Terps at a glance

Coach: Gary Williams, 14th year at Maryland (274-143), 25th overall (481-271)

Affiliation: Atlantic Coast Conference

2001-02 record: 32-4 (15-1 ACC), won regular-season conference title, lost to North Carolina State in conference tournament semifinals, beat Indiana to win NCAA tournament

Radio: WBAL (1090 AM)

Arena: Comcast Center (17,950)

Consensus ACC favorite: Duke

Consensus Maryland pick: 2nd

Starters lost: 4

Starting lineup: G Steve Blake, G Drew Nicholas, F Tahj Holden, F Nik Caner-Medley, C Ryan Randle

Outlook: It's a new era at Maryland in more ways than one. Besides defending the first national title in school history, the Terps have a new home court at Comcast Center and a much different roster compared with the team that went to back-to-back Final Fours. Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Byron Mouton and Chris Wilcox are gone, leaving senior point guard Steve Blake as the lone returning starter. The Terps have a much more youthful flavor with four freshmen, three sophomores and junior forward-center Jamar Smith, a junior college transfer from Allegany College. But Maryland still has plenty of experience with senior guard Drew Nicholas and senior post men Tahj Holden and Ryan Randle, each of whom made key contributions as reserves a year ago. Blake is the league's most experienced court general, and he and Nicholas could be the most prolific scoring backcourt in the ACC. Holden is an inside-outside threat, and Randle should be a force down low. How well Williams cultivates depth among those young players will say much about where the Terps end up. Smith, freshman forward-center Travis Garrison, freshman forward Nik Caner-Medley and freshman guard John Gilchrist should be among the keys. This team should win at least 25 games and could reach the school's seventh Sweet 16 in 10 seasons.

Returning players

Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos.

Steve Blake Sr. 6-3 172 G

Andre Collins So. 5-9 160 G

Mike Grinnon So. 6-6 198 F

Darien Henry So. 6-6 202 F

Tahj Holden Sr. 6-10 270 F-C

Calvin McCall Sr. 6-3 210 G

Drew Nicholas Sr. 6-3 165 G

Ryan Randle Sr. 6-9 255 F-C

Newcomers

Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos.

Nik Caner-Medley Fr. 6-8 220 F

Travis Garrison Fr. 6-8 234 F-C

John Gilchrist Fr. 6-1 170 G

Chris McCray Fr. 6-4 166 G

Jamar Smith Jr. 6-9 239 F-C