COLLEGE PARK -- No matter the opponent, no matter the situation, the Maryland Terrapins usually talk about each game being the same as the one preceding it or the one that immediately follows. One of 16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of 29 on their regular-season schedule.
But they know this one -- tonight's 9 o'clock matchup between eighth-ranked Maryland (17-4, 7-2 in the ACC) and top-ranked North Carolina (18-1, 8-1) -- is different.
From the atmosphere at practice to the mood throughout the campus to the feeling they will have walking into Cole Field House for what could be the most significant regular-season game for any Terps team in more than a decade.
"This is definitely a really big game," said All-America center Joe Smith. "We lost to them by 10 down there and we now have two losses in the conference. If we want to win the regular-season championship, we're going to have to win tonight."
But it is more than just a chance to catch the Tar Heels for first place in the ACC, more than just an opportunity for Gary Williams to beat Dean Smith for the first time since splitting his first six games at Maryland with the sport's winningest coach, more than just the potential for a first victory over North Carolina for any of the current players.
It is the moment when a program that has picked itself off college basketball's scrap heap in the past two years can put itself among the sport's elite. It would be the biggest step yet for a team that has taken several in the past year, a statement that it is ready to be North Carolina's next legitimate challenger in the ACC.
"Obviously, it would be a bigger win for us than it would be for Carolina," Williams said before practice Sunday. "They've been playing in these kind of games since Dean's been there and that's something like 34, 35 years. I don't think we're at that level. We're just having a good year. We want to be there year in and year out."
The Tar Heels come in after regaining the top spot in the Associated Press poll, moving up from No. 2 after Massachusetts lost Saturday at George Washington. The Terps, meanwhile, come in at No. 8, three spots lower than last week after losing at Georgia Tech on Saturday.
These two teams came into last month's game in Chapel Hill under different circumstances. Though the rankings were similar Maryland was No. 7 and North Carolina No. 1 -- the Tar Heels were coming off a loss at North Carolina State. With Smith in foul trouble -- he played only 20 minutes, but managed 20 points and 10 rebounds -- the Terps lost, 100-90.
North Carolina was not only a lame-duck No. 1 going into that game, but some thought a sitting duck as well. Many questioned its lack of depth, especially when Smith had to substitute walk-on Pearce Landry for injured senior guard Danta Calabria in the team's starting lineup against the Wolfpack.
"When they're healthy, their depth hasn't been a problem, and they've been healthy for all but one game," said Williams, who will need to go deeper -- and for longer stints -- into his own bench than he did in Saturday's 100-91 loss at Georgia Tech. "Their starting lineup is one of the best in the country. They have great players at each position. You can do a great job on four-fifths of a possession and one guy will hurt you."
What will help Maryland tonight is that the Terps are playing at home, where they are undefeated this season. Just as the Tar Heels are at the Smith Center. Just as the Yellow Jackets are at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. And, just as those teams did against Maryland, the Terps will likely need a little help to get them through the rough patches tonight.
"That was our attitude this year -- we have the advantage playing at home and we want to win all our games at Cole," said junior forward Exree Hipp. "The crowd definitely motivates us, and being right on top of the court, it makes it hard for the other team. But I also think it helps us when we play our trapping defenses."
Last Saturday's loss not only broke Maryland's six-game winning streak, but exposed some deficiencies in its half-court man-to-man defense that had been there for stretches against Clemson, Duke and Virginia. In those games, they weren't as obvious because the Terps were able to win. The Yellow Jackets scored on 17 straight possessions in one stretch.
"When you lose, you realize maybe there are things you have to work on," said Williams. "When you lose, players will listen a little harder in practice. We lost our defensive edge."
A victory tonight will not only put the Terps back into a first-place tie with the Tar Heels, but keep them in the hunt for a possible No. 2 seed in next month's NCAA Tournament.
"There's a lot involved in it," said Williams. "The players know that. They read the newspapers. But we just want to work as hard as can. If we do that, the rest will come."
Said junior guard Duane Simpkins, "We've matured a lot since the first time we played them this year. We're not going to think about anything else. We just want to go out and win the game."