March 31, 2002

ATLANTA - After spending what seemed like three weeks in three days here in Atlanta, home of the 2002 Final Four, the Terrapins finally took to the court on their fourth day in the south for their national semifinal match-up against Kansas. The stage was set, the lights were bright and the crowd was frenzied, and when the smoke cleared, the Terps had pulled out the 97-88 victory -- in perhaps the biggest game in school history -- that is, until Monday.

The day began with breakfast at the team hotel, followed by some relaxing "down time." Just after noon the Terrapins boarded the bus and went over some last-minute preparations at a closed shootaround at the Georgia Dome, with each Terp preparing himself for the battle to be waged later that evening.

The Terrapins enjoyed their pregame meal back at team headquarters and got ready to head to the Dome midway through the first half of the first national semifinal. Hundreds of frenetic Terp fans lined the hotel lobby area to give the team a spirited send-off.

After the Hoosiers-Sooners contest was over, the Terps came out to the floor for their game and took in the uproar from the red and white crowd. And the Terps did not disappoint the Maryland faithful, overcoming an early deficit and then holding off a late Jayhawk surge to earn a berth to the school's first ever national title game.

Throngs of Terp fans were once again on hand when the team arrived after their postgame press conferences. The players grabbed a quick bite to eat and were off to get some rest for a busy Easter Sunday, while the Terrapin coaches and staff members worked late into the night in preparation for arguably the biggest Monday in Maryland athletics history. Equipment manager Mike Cefaratti, for example, has some uniforms to wash before the big game!

So to all of the Terp fans wherever you are from all of us in Atlanta, good night ... or good morning ... or whatever! We'll write tomorrow, and see you at the Dome on Monday!

"Postcards From Atlanta" will be posted every evening as the Terps travel down the road toward the national championship. Be sure to log on to umterps.com for tomorrow's postcard!