Aug. 15, 1997
Maryland to Face South Carolina in Black Coaches Association Classic
Kansas in Franklin National Bank/Children's Charities Classic
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Early season match-ups versus NCAA Tournament
participants South Carolina and Kansas, a trip to perennial Big 12 power Missouri
and a late season clash versus Temple at the Baltimore Arena headline the
1997-98 University of Maryland men's basketball schedule released today by Head
Coach Gary Williams.
Maryland is looking to make its school-record fifth consecutive NCAA
Tournament appearance. The Terps are one of only three Atlantic Coast
Conference teams (Maryland, North Carolina and Wake Forest) which have
participated in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments. In addition, the Terps,
Tar Heels and Demon Deacons are the only three conference teams which average 20
or more wins in each of the last four years.
"This schedule exemplifies our continuing high stature among the nation's
top teams," said Williams. "We are privileged to be playing in the Black
Coaches Association Classic and the Franklin National Bank Tournament. We have
proven that we are among the nation's best programs by annually playing one of
the top schedules. This is another strong schedule on which we will play great
teams."
Maryland with face South Carolina, the No. 3 seed in the 1997 NCAA
Tournament's East Region, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. That game is the
first of a double-header which will pit Villanova against Minnesota in the
second game.
Maryland will later face Kansas, the No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region in
the first round of the Franklin National Bank/Children's Charities Tournament.
Maryland is the defending champion of the FNB Classic having defeated California
and George Washington last season. The Colonials will face perennial Ivy-League
power Penn in the second game of the doubleheader.
Maryland will travel to play Missouri in a return game from the 1996 season
on December 30. The Terps defeated the Tigers, 91-72, in Cole Field House on
February 18, 1996. The Terps will host Temple, from the Atlantic-10, in a game
to be played at the Baltimore Arena on February 28. The game marks the fourth
consecutive season and fifth time in the last six years that Maryland will play
in Baltimore.
The Terps open ACC play at Clemson on December 4. The early December game marks the second consecutive season that the Terps will open the conference schedule before the holiday season. Maryland defeated Georgia Tech, 77-63, on December 12, 1996. The ACC Tournament in Greensboro is scheduled for March 5-8. The Terps will play host to Duke on January 3 and North Carolina on January 14.
Throughout the course of the season, at least 18 of the Terps' 27 games will appear on national or regional television including two network dates (ABC), six on ESPN, one on ESPN2, seven on Jefferson-Pilot as part of the ACC's regional package and two on Home Team Sports
