Fulfillment—at last

Sporting News, The, April 2, 2001 by Luciana Chavez

Maryland, its reputation tattered and torn, found the courage it had lacked

Standing at the intersection of "We're Doomed" and "This Sucks" after a loss at home to lowly Florida State back on February 14, Byron Mouton went incognito on the Maryland campus. Juan Dixon spent hours staring into a mirror. Lonny Baxter didn't speak to a soul for days.

The Terrapins, mired in a 1-5 slump, knew they had the talent to be great, but they were missing heart. Unless they found it, reaching Minneapolis would be unthinkable.

"We were saying, `We have so much talent, we can't be no story,'" Mouton recalls. "We can't end up on ESPN Classic as the best team never (to make the Final Four)."

The poster child for this team of redemption was wearing a red No. 44 jersey Saturday afternoon in Anaheim. After the Terps beat top-seeded Stanford to advance to their first-ever national semifinal, enigmatic senior Terence Morris finally could savor the decision he made two years ago to stay in school. "There have been a lot of people who would have run," backup point Drew Nicholas says. "He made a great decision, but maybe the payback hasn't been as rewarding-until now."

Even Maryland's wonderful postseason hot streak has been oppressive for Morris. He bombed against George Mason in the first round. After playing well in the second round against Georgia State, he had an embarrassing 1-for-11 shooting performance against Georgetown. Needing encouragement, he got it from Dixon, who has been the Terps' steadiest player the past two years, and Dixon's brother, Phil. The message? Forget about the past. We know you'll show up when we really need you.

Improbably, the Terps--whom nobody liked and everybody bashed at midseason--won the West by finally showing their grit. And helping to lead the way against steady, veteran Stanford was Morris, who scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Morris isn't the only one seeking reparation for a season once filled with hope then deemed lost. Baxter has shaken off an up-and-down year to become the team's go-to guy in the tournament. The classy Dixon--inundated the past two weeks with media clamoring for his life story--has demonstrated that desire can transcend personal tragedy. Head coach Gary Williams, who has taken five teams to the Sweet 16 in the past eight years, has quieted the incessant talk of his

never getting to the Final Four.

It is fitting the Terps will next face Duke, for the fourth time this year. Their earlier games have provided the season's signposts. Losing a 10-point lead on January 27 in the final 54 seconds of regulation, and then the game in overtime, prompted Maryland's tailspin. Its victory over Duke exactly one month later capped the subsequent turnaround, which included six straight victories, five over ranked teams.

By the time it lost to Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals, Maryland was actually being praised for surviving.

Morris has survived, too, though not without his confidence being battered. Reflecting on the past four years and two weeks, he says in his quiet way: "It feels good. The past three years, the only thing I've wanted was to be in this situation, to cut down the nets and wear the T-shirts and the hats."

He got his wish in Anaheim. After the game, in a hallway near the Maryland locker room, two wide-eyed local boys stared up at the 6-9 forward wearing the gray "West Regional champions" shirt and the white "West Regional champions" visor. Morris paused briefly to give them his autograph. As he walked away, the tow-headed young fans glimpsed the front of a second, tan-colored cap turned backward on Morris' head that proclaimed the Terps' victory a third time. There's just no overdoing it when redemption is finally yours.

Region round-up

Stock's up Lonny Baxter, Maryland. He's the Terps' main man, averaging a double-double (17.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Took his physical game straight to Georgetown's and Stanford's huge front lines.

Stock's down Michael McDonald, Stanford. Finally given respect after a much-improved regular season, he struggled to score and was in foul trouble when the Cardinal really needed him.

Best moment Stanford's Jason Collins swatting a Cincinnati shot into the stands, then looming nearby and jawing. Mike Montgomery hopes to see more attitude from his reserved post in 2001-02.

Best game Maryland 87, Stanford 73. Each time the No. 1 seed showed life, it took a huge shot straight to the gut.

Biggest bust Stanford's frontline. The Cardinal bigs looked slow and timid against Maryland. They had trouble maneuvering inside and couldn't defend the perimeter.

All-West team

G     Juan Nixon          Jr.   Maryland
G     Casey Jacobsen      So.   Stanford
G     Kenny Satterfield   So.   Cincinnati
F     Ryan Mendez         Sr.   Stanford
F/C   Lony Baxter         Jr.   Maryland

-- L.C.

Luciana Chavez is a staff writer for THE SPORTING NEWS.