Oct. 26, 2008

ATLANTA - The University of Maryland was picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball standings in preseason balloting Sunday at the annual Operation Basketball media gathering.

The Terrapins were represented by head coach Gary Williams, senior forward Dave Neal and junior guard Greivis Vasquez at the event, which drew more than 100 members of the media to the Marriott Marquis Hotel.

North Carolina was the preseason favorite in the balloting by the media, gathering all 40 first-place votes. The Tar Heels, a consensus No. 1 pick by many national observers, were followed in Sunday's preseason selections by Duke, Wake Forest, Miami, Clemson and Virginia Tech.

Following the Terrapins were Georgia Tech, NC State, Florida State, Boston College and Virginia.

Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina was the unanimous pick for 2008-09 preseason player of the year, while Al-Farouq Aminu of Wake Forest was the preseason rookie pick.

Hansbrough was joined on the Preseason All-ACC team by Tyrese Rice of Boston College, Jack McClinton of Miami, Ty Lawson of North Carolina and Gerald Henderson of Duke.

Maryland opens its 2008-09 season with an exhibition game against Northwood (Fla.) University on Saturday, Nov. 8.