With the recent news of Juan Dixon somehow testing positive for steroids and Steve Blake's recent trade to the Clippers now is as good a time as any to revisit the greatest Maryland Basketball team ever, the 2002 championship squad. In 2001 Maryland led by Lonny Baxter (fat man), Juan Dixon and Steve Blake were amongst the best teams in the country, the problem was Duke. In 2001 Duke defeated Maryland in the regular season, via their miracle minute (aka the most annoying regular season Duke moment in history) as well as in the Final Four.
In 2002 the Terps brought back their 2001 core and got maturity from rising Sophomore star Chris Wilcox. Their run through the 2002 NCAA tournaments was one of the smoothest to date. In the 6 games in the tournament that they won they never had a margin closer than 8 points. This in part was helped by Jared Jeffries whom if you remember led the Indiana Hoosiers to both a shocking upset of Duke as well as a run to the NCAA Finals. In the finals it was obvious that Jeffries was neither Carmelo Anthony nor was his supporting cast worthy of a title.
Check out a few YouTube Clips after the jump...
Vs. Duke
Juan Dixon
Steve Blake Ends UConn
Maryland Wins
Mobs After the Title Game
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