Maryland Men's Basketball Season Outlook
11/3/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 3, 2004
Maryland takes on the Division II Bryant Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. at Comcast Center. The contest is sold out.
Terrapin fans can listen to the game broadcast on the Terrapin Radio Network -- with flagship stations WBAL 1090-AM and WMAL 630-AM -- or via umterps.com. "Voice of the Terps" Johnny Holliday and Chris Knoche call the action.
COLLEGE PARK, MD. - As the Maryland basketball team hoisted the 2004 ACC Championship trophy high overhead in the Greensboro Coliseum last March, all of Terrapin nation enjoyed the dividends of months of tremendous hard work, spirited determination and difficult lessons learned. The statistically youngest team in all of college basketball had captured the crown in the nation's most competitive conference, overcoming the inexperience of youth and beginning to tap into its seemingly limitless potential. The 2003-04 season was a wild ride filled with spirited comebacks and heartbreaking losses, unbelievable victories and agonizing defeats - and ultimately success.
In one weekend, the Terrapins transformed themselves from a squad teetering on the edge of the NCAA Tournament bubble into a No. 4 seed in the national tournament. Gary Williams' young group never quit as it forged through the nation's No. 2 rated schedule, facing what would be 16 ranked opponents as the season went on. The battle-tested Maryland team became only the third squad in the 51-year history of the Atlantic Coast Conference to defeat the top three seeds in the league's championship tournament, and captured the first ACC tourney title for the school since 1984. The Terps' 21-point comeback over No. 2 NC State in the semifinal round and Maryland's overtime encounter that topped No. 1 Duke in the championship game are already considered to be among the greatest games in ACC Tournament history. Terrapin point guard John Gilchrist, then a sophomore, took tournament MVP honors after engineering one of the standout ACC Tournament performances of all time.
From the stage in Greensboro, Williams and the Terrapins headed to Denver to make a school-record 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. A first round victory over UTEP gave the Terps their eighth straight 20-win season, also extending a Maryland school record. Consistent with their superlative effort all season long, the Terrapins nearly erased a 16-point deficit in the Second Round against defending national champion Syracuse. In a matchup of the 2002 and 2003 NCAA title winners, the determined Terps simply ran out of time - but once again exhibited the spirit and character that will be used to build toward success in 2004-05.
A new era in Maryland basketball history began with a bang in 2003-04, and Williams and the Terrapins are now ready to take the next step. Returning nearly the entire squad from their 2004 ACC Championship run, the Terps look to continue moving onward and upward as experience builds and the young team continues to develop. As a bonus, Williams and the Terrapins embarked on an extremely successful tour of Italy in August, giving the coaching staff an early preview and the chance to tinker with different lineups and combinations.
 John Gilchrist averaged 24.0 ppg and 6.3 apg during the 2004 ACC Tournament.  |
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"If we continue from where we were, and start from where we ended up last season, we have a chance to be a good team," said Williams. "The players are working hard this offseason. We got to go to Italy this year, so we got a little preview before practice actually started, and hopefully we can figure out the best way to play. We have many players who did a good job for us last season."
Williams and the Terrapin coaching staff have all the pieces in place, and used the trip to Italy to begin the season on the right foot, all while experiencing the culture of the old country. The Terrapins posted a 3-2 record on their summer tour, earning wins over two elite Italian squads and notching a landslide victory over world-renowned Kiev (Ukraine). The Terps' average margin of victory was +13.0 points per game on the tour, and the Terps averaged 98.6 points per outing.
In addition to floor general Gilchrist, the Terps return every piece of their deep and versatile backcourt. The frontcourt, loaded with size and potential, loses only Jamar Smith. Smith's inside scoring and rebounding presence will need to be replaced, but the Terps' list of qualified candidates is long.
Whatever combinations Williams and his staff elect to go with, one thing is certain - opponents can expect a battle every night, home or away. The determination and character of this Terrapin team has been proven time and again, and those intangibles could be the difference in an Atlantic Coast Conference that will be as competitive as ever.
