Nov. 21, 2005
MAUI, Hawaii -
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Maryland will face the first of many early-season tests on Monday when the Terps take on No. 7 Gonzaga in the first round of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. You can watch all the action live on ESPN2 with Dave O'Brien and Rick Majerus on the call.
You can also listen to all the action live on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network with Hall of Famer Johnny Holliday and Chris Knoche on the call. Terps Pregame will hit the road for the first time this season as Bill Rohland from ESPN Radio 1300 in Baltimore will be broadcasting live from Dave and Buster's Super Sports Café in Arundel Mills Mall for all three contests, beginning on Monday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m., prior to Maryland's match-up with No. 7 Gonzaga.
TheTerps Pregame Show begins one hour prior to tip-off for each Maryland contest, while the postgame show has been expanded to an hour, as well. Rohland will take phone calls and chat with fans the final 30 minutes of Terps Postgame.
Maryland Notables...
Maryland is making its 3rd trip to the Maui Invitational against one of the strongest fields in tournament history. Six of the seven Division I teams in the tournament are former national champions, including three top 10 teams from this year. The 2005 Maui Field:#10 Arizona, Arkansas, Chaminade, #3 Connecticut, #9 Gonzaga, Kansas, #24 Maryland and #4 Michigan State. The Terps also competed in the Maui Invitational in 1994 and 2000.
Maryland enters the 2005-06 season as one of the most consistent winning programs in the country. The Terps have averaged 23.6 wins per season the last nine years, including eight consecutive 20-win seasons from 1996-2004. Maryland has made 12 straight postseason appearances, including 11 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1993-2004 - a feat that only six schools have accomplished of late.
The Terps are 1-1 all-time vs. Gonzaga having last met in the BB&T Classic in 2003. Maryland and Gonzaga also played in 1995 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City. Gonzaga, which returns four starters including Preseason All-American Adam Morrison, opened the season with a 69-60 win over Idaho.
Head coach Gary Williams is the 11th-winningest active coach in NCAA Division I men's basketball with an overall record of 542-306 (.639). He is also the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-winningest active coach with a 335-178 (.652) record as The Terps' mentor, while ranking 5th all-time among ACC coaches with his 335 wins at Maryland. Williams currently ranks 4th all-time in victories over ACC league teams (140) and is one of only 3 head coaches currently in the league who have captured an NCAA title.
Maryland opened the season with a 111-85 win over Fairleigh Dickinson at the Comcast Center. It was the Terps' 4th straight season-opening win and the most points in a season opener since 1998. Junior guard Mike Jones paced six Maryland players in double figures with 22 points off the bench, while senior guard Chris McCray and senior forward Nik Caner-Medley each scored 18. The Terps dished out 25 assists on 36 baskets and nailed 32-of-38 free throws.
The Terps return one of the most experienced teams in the country with four seniors, six juniors and a sophomore who played in 31 games last year. Entering the season, Maryland's roster combined to play in 557 career games for the Terps, including a combined 249 starts.
