March 4, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Four of five Maryland starters earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference basketball honors on Monday, the fifth starter earned honorable mention merit in the ACC, and Juan Dixon became the eighth first team All-American in Terrapin history.
Maryland capped its regular season with a 112-92 win over Virginia on Sunday before a slew of former All-Americans and all-conference greats as the Terps played the final game in the 47-year history of Cole Field House. Dixon helped Maryland to an undefeated home season at Cole, and celebrated Maryland's 18th straight home win with three of those past first team All-Americans - Len Elmore, Tom McMillen and Albert King - in attendance.
First Team All-American
A third team All-American last season by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, Dixon was named a 2002 first team All-American by the NABC on Monday. He is just the second first team All-American since Gary Williams took over as the Terps' coach in 1989-90. Joe Smith is the Terps' only other first team selection during the Williams Era.
Joining Dixon on the NABC's list of first team All-Americans are Duke's Jason Williams and Mike Dunleavy, Drew Gooden of Kansas and Steve Logan of Cincinnati.
All-ACC
Dixon and Jason Williams also were the only unanimous selections to the All-ACC First Team which was released on Monday. Dixon, while moving into second place on Maryland's career scoring ladder last week and within 69 points of breaking Len Bias' school scoring record, became the school's first player since Bias to earn unanimous All-ACC selection. He became the 23rd player in ACC history and only the second Maryland player ever named first team All-ACC in three straight seasons.
"Juan has had a great career here at Maryland," said Gary Williams. "To be selected first team All-ACC in three straight seasons is a terrific accomplishment."
Added Dixon, "It's all exciting. Especially after senior night and all of the activities surrounding Cole Field House last week. I'm proud to be mentioned with all the great players in Maryland's history. Now all that I want to do is concentrate on playing basketball and help us to keep on winning."
Dixon, who leads Maryland with 19.5 points per game and leads the ACC with 2.9 steals, led a host of Maryland stars to collect All-ACC accolades. Senior teammate Lonny Baxter, Maryland's leader in rebounds and the ACC leader in blocked shots, was the leading vote-getter on the All-ACC Second Team. Conference assist leader Steve Blake, ranked second nationally with 8.1 assists, joined forward Chris Wilcox on the third team. Senior tri-captain Byron Mouton was an honorable mention selection.
Dixon also was named to the ACC's All-Defense team for the third consecutive season. He is the fourth player in league history to lead the circuit in steals for three straight years.
ACC Player of the Week
Earlier on Monday, Dixon was named the ACC's Player of the Week, following performances last week which helped Maryland to its first ACC regular season crown since 1980, and catapulted the Terps to a 25-3 regular season finish - their best in school history. Maryland finished the ACC with 12 straight wins and a 15-1 league record. Dixon scored 25 points in the Terps' win at Florida State last Wednesday, and while being honored on senior night on Sunday, scored 23 points to lead Maryland to an emotional win over Virginia.
It was Dixon's third player of the week award this season, and the seventh of his career. Only Antawn Jamison of North Carolina (12), Tim Duncan of Wake Forest (11), and NC State's David Thompson (9) have won more player of the week awards in ACC history.