Guard
The Terrapin backcourt returns in its entirety for the 2004-05 campaign, looking to pick up where it left off last season. Maryland's guards are athletic and versatile, enabling Williams to throw many different looks at the opposition. The Terps have enough depth and talent to implement a two or three guard lineup on any given night.
After only one season as a starter, it is more than safe to say that Gilchrist has developed his own identity as the Terps' point guard. A third team All-ACC selection and the conference's fifth-leading assist man (5.0 assists per game), Gilchrist proved himself not only as a playmaker, but emerged as the Terps' top scorer (15.4 points per game) and one of the league's toughest defenders (1.8 steals per game). Gilchrist's inspired ACC Tournament effort included a 24.0 points per game scoring average, 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, a .634 field goal shooting percentage and an unbelievable .643 mark from beyond the arc. He has already been named to the Preseason John R. Wooden Award list and to Dick Vitale's All-Rolls Royce fourth team this preseason.
"John was the MVP of the ACC Tournament, and if he can be more consistent with that type of play over the course of the season, he can be one of the best point guards in the country," said Williams.
 Chris McCray averaged 14.5 ppg in NCAA Tournament play in 2004. |
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Also coming into his own in 2003-04 was shooting guard Chris McCray, who played consistently solid defense all season long and began to surge offensively as the year progressed. One of four Terrapins to average double-figure scoring numbers last season (11.0 points per game), McCray also contributed 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a sophomore. His improved size and strength will make him an even tougher matchup in his junior season.
Possibly the most versatile player and diligent defender on the Maryland squad, sophomore D.J. Strawberry exploded onto the scene as a rookie and earned honorable mention ACC all-freshman team honors. In addition to his skills as a lock-down defender, Strawberry proved to be a slashing scorer, leading all Terp freshmen with a 6.2 points per game average.
Sharpshooter Mike Jones began to display his potential as the season progressed, steadily earning playing time with improved ball-handling and defense. Jones poured in a career-high 25 points against UMES during the non-conference portion of the schedule, and began to contribute with big-time performances later in the season. His 3-pointer from the corner with 33 seconds remaining in regulation against Duke in the ACC title game and his perfect free throw effort in overtime helped the Terps to the victory.
Williams said, "I thought by the end of the year Mike was pretty confident out there on the court. He has to keep up that confidence, and as he goes into this year, he has a chance to be a great shooter."
Transfer guard Sterling Ledbetter comes to College Park from Allegany Community College, looking to spell Gilchrist at the point. The All-Maryland JUCO honoree, who averaged 13.0 points, 7.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game a season ago, hails from the same junior college program that produced NBA All-Star Steve Francis, national champion Ryan Randle and ACC champion Jamar Smith.
Small Forward
When the Terrapins opt for a "bigger" lineup, Williams has veteran options at small forward in junior Nik Caner-Medley and senior Mike Grinnon.
 Inside-outside threat Nik Caner-Medley added 10 lbs. of muscle in the offseason. |
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Caner-Medley, a two-year starter, returns as the Terps' second-leading scorer (12.2 points per game) and rebounder (4.7 rebounds per game). The left-handed junior has bulked up to 241 pounds, but still has the quickness and long-range stroke to pose matchup problems for opposing defenses. His added size and strength should also earn him minutes at the power forward position.
The only player in Maryland basketball history to have captured the ACC and NCAA Championships, and the lone scholarship senior on this year's Terrapin squad, Grinnon returns at small forward with added size. Grinnon, now at 221 pounds with the ability to hit the 3-pointer, will vie for playing time in his final campaign after proving his mettle against Duke in the ACC final. Grinnon played a career-high 10 minutes against the Blue Devils, guarding Duke's J.J. Redick and nailing a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Power Forward/Center
The Terps' frontcourt boasts an incredible mixture of size and athleticism, with several talented players eager to contribute. Williams and his staff have unprecedented depth at the power forward/center position, and can once again utilize several combinations of post players to wear down the opposition.
 Travis Garrison totaled 13.0 ppg and 6.3 rebounds during the 2004 postseason, and averaged 16.4 ppg and 11.0 rpg on UM's summer tour of Italy. |
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All-ACC Tournament second team member Travis Garrison returns in his junior season as the Terrapins' leading rebounder at 5.2 boards per game. The big man continues to add bulk and become more and more of an inside presence, complementing his ability to hit from the outside. Garrison peaked at the right time in 2003-04, averaging 12.4 points per game and 6.6 rebounds during the postseason, and experienced continued success on the Terps' Italian trip with averages of 16.4 points and 11.0 rebounds across the five game tour.
"Travis really played well down the stretch," said Williams. "He has always been able to shoot, but he proved to himself as much as anyone that he can also be a power player to go along with the shooting."
One of the Terrapins' most talented athletes, forward Ekene Ibekwe began to show his tremendous upside last season and will continue to make his mark in 2004-05. The long, lean power player has augmented his strength in the offseason and an improved jumpshot will complement his tremendous finishing, rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. With 44 rejections as a rookie (1.4 per game), Ibekwe became the first freshman to lead the Terrapins in blocked shots since Joe Smith in 1994.
"Ekene's upside is unlimited because he's 6-9, he's quick and he's got great timing," said Williams. "With Ekene, a lot is going to be determined by how well he shoots the basketball, and how much stronger he gets between his freshman and sophomore year."
Six-foot-ten, 288-pound Hassan Fofana returns for the Terrapins as one of the most physically imposing players in the league. Only in his fifth season of organized basketball, Fofana's experience and offseason workouts have contributed greatly to his continued development. Already a matchup problem due to his size, Fofana will contribute more and more as he refines his skills.
Center Will Bowers, a 7-1 sophomore, has also put forth a superior offseason effort and will vie for playing time inside. The big man boasts an excellent shooter's touch for a player his size and earned starts in four games during the Terps' Italian Tour.
Maryland's unsung hero, walk-on forward Darien Henry, will continue to help the Terrapins in practice and make the most of his playing minutes. In 18 career games, Henry, who is now a senior, maintains a .500 field goal percentage.
The Terrapins' only true freshman roster addition, James Gist from nearby Good Counsel High School, joins the frontcourt this season looking to be an immediate contributor. Gist is a long, lean player who is quick for his size and is an excellent shooter. He is a dynamic finisher and shotblocker, and has been working to add strength in the offseason.
The Schedule
The Maryland men's basketball team opens what will be a challenging 2004-05 schedule when it plays host to Jackson State out of the Southwest Conference on Friday, Nov. 19 at Comcast Center. The 2004 ACC Champions welcome the Tigers as part of a slate that features 16 regular-season games and two exhibitions to be played at their state-of-the-art home arena - a site where the Terps averaged a school-record 17,950 fans per game last season and finished fifth in the nation in home attendance for the second-straight year.
 Ekene Ibekwe was the first freshman to lead the Terps in blocks (44) since Joe Smith in 1994. |
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The Terps' season-opening matchup will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet at 8 p.m. For the third-consecutive year, each of Maryland's regular-season contests will be aired on live television, including at least 11 games that will air nationally on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2 or FOX Sports Net.
"Our schedule allows us to play some of the top teams in the country, and it should be highly rated, just like last season," said Williams, whose Terps played the second-toughest schedule of 2003-04 according to the end-of-year RPI report. "We're looking forward to playing and being competitive with the top teams in our conference and in the country."
The Terps will tune up with a pair of early-November exhibition games at home, taking on NCAA Division II power Bryant College (Rhode Island) on Nov. 5, and facing two-time defending Canadian national champion Carleton University on Nov. 13.
After rounding out their season-opening homestand with Mercer on Nov. 25, the Terrapins hit the road to take on head coach John Calipari and the No. 23 Memphis Tigers in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass. The Terps-Tigers clash on Nov. 26 (9 p.m., ESPN2) is the first of several marquee non-conference matchups for the Terps in the upcoming season.
