Maryland Men's Basketball Preseason Honors
10/13/2004 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 13, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Returning 11 letterwinners and four starters from a young, energetic team that captured the 2004 ACC title, the 2004-05 Terrapins have been cited by several preseason publications as a "team to watch." The Terps' talent and potential for success is widely recognized by the national media, as evidenced by the accolades Maryland's players and coaching staff have earned before the team has even taken the court.
The ACC, which finished far-and-away as the nation's top conference in the 2003-04 RPI report, looks to be just as dangerous this year with as many as five Top 10 teams in some preseason rankings, six in the Top 15 and seven in the Top 30.
The start of basketball season is just around the corner with Midnight Madness on Friday, and it will certainly be another dogfight in the nation's most competitive league, the Atlantic Coast Conference, which somehow looks to be even tougher in 2004-05.
Terps' National Preseason Rankings Dick Vitale, ESPN 10th SLAM Magazine 11th Andy Katz, ESPN 14th ACC Handbook 14th Sporting News 15th Lindy's 16th Blue Ribbon 19th Street & Smith's 20th Basketball News 20thACC Preseason Rankings Lindy's 4th Sporting News 5th ACC Handbook 6th Street & Smith's 6th Athlon 6th Basketball News 6th
Preseason Honors
Maryland Team No. 4 backcourt in the nation, Sporting News No. 8 backcourt in the nation, Lindy's No. 20 frontcourt in the nation, Sporting News
Nik Caner-Medley No. 16 small forward in the nation, Lindy's No. 19 small forward in the nation, Sporting News
Travis Garrison No. 2 ACC Player on the Rise, Sporting News Top 10 Breakout Player, Basketball News
John Gilchrist Preseason All-American & Watch List, John R. Wooden Award Second Team All-American, Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American, Athlon First Team All-ACC, Sporting News First Team All-ACC, Street & Smith's Second Team All-ACC, ACC Handbook Second Team All-ACC, Athlon Fourth Team All-Rolls Royce, Dick Vitale No. 6 point guard in the nation, Sporting News No. 10 point guard in the nation, Lindy's No. 10 Floor Leader, Athlon ACC's Top Playmaker, Lindy's
James Gist All-East Freshman Team, Street & Smith's
Chris McCray ACC's Most Underrated Player, Sporting News
D.J. Strawberry Sensational Sophomore, Lindy's
Dave Dickerson National Top 10 Assistant Coach, Athlon
What They're Saying About Terrapin Basketball... "Coach Gary Williams' team really matured in the ACC tournament last season, and that momentum should carry over into a big season. Gilchrist is a PTPer in the backcourt, and this team should enjoy a super season." -- Dick Vitale, ESPN
"The Terps emerged as one of the toughest teams in the country during March and shouldn't be taken lightly in the preseason." -- Andy Katz, ESPN
"Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Gary Williams and his youthful Terps. While the team did finish the ACC regular season at 7-9, they grew up quickly with Williams' first ACC Tournament championship, beating the number three, two and one seeds on consecutive days... Look for Maryland to battle near the top of the standings once again." -- Mike Gminski, ACC Handbook
"Gary Williams will work his magic - he always does - and the Terps will dance in March." -- Lindy's
"These turtles are still young, but as long as John Gilchrist and Nik Caner-Medley are still around, they will be dangerous ... Woe to team that meets Maryland in the Tourney." -- SLAM Magazine
"If [ACC] tournament MVP John Gilchrist and backcourt partner Chris McCray, who's the most underrated player in the league, can merely stay at the same level they reached in Greensboro, N.C., they will rank as one of the top guard tandems in the country." -- Sporting News
"Coach Williams will use last year's loss in the [NCAA] second round to Syracuse as fuel to motivate his guys. These Terps gained valuable experience last year, which should bring back chants of `Fear the Turtle.'" -- ACC Handbook
