Dec. 6, 1997
Maryland Defend Classic Title Versus Kansas
TERPS BEGIN DEFENSE OF FRANKLIN NATIONAL BANK CLASSIC TITLE
Maryland, the defending Franklin National Bank/Children's Charities Classic Tournament champion, plays Kansas in a battle of top-25 teams in the first round of the 1997 edition of the classic this afternoon. The Terps defeated California, 80-64, and then-No. 25 George Washington, 74-68, to claim the championship of the 1996 classic which was played at USAir Arena in Landover, Md. Maryland finished as the third place team in the inaugural 1995 classic as it defeated George Washington, 98-81, after losing its first-round match-up against then-No. 5 Massachusetts, 50-47.
NO. 23 MARYLAND TERRAPINS (3-2, 0-1 ACC)
VS.
NO. 2 KANSAS JAYHAWKS (8-0, 0-0 BIG 12)
SUNDAY DECEMBER 7, 1997/1:30 P.M.
MCI CENTER/20,500
WASHINGTON, D.C.
ABC NATIONAL BROADCAST
LEARFIELD/MARYLAND RADIO NETWORK
FRANKLIN NATIONAL BANK CLASSIC RESULTS
Maryland opens defense of its Franklin National Bank Classic tournament championship today versus Kansas. Today's double-header marks the first day of the third annual tournament which has quickly become one of the most prestigious early season tournaments in all of college basketball.
1995 Massachusetts 50 Maryland 47
Florida 75 G. Washington 66
Maryland 98 George Washington 81
Massachusetts 80 Florida 58
1996 Maryland 84 California 60
G. Washington 57 Mississippi State 36
California 78 Mississippi State 45
Maryland 74 Georgia Washington 68
TERPS RANKED NO. 23 BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Maryland is ranked 23rd in this week's Associated Press poll. The Terps were ranked 24th in last weeks poll and recorded a 1-0 record last week. It marks the second consecutive AP poll this season that the Terps have been included in and the 14th time in the last 15 regular season polls that Maryland has been ranked in the Top-25. The Terps were ranked as high as No. 5 last season.
Associated Press
Top 25
December 1, 1997
1) Duke 5-0
2) Kansas 6-0
3) North Carolina 6-0
4) Arizona 4-1
5) South Carolina 2-0
6) Purdue 5-1
7) Kentucky 4-1
8) New Mexico 5-0
9) Xavier 3-0
10) Iowa 3-0
11) Utah 5-0
12) Stanford 4-0
13) Connecticut 5-1
14) Mississippi 3-0
15) UCLA 2-1
16) Fresno State 3-1
17) Clemson 3-2
18) Arkansas 4-0
19) Florida State 4-1
20) Temple 2-1
21) Georgia 5-1
22) Georgia Tech 4-0
23) MARYLAND 3-1
24) Wake Forest 5-0
25) Princeton 4-0
ESPN/USA Today
December 1, 1997
1) Duke (13) 733
2) North Carolina (7) 713
3) Kansas (10) 709
4) Arizona 629
5) Purdue 616
6) South Carolina 569
7) Kentucky 534
8) New Mexico 521
9) Xavier 508
10) Utah 450
11) Stanford 385
12) Iowa 370
13) Connecticut 351
14) Mississippi 282
15) UCLA 274
16) Clemson 260
17) Fresno State 215
18) Florida State 191
19) Temple 166
20) Princeton 136
21) Arkansas 130
22) Georgia 122
23) Georgia Tech 118
24) Wake Forest 114
25) Louisville 109
(ARV - Maryland 78-26th place)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR...
...Look for Maryland to defend its Franklin National Bank Classic championship. Maryland defeated George Washington, 74-68, to claim the championship last season;
...Look for Maryland to shoot above 50 percent from the field for the fourth consecutive game;
...Look for Maryland to attempt to defeat a team ranked within the top-5 of the Associated Press for the second time in the last two seasons.
