1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team

1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
BB&T Classic Champions
NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches #8
AP #5
1998–99 record 28–6 (13–3 ACC)
Head coach Gary Williams
Assistant coach Billy Hahn
Dave Dickerson
Jimmy Patsos
Home arena Cole Field House

The 1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represented the University of Maryland in the 1998–1999 college basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team was led by head coach Gary Williams and played their home games at the Cole Field House. Ranked as high as #2 in the AP and Coaches' polls, the team finished 28–6, 13–3 in ACC play and lost in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament to UNC. They received an at-large bid as a number 2 seed in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, where they lost to St. John's in the Sweet Sixteen. Official highlights of the season can now be viewed online.

Pre-Season

Accolades

Team
AP ranked Preseason #6 team.

Obinna Ekezie
Preseason All-American
Laron Profit
Preseason All-American[1]

Roster

1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Home town
G/F 3 Profit, LaronLaron Profit style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 202 lb (92 kg) Sr Charleston, South Carolina
G 5 Dixon, JuanJuan Dixon style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 152 lb (69 kg) Fr Baltimore, Maryland
G 12 Stokes, TerrellTerrell Stokes style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 187 lb (85 kg) Sr Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
G 15 Miller, DannyDanny Miller style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Mt. Holly, New Jersey
G 20 Hahn, MattMatt Hahn style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 162 lb (73 kg) Jr Columbia, Maryland
F 21 Cephas, LaRonLaRon Cephas style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 223 lb (101 kg) So Wilmington, Delaware
G 23 Francis, SteveSteve Francis style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 194 lb (88 kg) Jr Takoma Park, Maryland
G 31 Fields, NormanNorman Fields style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Mt. Vernon, New York
F/C 33 Mardesich, MikeMike Mardesich style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 255 lb (116 kg) So Boston, Massachusetts
F 35 Baxter, LonnyLonny Baxter style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Silver Spring, Maryland
F 44 Morris, TerenceTerence Morris style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 205 lb (93 kg) So Frederick, Maryland
F/C 45 Watkins, BrianBrian Watkins style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 229 lb (104 kg) Sr Nashville, Tennessee
F/C 54 Ekezie, ObinnaObinna Ekezie style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 262 lb (119 kg) Sr Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 2011-04-29

Season Recap

With nearly all of its starters returning and a #6 preseason ranking, the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team began the 1998–99 season with high expectations for a successful season and a deep run in the NCAA tournament.[2][3][4] In their opening game, the team broke its record for margin of victory in a 113–46 victory against Western Carolina (a record that would be broken six weeks later with a 75-point victory over North Texas[5] ). The Terrapins also went 6–0 against nonconference opponents at home, increasing their nonconference home winning streak to 64, the longest in the country at the time.

The team participated in two preseason tournaments, winning both. They defeated AU-Puerto Rico, UCLA, and Pittsburgh in the Puerto Rico shootout, and Stanford and Depaul in the 4-team BB&T Classic. Their first loss of the season came in Lexington against Tubby Smith's #5 ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

In ACC play, the team outscored its opponents by an average of 17.4 points in victories while posting an overall home record of 13–1 (7–1), its lone home loss coming against Duke. The team would finish 2nd in the ACC regular season standings with a 13–3 record, Maryland's best run since the 1994–95 season. In the 1999 ACC Tournament, the Terrapins defeated Florida State before losing to North Carolina in the semifinals.

The Terrapins received a #2 seed in the South region on the NCAA tournament – the highest seed ever received by a Gary Williams team[6] – and breezed through their first two matches against Valparaiso and Creighton. However, in the regional semifinals, the team struggled against #3 seed St. Johns, ending the first half of the game in a nearly eight-minute scoring drought. Maryland lost 76–62 and once again failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen.

Accolades

Steve Francis
2nd Team All-American
Naismith and Wooden Award Finalist
1st Team All-ACC
ACC All-Tournament Team

Terrence Morris
Honorable Mention All-American
1st Team All-ACC

Laron Profit
Honorable Mention All-American

Lonny Baxter & Juan Dixon
ACC All-Freshmen Honorable Mention

Draft

Round Pick Player NBA Club
1 2 Steve Francis Vancouver Grizzlies
2 37 Obinna Ekezie Vancouver Grizzlies
2 38 Laron Profit Orlando Magic

