March 10, 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. -
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Sixth-seeded Maryland (19-11, 8-8 ACC) looks for its fourth straight win when the Terps take on third-seeded Boston College in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament Friday at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes have the call, while Doris Burke will provide courtside commentary. Maryland is also looking for its ninth 20-win season in the last 10 years.
Maryland dominated Georgia Tech in the opening round, 82-64, on Thursday night. Nik Caner-Medley had 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists as four Terps scored in double figures. Mike Jones added 19 points and seven rebounds, while D.J. Strawberry had 15 points, seven assists and three steals. Maryland's defense limited Tech to just 34.8% shooting and had nine blocks. The Terps have allowed just 65.0 ppg in their last three wins.
Maryland is led by Caner-Medley (15.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg), who averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in ACC play and recently earned Third-team All-ACC honors. Strawberry (10.3 ppg, 4.0 apg, 1.9 spg) directs the Maryland attack, while junior forward Ekene Ibekwe (11.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.3 bpg) and sophomore center James Gist (8.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg) man the paint. Jones (10.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg), who is averaging 14.1 points the last 13 games as a starter, rounds out the Terps' starting five.
No. 11 Boston College (24-6, 11-5 ACC) enters the tournament having won eight of its last nine ACC games and 11 of 13 after opening league play 0-3. Senior forward Craig Smith (1st Team All-ACC) leads the Eagles with 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while junior forward Jared Dudley (2nd Team All-ACC) averaged 16.3 points and 6.9 board per contest.
Maryland Notables...
Maryland's schedule is ranked as the 12th toughest in the country in the latest RPI Report, second to only Duke in the ACC. The Terps' RPI (47) also ranks fifth in the ACC, which is the only conference in the Sagarin Ratings to have every team ranked 100 or better. Maryland has played eight games against teams currently ranked in the top 25, including No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Gonzaga and No. 6 George Washington, while six of the Terps' 11 losses have been to top-10 teams. Eight of the Terps' losses have come against teams in the top 35 of the latest RPI Report.
Maryland is 4-1 all-time vs. Boston College dating back to the first meeting in the NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden in 1958. The Terps won the first meeting this season, 73-71, on Dec, 11 in College Park in the Eagles' inaugural ACC game. Gary Williams was the head coach at Boston College from 1982-86, where he helped lead the Eagles to a 76-45 record and two NCAA Regional Semifinal appearances.
Head coach Gary Williams is the 11th-winningest active coach in NCAA Division I men's basketball with an overall record of 560-317 (.638). He ranks second among active ACC coaches with 353 wins at Maryland (4th overall) and also ranks second among active league coaches (3rd overall) with 147 ACC victories. Williams is the Terps' all-time winningest coach.
