Coach: Gary Williams, 16th season at Maryland (315-165), 27th overall (522-293)
Affiliation: Atlantic Coast Conference.
2003-04: 20-12, 7-9 in ACC (sixth place), won conference tournament; lost to Syracuse in second round of NCAAs.
Radio: WBAL (1090 AM)
Arena: Comcast Center (17,950)
Consensus ACC favorite: Wake Forest
Consensus Maryland pick: Fifth
Starters lost: One
Probable starting lineup: G John Gilchrist, G Chris McCray, F Nik Caner-Medley, F Travis Garrison, F/C Ekene Ibekwe.
Backcourt: This is the Terps' strength, filled with guards who are big, strong, fast and versatile. Williams, who could be tempted to lean heavily on a three-guard lineup at times, won't need mass substitutions to change the look of his team. He could use D.J. Strawberry or Sterling Ledbetter to back up Gilchrist, or he could play Strawberry at shooting guard behind McCray and move Mike Jones to wing forward. So dazzling in the ACC tournament last year, Gilchrist will be asked to lead, score inside, find the open man and be consistent -- all while playing against some of the top point guards in the country on a nightly basis. McCray returns stronger and more confident, though Strawberry will push him for minutes.
Frontcourt: If the Terps go with a starting lineup of Caner-Medley (6-8), Garrison (6-8) and Ibekwe (6-9), they will be as big if not bigger than most teams that they'll play. In the preseason, that trio showed a willingness to score inside, and all three present matchup problems with their ability to score from the perimeter as well. Caner-Medley appears to have added some quickness to go along with a more confident -- and versatile -- offensive repertoire. The Terps will need Garrison to fill the rebounding void left by Jamar Smith's exit.
Outlook: The expanded ACC boasts six teams in the Associated Press' Top 25 poll, including three of the top four. Maryland will do well to finish conference play with a 9-7 record. Nevertheless, the school's string of consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament should be extended to 12, and the Terps appear to be a legitimate Sweet 16 team. If Ibekwe and Garrison become consistent inside contributors and Gilchrist continues his ascent to stardom, the Terps might go even farther.
COURTSIDE: Memories from 47 seasons at Cole Field House are on display on the Walk of Fame, but visiting teams aren't bothered by bad memories. Last season's four home losses were the most since 1992-93, when assistant coach Keith Booth was playing for Dunbar High.
Roster
Returning players
(Statistics from last season; comments by Jeff Zrebiec)
Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Pts. Reb. Ast.
Will Bowers So. 7-1 248 C 0.8 1.2 0.2
Has made nice strides, but still likely last big man off bench.
Hassan Fofana So. 6-10 280 F/C 1.4 1.7 0.1
With less bulk and more minutes, his totals should rise.
Travis Garrison Jr. 6-8 238 F 7.8 5.2 0.7
Averaged 12 pts. in postseason, discovering power game.
John Gilchrist Jr. 6-3 194 G 15.4 4.5 5.0
ACC tourney MVP still feels he has something to prove.
Mike Grinnon Sr. 6-6 221 F 0.5 1.0 0.5
Popularity surged after his foul shots in ACC final.
Darien Henry Sr. 6-6 208 F 0.4 0.2 0.0
Walk-on has played in nine games each of past 2 seasons.
Ekene Ibekwe So. 6-9 210 F/C 4.9 3.9 0.3
Mr. Versatile is asked to bang inside; still loves to drive.
Mike Jones So. 6-5 200 G 4.9 1.9 0.5
40 percent 3-pt. shooter will benefit if Terps go small.
Chris McCray Jr. 6-5 195 G 11.0 3.8 2.8
More confident, appears primed for break-out year.
Nik Caner-Medley Jr. 6-8 241 F 12.2 4.7 1.7
Playing with an assertiveness not seen at times last season.
D.J. Strawberry So. 6-5 190 G 6.2 2.8 1.3
Improved offensively, but it's defense that keeps him on court.
Newcomers
James Gist Fr. 6-8 215 F
Too early for Wilcox comparisons, but has been impressive.
Sterling Ledbetter Jr. 6-4 185 G
Transfer gives Terps a true backup point guard.
Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Nov. 19 Jackson State 8 p.m.
Nov. 23 Mercer 8 p.m.
Nov. 26 vs. Memphis-a 9 p.m.
Nov. 30 at Wisconsin-b 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. George Mason-c 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 vs. Michigan State 12:30/3 p.m.
or George Washington-c
Dec. 12 UNC-Asheville 1 p.m.
Dec. 19 Florida State 6 p.m.
Dec. 23 American 8 p.m.
Dec. 28 Liberty 8 p.m.
Jan. 4 Mount St. Mary's 8 p.m.
Jan. 8 at North Carolina Noon
Jan. 11 at Wake Forest 9 p.m.
Jan. 15 Temple 2 p.m.
Jan. 19 Virginia 9 p.m.
Jan. 23 N.C. State 6 p.m.
Jan. 26 at Duke 9 p.m.
Jan. 30 Georiga Tech 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 at Clemson 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 at Miami 3 p.m.
Feb. 8 Virginia Tech 9 p.m.
Feb. 12 Duke 9 p.m.
Feb. 16 at N.C. State 9 p.m.
Feb. 19 at Virginia 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 22 Clemson 8 p.m.
Feb. 27 North Carolina 5:30 p.m.
March 5 at Virginia Tech 4 p.m.
March 10-13 ACC tournament TBA
at Washington
(a-Mass Mutual Classic at Springfield, Mass.; b-ACC/Big Ten Challenge; c-BB&T Classic at Washington.)