Schedule

Date Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (Attendance)
Exhibition
11/04/98* Aussie All-Stars W 90–59  –  17 - Profit  14 - Ekezie  6 - Profit  Cole Field House (12,486)
11/11/98* California All-Stars W 95–83  –  18 - Francis  13 - Ekezie  6 - Francis  Cole Field House (NA)
Regular season
11/14/98* #6 Western Carolina W 113–46  1–0  19 - Ekezie  9 - Dixon  15 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
11/17/98* #6 UMBC W 90–62  2–0  19 - Morris  11 - Ekezie  8 - Profit  Cole Field House (13,865)
11/20/98* #6 Hofstra W 89–59  3–0  23 - Ekezie  11 - Ekezie  9 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
11/23/98* #5 Duquesne W 81–47  4–0  18 - Morris  7 - Profit  4 - Dixon, Profit, Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
11/26/98* #5 vs. American-Puerto Rico
(Puerto Rico Shootout)		 W 82–32  5–0  14 - Dixon, Miller  8 - Ekezie  7 - Stokes  (3,000)
11/27/98* #5 vs. #10 UCLA
(Puerto Rico Shootout)		 W 70–54  6–0  22 - Morris  11 - Morris  6 - Profit  (3,000)
11/28/98* #5 vs. Pitt
(Puerto Rico Shootout)		 W 87–52  7–0  23 - Profit  8 - Mardesich, Morris  8 - Stokes  (3,000)
12/03/98 #2 Wake Forest W 92–69  8–0
(1–0) 		 18 - Francis  7 - Baxter  8 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
12/06/98* #2 vs. #5 Stanford
(BB&T Classic)		 W 62–60  9–0  24 - Francis  7 - Francis  3 - Morris, Stokes  MCI Center (20,544)
12/07/98* #2 vs. Depaul
(BB&T Classic)		 W 92–75  10–0  22 - Morris  6 - Morris  4 - Stokes  MCI Center (18,244)
12/12/98* #2 at #5 Kentucky L 91–103  10–1  26 - Morris  9 - Ekezie  5 - Francis  Rupp Arena (24,321)
12/19/98* #5 vs. Princeton W 81–58  11–1  21 - Profit  6 - Francis  4 - Francis, Stokes  Baltimore Arena (13,489)
12/23/98* #5 North Texas W 132–57  12–1  28 - Baxter  15 - Ekezie  9 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
12/27/98* #5 South Carolina State W 104–70  13–1  25 - Profit  9 - Mardesich  12 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
01/03/99 #4 #2 Duke L 64–82  13–2
(1–1) 		 16 - Morris  9 - Morris, Profit  7 - Francis  Cole Field House (14,500)
01/07/99 #5 at Virginia W 71–66  14–2
(2–1) 		 17 - Ekezie, Morris  7 - Ekezie  6 - Francis  University Hall (8,268)
01/10/99 #5 NC State W 94–48  15–2
(3–1) 		 22 - Francis  6 - Morris  9 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
01/13/99 #5 at #9 North Carolina W 89–76  16–2
(4–1) 		 24 - Profit  6 - Francis  8 - Stokes  Dean E. Smith Center (21,572)
01/19/99 #4 Georgia Tech W 77–62  17–2
(5–1) 		 20 - Morris  10 - Morris  7 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
01/24/99 #4 at Clemson W 81–79 OT 18–2
(6–1) 		 26 - Morris  5 - Morris  5 - Stokes  Littlejohn Coliseum (11,200)
01/27/99 #4 Florida State W 107–87  19–2
(7–1) 		 22 - Ekezie  6 - Morris  9 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
01/31/99 #4 at Wake Forest L 72–85  19–3
(7–2) 		 18 - Dixon  11 - Morris  5 - Francis, Stokes  Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (13,679)
02/03/99 #7 at #2 Duke L 77–95  19–4
(7–3) 		 18 - Francis, Profit  7 - Francis, Morris, Stokes  6 - Stokes  Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)
02/06/99 #7 Virginia W 88–72  20–4
(8–3) 		 16 - Morris  8 - Morris  13 - Francis  Cole Field House (14,500)
02/10/99 #7 at NC State W 63–50  21–4
(9–3) 		 17 - Morris  16 - Morris  5 - Stokes  Reynolds Coliseum (12,400)
02/13/99 #7 North Carolina W 81–64  22–4
(10–3) 		 24 - Profit  6 - Francis  8 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
02/21/99 #5 at Georgia Tech W 91–60  23–4
(11–3) 		 22 - Francis  6 - Baxter, Morris  5 - Stokes  Alexander Memorial Coliseum (7,963)
02/24/99 #5 Clemson W 77–60  24–4
(12–3) 		 32 - Francis  8 - Francis  9 - Stokes  Cole Field House (14,500)
02/27/99 #5 at Florida State W 84–75  25–4
(13–3) 		 32 - Profit  7 - Morris, Profit  5 - Stokes  Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center (6,899)
ACC Tournament
03/05/99 #5 vs. Florida State
(Quarterfinal)		 W 93–69  26–4  21 - Profit  10 - Profit  6 - Stokes  Charlotte Coliseum (23,895)
03/06/99 #5 vs. #15 North Carolina
(Semifinal)		 L 79–86  26–5  31 - Francis  8 - Morris  5 - Stokes  Charlotte Coliseum (23,895)
1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
03/11/99* vs. Valparaiso
(NCAA First Round)		 W 82–60  27–5  18 - Morris, Profit  10 - Morris  7 - Francis  Orlando Arena (9,221)
03/13/99* vs. Creighton
(NCAA Second Round)		 W 75–63  28–5  20 - Morris  13 - Francis  5 - Morris  Orlando Arena (14,959)
03/18/99* vs. St. John's
(NCAA Sweet 16)		 L 62–76  28–6  13 - Francis  8 - Baxter, Profit  7 - Stokes  Thompson-Boling Arena (20,000)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. ( ) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time[7].

Rankings

Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 Final
AP[8] 6 6 5 2 2 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 7 7 5 5 5 5
Coaches 5 5 5 2 2 5 5 4 6 5 4 4 6 7 5 5 5 8

References

  1. ↑ "Ekezie, Profit Named Preseason Honorable Mention All-American". umterps.com. The Associated Press. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Men's Basketball Team a Consensus Top Five National Selection". Maryland Men's Basketball. UMTerps.com. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Feinstein, John (27 October 1998). "The Hunted". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Men's Basketball Selected to Finish Second in Conference". Maryland Men's Basketball. UMTerps.com. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Terps Bomb North Texas, 132–57". Maryland Men's Basketball. UMTerps.com. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Terps Selected to Play in School-Record Sixth Consecutive NCAA Tournament". Maryland Men's Basketball. UMTerps.com. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  7. ↑ 1998–99 Men's Basketball Results
  8. ↑ "Maryland 1999 AP Men's Basketball Rankings". College Poll Archive. College Poll Archive. Retrieved 29 April 2011.