Jan. 20, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
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Maryland (No. 22 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) looks for back-to-back wins when Virginia Tech comes to town for a battle of the ACC's top offensive and defensive teams. The Terps are 10-0 at Comcast Center this season and have won 13 straight at home dating back to last year.
Maryland is coming off a thrilling, 90-86, win over Wake Forest last Sunday at Comcast Center, while the Hokies look to rebound from a 54-49 loss to in-state rival Virginia.
The Terps, which lead the ACC and rank seventh nationally in scoring with 82.5 ppg, are led by senior guard Chris McCray (14.8 ppg) and senior forward Nik Caner-Medley (13.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg), who have combined to play in 213 career games. Junior point guard D.J. Strawberry (10.9 ppg, 4.3 apg) directs the Maryland attack, while junior forward Ekene Ibekwe (11.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg) and senior center Travis Garrison (9.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg) man the paint.
Virginia Tech (10-7, 0-4 ACC) leads the ACC in scoring defense allowing just 60.4 points per game. The Hokies are led by junior forward Coleman Collins (16.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and junior guard Jamon Gordon (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.1 apg).
Maryland Notables...
Head coach Gary Williams is on the verge of several monumental milestones. With 346 career wins at Maryland, Williams is just three victories shy of becoming the Terps' all-time winningest basketball coach (Charles "Lefty" Driesell, 1969-86). Williams also has 141 career ACC victories, which is just two shy of passing Frank McGuire for third on the ACC career wins list.
Saturday's game will be historic as Maryland welcomes the one millionth fan to Comcast Center since its opening in 2002. The lucky fan will win a prize package which includes a commemorative basketball autographed by head coach Gary Williams and four tickets to a luxury suite for the North Carolina game on Feb. 2.
Maryland is 24-5 all-time against Virginia Tech dating back to the first meeting in 1925. The Terps have won seven of the last eight meetings with the Hokies, including a season split last year. Maryland won, 86-71, in College Park and Va. Tech won, 86-76, in Blacksburg. Maryland is 3-1 vs. the Hokies under head coach Gary Williams and has averaged 83.3 points per game in the four meetings. The Terps are 15-2 all-time against Virginia Tech in College Park, including a 1-0 mark at Comcast Center.
Head coach Gary Williams is the 11th-winningest active coach in NCAA Division I men's basketball with an overall record of 553-310 (.641). With a 346-182 (.655) record at Maryland, he is just three wins shy of becoming Maryland's all-time winningest basketball coach (Charles "Lefty" Driesell, 348-159 from 1969-86).
