

A year ago, Maryland raced to a 39-17 lead against Duke in the semifinals before losing 95-84.

"I still don't think I'm over that game," center Lonny Baxter said Friday.

Baxter scored only four points against Kansas after picking up two early fouls, but he's still got a chance to cut down the nets Monday night because Wilcox played so well in his place.

Wilcox hammered home a dunk with 7:52 left to make it 78-61, and the lead eventually swelled to 20. But, as usual, the Terrapins made it tough on themselves.

Maryland allowed the Jayhawks to creep within four points, but this time the Terps held on.

Duke? Forget about it.

Wilcox, a sophomore forward, had 18 points and nine rebounds. With help from junior Tahj Holden and freshman Ryan Randle, Wilcox neutralized a Kansas frontcourt that last week outrebounded Oregon 63-34.

If Wilcox planned to use the Final Four as a showcase to prove his NBA potential, he certainly took care of business Saturday night.

Before he can think about the pros, however, he must focus on a far more pressing engagement: playing for the national championship.

When this game ended, Wilcox gave coach Gary Williams a chest bump. With his play, Wilcox also gave the coach a shot at his first national championship.

Maryland realized early that this game would be unlike last year's debacle against Duke. Instead of bolting to an early lead, the Terrapins fell behind 13-2 after missing three shots and committing four turnovers in their first eight possessions.

Dixon then hit a pair of 3-pointers, a layup and a 15-footer in a 13-5 run that dispelled any notion that the Jayhawks would run the Terps right out of the Georgia Dome.

Dixon - who else? - gave Maryland its first lead, hitting a 3-pointer to make it 26-25.

Maryland led 44-37 at halftime despite getting no points, two rebounds and 3 minutes from Baxter.

He fouled out in the closing minutes, but walked to the bench with his head held high, because he knew there was another game to follow - the last of a stellar career in which he and Dixon took the Terrapins to unprecedented heights.

Win or lose, it was already an exceptional season for Maryland - arguably the best in school history. The Terrapins won more games than ever before, earned their first Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title since 1980 and capped a ninth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament with their second straight trip to the Final Four.

All of that was just fine, but not enough. All year long, the Terrapins said the season couldn't be considered a success unless they won the national championship.

They're now just one game away.