From there, the Terrapins play their first true road game of the year when they travel to Wisconsin's Kohl Center as part of the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Terps face the preseason No. 20 Badgers for the fourth time in five seasons on Tues., Nov. 30, on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. Maryland posted a 73-67 overtime victory over Wisconsin at Comcast Center in last year's ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Maryland opens play in the ninth-annual BB&T Classic when the Terps face George Mason on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. at MCI Center. Preseason No. 10 Michigan State joins local squads George Washington, GMU and the Terps in the annual event to benefit the Washington, D.C., Children's Charities Foundation. The consolation and championship games are slated for Sunday, Dec. 5, at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
The Terrapins return home for a five-game December homestand, beginning with a meeting against UNC Asheville (Dec. 12). After opening their ACC schedule against Florida State at Comcast Center on Dec. 19 (6 p.m., FOX Sports Net) and taking on local team American University on Dec. 23, the Terps then face 2004 NCAA Tournament participant Liberty (Dec. 28) and in-state squad Mount St. Mary's (Jan. 4) after a break for the holiday.
ACC play continues with road games at No. 3 North Carolina (Jan. 8, Noon, ESPN) and No. 2 Wake Forest (Jan. 11, 9 p.m., Raycom/Jefferson Pilot) - both teams that have been ranked No. 1 in different preseason polls.
Before finishing the bulk of the conference schedule, John Chaney's Temple Owls visit Comcast Center on Saturday, Jan. 15 (2 p.m., ESPN2) to mark the Terps' final non-league game of the regular-season. The Terps and Owls - along with their legendary coaches - clash for the first time since 2001.
 Defensive demon D.J. Strawberry (51 steals in 2003-04) earned honorable mention ACC All-Freshman team accolades. |
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The 2003-04 ACC was rated by far the strongest conference in the NCAA Divison I RPI report, and with seven teams making preseason Top 30 polls, the Terrapins will certainly face daunting challenges as league play rolls on in January, February and March. Key matchups for the Terps include their annual showdowns with preseason No. 12 Duke (Jan. 26 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, ESPN; Feb. 12 at Comcast Center, ESPN), national finalist No. 4 Georgia Tech (Jan. 30 at Comcast Center, FOX Sports Net) and regional rival Virginia (Jan. 19 at Comcast Center, RJ Split; Feb. 19 at University Hall, CBS). Maryland's home matchup with preseason No. 19 NC State on Jan. 23 (6:00 p.m., FOX Sports Net) is the second part of a UM-NC State doubleheader, following a contest in which the Terrapin women take on the Wolfpack at 1 p.m. at Comcast Center.
The Terrapins face both of the ACC's latest additions in 2004-05, traveling to Miami on Feb. 5, and engaging in a home-and-away series with Virginia Tech. The Terps play host to the Hokies on Feb. 8 at Comcast Center, and visit Blacksburg, Va., in their regular-season finale on March 5.
In all, the Terrapins could play 18 regular season games against teams that participated in postseason tournaments in 2003-04 (NCAA - Memphis, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Liberty, North Carolina, Wake Forest, NC State, Duke and Georgia Tech; NIT - George Mason, George Washington, Florida State, Temple, Virginia). The Terps are scheduled to play 12 contests against teams ranked in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
The ACC Tournament comes to the Washington, D.C., area for only the fourth time in its 52-year history as it will be held at MCI Center, March 10-13. The league championship tourney was previously held at the Capital Centre Landover, Md., in 1976, 1981 and 1987. The Terrapins will attempt to earn a bid to a 12th-consecutive NCAA Tournament, which begins March 17 at First and Second Round sites.
The Next Step
The 2004-05 Terrapins are still a somewhat youthful squad, but the experience gained last season coupled with added depth at each position should pay off for a team and a coach hungry to build upon the success attained in 2003-04. In fact, early preseason rankings have tabbed the Terps as one of the nation's Top 15 teams, citing Maryland as the No. 10 team in the nation on one list.
"I feel really good because we could have quit a couple times during the season last year, and a lot of people wrote us off about making the NCAA Tournament," said Williams. "Each team decides what type of team they want to be each year, and I know if we play hard, we're talented enough to beat good teams. You don't always have to play perfect to win, but if you play hard you can win close games. Hopefully this team learned how to do that."
