Oct. 22, 2006

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The University of Maryland basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2006 ACC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the media Sunday at the league's 45th Annual Operation Basketball at the Grandover Resort & Convention Center. North Carolina was the choice to capture the 2006-07 ACC regular-season title. Duke was picked second, followed by Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.

Head coach Gary Williams and seniors Ekene Ibekwe (Carson, Calif.) and D.J. Strawberry (Corona, Calif./Mater Dei HS) addressed more than 200 members of the media during the day-long event on Sunday.

Virginia Tech was picked sixth, one spot ahead of the Terrapins. Virginia, Clemson and Wake Forest rounded out the top ten. Miami was selected to finish eleventh, while N.C. State was picked twelfth.

North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, while Georgia Tech's Thaddeus Young was tabbed as the ACC Rookie of the Year. Hansbrough was joined on the Preseason All-ACC Team by Al Thornton of Florida State, Josh McRoberts of Duke, Sean Singletary of Virginia, and Jared Dudley of Boston College

The Terps will host a scrimmage for Maryland students on Wednesday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m. UM plays its first exhibition contest of the season on November 1, when the Terrapins take on California (Pa.) at 8:00 p.m.

First Team All-ACC
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Jared Dudley, Boston College
Sean Singletary, Virginia
Al Thornton, Florida State
Josh McRoberts, Duke

ACC Preseason Player of the Year
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year
Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech