April 1, 2002

by Associated Press

WILLIAMS' LEGACY

It's taken 12 years, but Maryland coach Gary Williams finally has led his alma mater to its first ever national championship game.

After stints at American, Boston College and Ohio State, Williams returned to Maryland in 1989.

"When I got the opportunity to go there, through the help of these guys, we've been able to get a team together that has been good enough to compete at the national level," he said.

"Once you do that, then you have a chance to do this, if things go your way."

If the Terrapins beat Indiana, Williams will become only the ninth coach ever to lead his alma mater to the national championship. North Carolina State's Norm Sloan, in 1974, was the last to do it.

"It's one of those things where when I was at the university, going to school, we weren't a very good basketball team," Williams said. "I always felt when I left there and went into high school coaching and all that, there's no reason why Maryland couldn't be as good as anybody else."

INJURY UPDATE: Tom Coverdale's sprained ankle didn't swell after Saturday's victory over Oklahoma, and the senior point guard plans to play in the championship game.

"I think running on it during the game will help loosen it up," he said. "Mentally, I proved to myself I can play and now I know the ankle will be stable on Monday."

But he won't be 100 percent.

"If I am on the floor playing, I should not be making excuses," Coverdale said. "Sure, it is difficult playing in a championship game and know you aren't 100 percent, but I am thankful that I am here and playing."

A.J. Moye, who injured a hamstring against the Sooners, didn't offer much information on his status.

"It's tight," was all he said.

On the other hand, Maryland is injury free for Monday night's game.

BANNER HANGING: If the Terrapins win their first national title, they plan to hang the banner - however briefly - in Cole Field House.

Maryland moves across campus next season to the Comcast Center, a 17,100-seat facility that will feature 20 corporate suites, a million-dollar scoreboard and new coaches' offices for most of the school's sports teams.

"I think we'll hang it in Cole, then move it," Williams said. "Cole, it's one of those places where if you could just play games there, you know, you'd be very happy. It's old. There's not enough room in there for the number of people that go in there."

That won't be a problem in the new arena.

"The new place ... is one of those great places," Williams said. "We want to hang it in Cole to bring that tradition with it."

LEACH'S DECISION: When George Leach chose Indiana over Maryland after graduating from Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C., he never dreamed the two schools would play for the national championship three years later.

"I had no clue," he said. "This is the funniest thing right now. I'm playing the school I didn't choose. It's a very huge game for both teams."

Leach was recruited by Bob Knight, but he never got to play for the legendary coach.

"I chose here because I liked their tradition, with all that coach Knight had done," Leach said.