CAREER HIGH WERE ESTABLISHED AGAINST CLEMSON BY...
...Senior forward Rodney Elliott who played a career-high 37 minutes;
...Freshman forward Mike Mardesich who played a career-high 21 minutes;
...Freshman forward Mike Mardesich who shot a perfect 1.00 percent from the field.
SEASON HIGHS WERE ESTABLISHED AGAINST CLEMSON BY...
...Senior forward Rodney Elliott had grabbed 10 rebounds;
...Senior guard Sarunas Jasikevicius who dished out eight assists.
TERPS RETURN TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL
Maryland is playing in the nation's capital for the first time since it faced Georgetown on December 5, 1979 at the D.C. Armory. Maryland's last victory in Washington, D.C. came on January 7, 1976 as it defeated George Washington, 82-72, at GW's Smith Center.
ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE PROFIT LEADS TERPS IN SCORING
Junior All-America candidate Laron Profit begins today's game against Clemson with a team leading 19.4 points per game average. He has scored in double figures in each of Maryland's five games this season and has two double/doubles this season. He is one of three starters shooting 50 percent or better from the field and has personally shot above 50 percent from the field in three of the Terps five games this season.
All-America Candidate Profit and Rodney Elliott Lead Maryland in Scoring While Ekezie Leads in Rebounding
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Laron Profit
Career Steals
110 (current)
+ 5 (needs)
115
(to move into 10th place
all-time in school history)
Laron Profit
Career Points
647 (current)
+ 353 (needs)
1,000
(to become the 33rd player in school history to score 1,000 career points)
Terrell Stokes
Career Assists
248 (current)
+ 99 (needs)
347
(to move past Ernie Graham into 10th place all-time in school history)
Terrell Stokes
Career Steals
92 (current)
+23 (needs)
115
(to move into 10th place
all-time in school history)
Sarunas Jasikevicius
Career Three-Pt. Shots Made
81 (current)
+ 19 (needs)
100
(to become the sixth player to hit 100 or more career three-point shots).
TERPS STARTING FIVE SHOOTING WELL
Maryland's starting five is shooting a combined 50.4 percent from the field this season. In the last three games, the quintet is even better, as they are shooting a combined 55.9 percent from the field. Senior center Obinna Ekezie, who shot a team-leading 55.0 percent from the field last season, is again leading the team with a 55.3 shooting percentage.
Player FGM FGA PCT LAST 3
Obinna Ekezie 21 38 55.3 66.7 (16-24)
Laron Profit 39 73 53.4 56.3 (18-32)
Rodney Elliott 23 49 46.9 50.0 (15-30)
Sar. Jasikevicius 16 38 42.1 45.0 (9-20)
Terrell Stokes 13 24 52.4 75.0 (8-12)
Totals 112 222 50.4 55.9 (66-118)
ON THE FIRST DAY
Maryland has won eight of its last 11 games which have been played on Sunday. Last season, the Terps were 4-1 on Sundays including a win at then-No. 2 Wake Forest.
FEELS JUST LIKE YESTERDAY
Maryland made its first appearance at the Capital Centre (USAirways Arena) on December 10, 1974 - almost 23 years ago to the day. Like the then-Washington Bullets, the Terps won their first ever game at Capital Centre as they defeated Georgetown, 104-71. The now-Washington Wizards won their inaugural game at the MCI Center this past Tuesday night and upped their record to 2-0 on Thursday night.
Terps by the Numbers vs. Nationally Ranked Teams
2 Maryland has played two ranked teams this season - then No. 7 South Carolina and current No. 17 Clemson.
2 Maryland has played two overtime games this season - both against nationally ranked opponents.
3.0 Junior center Obinna Ekezie is averaging 3.0 blocks per game against ranked teams this season.
4 Junior All-America candidate Laron Profit scored a career-high tying four three-point baskets against No. 7 South Carolina in the season opener.
14 As a team, Maryland blocked 14 shots against No. 7 South Carolina in the season opener on November 14.
14.5 Senior forward Rodney Elliott is averaging 14.5 points per game against the two ranked teams which Maryland has played this season.
17.0 Junior All-America candidate Laron Profit is averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds against ranked teams this season.
57.1 Junior Terrell Stokes has hit four-of-seven three point shots against ranked teams this season.
83.3 Redshirt freshman center Mike Mardesich is shooting 83.3 percent (5-6) from the field against ranked teams this season.
1.00 Junior Terrell Stokes has not missed a free throw against a ranked team this season (2-2).
PROBABLE STARTERS FOR MARYLAND....
F #25 Rodney Elliott (16.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg: 14.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg vs. ranked teams)
C #54 Obinna Ekezie (11.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg; 7.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg vs. ranked teams)
G #3 Laron Profit (19.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg: 17.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg vs. ranked teams)
G #12 Terrell Stokes (7.4 ppg, 4.0 apg: 10 ppg, 2.5 apg vs. ranked teams)
G #13 Sarunas Jasikevicius (9.2 ppg, 3.2 apg: 8.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg vs. ranked teams)
....AND TOP SUBS
F #44 Terence Morris (7.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg; 4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg vs. ranked teams)
G #11 Matt Kovarik (3.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg: 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg vs. ranked teams)
C #33 Mike Mardesich (6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg: 5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg vs. ranked teams)
F #21 Laron Cephas (0.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg; third game vs. ranked team)
MARYLAND VERSUS KANSAS- THE SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
The Series: Kansas leads, 3-0
Last Maryland Win: NA
Last Kansas Win: November 25, 1984; 58-56
Last Maryland Win in a Tournament: NA
Last Kansas Win in a Tournament: November 25, 1984; 58-56
Great Alaska Shootout
Maryland vs. Kansas, Current Streak: Maryland has won 3
Gary Williams vs. Kansas Career: 1-0 (at Ohio State)
December 29, 1986; 79-78 (OT)
TERPS VS. KANSAS- THE LAST THREE GAMES
Nov. 25, 1984 Dec. 10, 1965 Dec. 19, 1964
Kansas 58 at Kansas 71 at Kansas 63
Maryland 56 Maryland 62 Maryland 61
(at Anchorage, Al.)
GARY WILLIAMS AGAINST KANSAS AS A PLAYER
Maryland Head Coach Gary Williams will be participating in his third career game against Kansas. Williams will coach his second career game against the Jayhawks and played in two as a Terp player.
Date FGM-A FTM-A PTS REBS
Dec. 19, 1964 1-1 0-0 2 3
Dec. 10, 1965 2-3 0-1 4 6
Totals 3-4 0-1 6 9
Pct./Avg 75.0 0.00 3.0 4.5
ELLIOTT PUTTING UP CAREER HIGH NUMBERS
Senior forward Rodney Elliott has more than tripled his scoring average and nearly double his rebounding average this season when compared to his career statistics for his first three seasons. His 16.2 points per game average (second on the team) is more than 11 points above his career scoring average entering this season, while his 6.2 rebounds per game average (third on the team) is 2.5 rebounds more per game than he averaged throughout the first three games of his career. In addition, he has significantly increased his playing time with his increased level of performance.
PPG RPG 3PT% FT% APG MPG
This season 16.2 6.2 46.7 70.0 1.6 30.8
Career Numbers (3 years) 5.1 3.7 27.8 68.6 0.7 14.3
Improvement +11.1 +2.5 +18.9 +1.4 +0.9 +16.5
OPENING UP ARENAS AROUND THE COUNTRY
Maryland has a 7-2 record in its first appearance in a newly built arena. Most recently the Terps won their first game in the newly renovated Greensboro Coliseum as they defeated Florida State in the first round of the 1995 ACC Tournament. The Terps also became the first ever team to defeat North Carolina in the Dean Dome in 1986.
Terps by the Numbers
3 Maryland is 3-0, undefeated, when it outscores its opponent.
7 Senior forward Rodney Elliott has hit a team-high tying seven three-point shots this season. It marks more than he hit during his entire junior season, 6.
4 Maryland is 4-0 when senior forward Rodney Elliott scores a double/double in points and rebounds.
4.6 Senior guard Sarunas Jasikevicius is averaging a team leading 4.6 assists per game.
5 Freshmen Mike Mardesich and Terence Morris have each blocked at least one shot in all five games this season.
5 Senior forward Rodney Elliott has scored in double figures in a career-high tying five consecutive games.
9 Freshman Mike Mardesich leads the Terps with nine blocked shots.
11 Junior All-America candidate Laron Profit enters today's game versus Kansas tied for 11th all-time in Maryland history with 110 career steals.
24 Senior guard Matt Kovarik averages one turnover for every 24 minutes played this season and did not commit a turnover during his first three games of the season.
38 Senior guard Sarunas Jasikevicius will start his 38th consecutive game versus Kansas today.
Year Arena School Result
1940 Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke L, 48-37
1955 Cole Field House Maryland W, 67-55
1966 University Hall Virginia W, 71-64
1969 Littlejohn Coliseum Clemson W, 84-83
1974 Capital Centre Georgetown W, 104-71
1985 Patriot Center George Mason W, 81-80
1986 Dean E. Smith Center N. Carolina W, 77-72
1990 Lawrence Joel Coliseum W. Forest L, 84-74
1995 New Greensboro Coliseum Fla. State W, 71-64
ENTERING NEW TERRITORY
Maryland will play a member of the Big 12 Conference for the first time as it faces Kansas today. The Terps are, though, 5-6, against current members of the Big 12 Conference.
Kansas 0-3 Oklahoma State 1-0
Kansas State 0-1 Texas 1-0
Missouri 1-2 Texas Tech 1-0
Oklahoma 1-1
TERPS IN NBA ARENAS
Maryland has an all-time record of 13-9 in arenas occupied by NBA teams. Most recently, the Terps opened the 1997 season at the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Madison Square Garden 7-0 New York Knicks
Alamodome 1-0 San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Coliseum 1-0 Los Angeles Lakers
Meadowlands 1-1 New Jersey Nets
Houston Summitt 1-1 Houston Rockets
Charlotte Coliseum 2-4 Charlotte Hornets
Target Center 0-1 Minnesota Timberwolves
Reunion Arena 0-1 Dallas Mavericks
Oakland Coliseum 0-1 Golden State Warriors
EKEZIE PULLING HIS WEIGHT
Junior center Obinna Ekezie is averaging 14.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in the past two games. He is shooting 66.7 percent from the floor during the three-game span.
NO WHISTLES AGAINST EKEZIE
Junior center Obinna Ekezie was not whistled for a foul against Florida International and scored his season-high of 18 points. It marked the third time during his career that he had not been called for a foul; Maryland is now 3-0 during his career when he is foul-less during a game.
TOUGH DEFENSE IN THE PAINT
Freshman center Mike Mardesich leads the Terps with nine blocked shots entering today's game versus Kansas. As a team, Maryland has twice as many blocked shots (36) as its opponents (17) and has blocked at least four shots in each game this season. The Terps blocked a season-high 10 shots against South Carolina in the season opener on November 14. Maryland enters tonight's game with an 7.2 blocks per game average as compared to last seasons 3.5 blocks per game average. The single season record for team blocks in a season is 6.2 during the 1990-91 season.
ELLIOTT FROM THE FIELD
Senior forward Rodney Elliott is shooting 52.6 percent from the field in the last two games and is shooting nearly 47 percent from the field entering today's game against Kansas.
Quoting Maryland Basketball
1) "The expectations on the Terps will be higher this year as the schedule gets tougher. The rest of the league awaits the challenge of beating the Terps and the young foundation of the team begins its junior season. The best thing to come out of last year is that the young players -- Profit, Stokes and Ekezie -- learned they could be successful against the best teams in college basketball. That will do them a world of good going into this season."
Tim Peeler
Blue Ribbon College
Basketball Yearbook 1997-98
2) "Sarunas Jasikevicius got more quality playing time last year because he developed all of the other skills needed to be a productive shooting guard. His defense got better, good enough to draw tough assignments like Virginia's Curtis Staples or Florida State's James Collins. His passing got creative, without being overly risky, as he thrilled the Cole Field House crowd with many of his alley-oop lobs to teammates. He was also second on the team to Stokes with 98 assists."
Tim Peeler
1997 Blue Ribbon College basketball Yearbook
3) "Terrell Stokes is a strong penetrator and a good defender who played more than 1,000 minutes last year, which is a feat for a point guard considering Maryland's aggressive, pressing style. There were times he could make things happen as well as any point guard in the conference. When Stokes does the things he is supposed to, he is an valuable asset."
Tim Peeler
1997 Blue Ribbon College
Basketball Yearbook
STOKES HEATING UP THE SCORING COLUMN
Junior guard Terrell Stokes is averaging 11.5 points in each of his last two games and has scored 23 of his 37 points this season during that span. After scoring 14 points in the first three games of the season, Stokes has scored 62 percent of his total season points in the last two games.
PASS-HAPPY OFFENSE LEADS TO MANY BASKETS
Junior All-ACC candidate Terrell Stokes leads a cast of three Maryland players who are all averaging 3.5 assists per game or more entering today's game versus Kansas. As a team Maryland has been credited with more assists (109) than its opponents (64) and are averaging an assist on more nearly 70 percent of their baskets.
EKEZIE KEEPING FOULS DOWN
Junior center Obinna Ekezie is being called for only 2.8 fouls per game and has only fouled out of one game this season. After fouling out of the season opener against South Carolina, he has been called for only nine fouls in the last four games - an average of 2.3 per game.
Season Fouls Fouls/Game Fouled Out
1997-98 14 2.8 1
1996-97 78 2.4 3
1995-96 106 3.5 4
Totals 198 2.9 7
STOKES FROM THE THREE-POINT ARC
Junior guard Terrell Stokes has made five of his last eight attempts from the three-point arc in the last three games for a success rate of 62.5 percent. He enters today's game against Kansas with a career-high 53.9 shooting percentage. He now ranks 12th on the all-time Maryland list for three-point shots attempted with 107..
Season 3PM 3PA 3P%
1997-98 7 13 53.9
1996-97 31 83 37.4
1995-96 5 11 45.5
Totals 43 107 40.1
PROFIT REACHES 100 CAREER STEALS
Junior All-America candidate Laron Profit, who enters today's game versus Kansas with 110 career steals, became only the 12th player in school history with at least 100 career steals earlier this season. His 100th career steal came in the second half of Maryland's victory against Fairleigh Dickinson on November 18. He became the 4th fastest player in school history to reach the milestone as he hit the century mark after only 69 games.
FASTEST TO 100 STEALS CHART
Rank Game Player Date Career Steals
1. 39 Johnny Rhodes Jan. 8, 1994 344
2. 57 Dutch Morley Feb. 24, 1980 170
3. 67 Walt Williams Dec. 27, 1990 175
4. 69 Laron Profit Nov. 22, 1997 108
GARY WILLIAMS CAREER RECORD
Gary Williams Career Record 353-231 .604 20th season
Gary Williams at Maryland 146-103 .586 9th season
LEARFIELD RADIO - THE MARYLAND RADIO NETWORK
All of Maryland's games this season - home and away - will be heard live on the Learfield/Maryland Radio Network.
The Terps will be heard on the flagship stations, WBAL (1090-AM) and WMAL (630-AM) which combine to give Maryland one of the strongest combination of broadcast signals of any collegiate basketball team in the nation. The Terps can now be heard from Maine to Florida.
Johnny Holliday, now in his 19th season, will once again serve as the voice of the Terps. He is joined once again by former Terps all-star Greg Manning, currently in his 12th season with the broadcast team.
Maryland Radio Network
Flagship Stations
WBAL-AM Balt, Md. 1090
WMAL-AM Wash-D.C. 630
WAMD-AM Aberdeen 970
WI00-AM Carlisle, Pa. 1000
WTBO-AM Cumberland 1450
WSER-AM Elkton 1550 930
WFMD-AM Frederick 930
WARK-AM Hagerstown 1450
WMSG-AM Mtn Lake Pk 1050 1050
WKHW-FM Pocomoke Ct 106.5
WTGM-FM Salisbury 960
WTTR-AM Westminster 1470
GARY WILLIAMS MARYLAND'S RADIO SPORTSLINE
John Wagner, University System Radio-TV Director, provides actualities and interviews for radio for Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams. Stations can access these sound bites by calling the Sportsline at (301) 779-6397. Features will be available at noon on gamedays during the week, and Friday evening for weekend games.
JASIKEVICIUS LENDING A HELPING HAND
Senior guard Sarunas Jasikevicius is averaging a career-high and team leading 4.6 assists per game entering today's game versus Kansas. He nearly tied his career-high of eight assists as he was credited with seven assists against Clemson on Thursday night. He is averaging nearly three assists more than his career average of 1.9 assist per game through the first 93 games of his career.
Season Assists APG Season High
1997-98 23 4.6 7 vs. Clemson
1996-97 102 3.2 8 vs. North Carolina
1995-96 33 1.2 4 vs. Del. State
1994-95 22 0.7 6 vs. Morgan State
Totals 180 1.9 8 vs. North Carolina
KOVARIK NAMED TO NABC ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Senior Matt Kovarik was recently named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches academic honor roll. The honor roll salutes players who are entering their junior or senior seasons and who hold a 3.2 or better grade point average. Kovarik is a business major.
TERPS SELECTED FOURTH BY ACC WRITERS
Maryland was selected to finish fourth in the pre-season poll by the Atlantic Coast Conference Sportswriters Association. The Terps were predicted to finish in the upper echelon of the ACC for the fifth consecutive season.
1997-98 ACSWA PRE-SEASON PREDICATIONS
1. Duke (45) 730
2. North Carolina (43) 727
3. Clemson (2) 628
4. MARYLAND 429
5. N.C. State 391
6. Wake Forest 335
7. Florida State 324
8. Virginia 177
9. Georgia Tech 174
TERPS SIGN TWO PLAYERS ON FIRST DAY OF SIGNING PERIOD
Maryland signed a pair of Blue-Chip high school players, guard Danny Miller and forward Lonnie Baxter, on the first day of the current National Letter of Intent signing period. At 6-6, Miller (Mt. Holly, N.J./Rancocas Valley H.S.) is rated as the 11th best high school prospect in the nation while the 6-8 Baxter (Rockville, Md./Hargrave Military Academy) is rated among the top 50.
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS IN 1997-98
Overall Record: 3-2 When Outrebound Opponent: 3-1
ACC Record: 0-1 When Outrebounded by Opp: 0-1
Home Record: 3-0 When Rebounds are Equal: 0-0
Road Record: 0-1 When Leading at Half-time: 3-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-1 When Trailing at Half-time: 0-1
Day Games: 0-0 When Tied at Half-time: 0-1
Night Games: 3-2 When Shoot Better from Field:2-2
In Home ACC Games: 0-0 When Shoot Worse from Field: 1-0
In Road ACC Games: 0-1 Versus a Ranked Opponent: 0-2
When Score At Least 80 Points:3-0 When Score 100+ Points: 2-0
When Score Under 80 Points: 0-1
