2000-01 record: 25-11; 10-6 in ACC (3rd) Final Ranking: No. 4 ESPN/USA Today Postseason: Lost to Duke 95-84 in national semifinals of NCAA Touranment. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Dixon 18.2 ppg | Rebounds: Baxter 7.9 rpg | Assists: Blake 6.9 apg | FG %: Baxter 56.6% | 3pt %: Nicholas 42.0% | FT %: Dixon 86.5% 00-01 Stats: Maryland | ACC

		Wed., Oct. 31 Maryland is a serious threat to win the national championship. The Terps' heart and soul is Juan Dixon, who is as mentally tough as any player in the nation and has the ability to lead the ACC in scoring. Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake and Byron Mouton are capable and experienced, but Tahj Holden and Chris Wilcox must step forward to give Maryland more balanced strength up front to rebound and defend with anyone. While outsiders will undoubtedly focus on the games with Duke, dispensing psychoanalytic babble about the results, the Terps need concentrate only on getting better as the season progresses. Maryland can finish second in the ACC and still win it all.

Maryland No. 2 in ESPN.com Top 25

Outlook
The post-Terence Morris era begins for the Terps, as does the post-Final Four era. With the talent they have back, with or without Morris this team ought to contend for another Final Four appearance.

In the frontcourt, 6-foot-8 senior Lonny Baxter (15.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) is an All-ACC player, and 6-10 sophomore Chris Wilcox (3.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg) could have an All-ACC future, if not this season. Two four-year contributors are gone in Morris and 7-0 Mike Mardesich, but the Terps are long beyond the point of worrying about life after Morris.

Junior 6-11 forward Tahj Holden (4.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg) impacted games more than his stats suggest, and with Baxter, he will give the Terps a physical presence to match any in the ACC. Keep an eye on 7-4 Matt Slaninka, who might be good for spot minutes as a defensive presence, and 6-9 junior college transfer Ryan Randle.

In the backcourt, Juan Dixon (18.2 ppg, 2.6 spg) and Steve Blake (6.9 ppg, 6.9 apg) are back, so this position is in good hands. Dixon, a senior, and Blake, a junior, form the ACC's best backcourt north of Durham, N.C., and they will have help from 6-6 senior Byron Mouton (9.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and 6-3 junior Drew Nicholas (6.6 ppg, 2.4 apg).

This could be the season Dixon breaks into the All-America sector, while Blake draws more All-ACC attention. Mouton also should make more noise now that Danny Miller, who shared minutes with Mouton last season, has transferred to Notre Dame.

What we like: Dixon, Baxter and Blake give the Terps a fine nucleus, and reaching the Final Four last season -- and thumping eventual champion Duke for 20 minutes -- ought to give the Terps confidence to get back there.

What we don't like: Not much. This team is deep and experienced and talented. But it's never had to operate as such a clear -- and established, now that it went to last season's Final Four -- front-runner. So let's see how the Terps handle it.

The bottom line: Maryland clearly has everything a Final Four team needs, including the confidence from getting there before. The Terps should have a chance to do it again.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Juan Dixon	Sr.	G	6-3/152	PTS: 18.2 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 2.6
Lonny Baxter	Sr.	F	6-8/250	PTS: 15.6 | REB: 7.9 | AST: 0.5
Byron Mouton	Sr.	G	6-6/215	PTS: 9.6 | REB: 4.0 | AST: 1.2
Steve Blake	Jr.	G	6-3/175	PTS: 6.9 | REB: 3.0 | AST: 6.9
Drew Nicholas	Jr.	G	6-3/160	PTS: 6.6 | REB: 1.6 | AST: 2.4
Tahj Holden	Jr.	F	6-10/247	PTS: 4.5 | REB: 2.3 | AST: 0.6

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Terence Morris	F	6-9/205	PTS: 12.2 | REB: 7.7 | AST: 1.9
Danny Miller	G	6-8/205	PTS: 4.8 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 2.1
Mike Mardesich	C	7-0/255	PTS: 3.6 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 0.4

Maryland Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Mike Grinnon	G	6-6	Oyster Bay/St. Dominic's (N.Y.)
Ryan Randle	F	6-9	Duncanville/Alleghany J.C. (Texas)
Andre Collins	G	5-9	Chatham-Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)