Game Preview
Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
Release: 03/24/2001
March 24, 2001
REGIONAL: West, Regional Finals.
TIME: Saturday, 4:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, Calif.
Although Gary Williams isn't used to being around this late in the NCAA tournament, the Maryland coach isn't celebrating for just reaching the Elite Eight.
The 12th-year coach will be on the sideline on Saturday as he tries to lead the Terrapins to their first Final Four appearance in a matchup with top-seeded Stanford.
"I'm not trying to low-key it," Williams said. "But that's something you think about later on. We've got one day to get ready for a very good team. You don't want to be satisfied."
Maryland had never won three consecutive games in the NCAA tournament until Thursday's 76-66 regional semifinal win over Georgetown.
"For us to get that monkey off our back, get past the sweet 16, I can't say enough about our players and coaches," said Juan Dixon, Maryland's top scorer.
Williams, Maryland's winningest tourney coach at 12-7, came up empty in four previous regional semifinal appearances.
The teams have met twice, with Maryland winning both games by a combined four points.
Hoping to maintain its uptempo offense, Maryland will throw a variety of bodies at Stanford, which is looking for its first Final Four appearance since 1998. Maryland's reserves have scored 20 or more points in 24 games this season.
"That's our best game, when we run," Williams said. "The only reason I use the bench is because those guys are good enough to come in and not affect the way we play. In fact, they almost play better sometimes."
Stanford's Casey Jacobsen eagerly anticipates defending Maryland guard Juan Dixon, who averages 18.2 points and should surpass the 1,500-point mark during the game. Dixon's 2.7 steals per game puts him in the top 15 nationally.
"He is one of the best guards moving without the ball. He's always looking for an open seam. He never stands still," said Jacobsen, whose scoring average matches Dixon's. "It's going to be a big-time challenge for me."
Dixon, meanwhile, will try to disrupt Jacobsen's deadly perimeter game. Jacobsen is coming off a career-high 27 points in a 78-65 win over Cincinnati on Thursday.
"He's the type of player that likes to set up his game off the catch-and-shoot jump shots," Dixon said. "It's a team effort, so we're going to have to contain him and try to limit his shots."
Then there is the matchup involving 7-foot Stanford twins Jason and Jarron Collins against 6-8 Lonny Baxter, who has had double-figure scoring and rebounding efforts in two of Maryland's three NCAA tournament games.
"I would compare him to (Arizona's) Michael Wright, a very physical player in the post and a similar body type,"Jason Collins said. "He likes to get down low, be physical, get the ball up on the glass. He's a good rebounder."
Stanford, shooting 50 percent from the floor and averaging 83.1 points, is hoping to have the Arrowhead Pond crowd as it tries to close in on its first championship since 1942.
"This is probably the 10th or 11th time I've played here," Jacobsen said. "That's nice, but the baskets are the same, the court is the same length for everyone. By Saturday, just by playing one game, Maryland will feel like they have just as much experience here. It's great just to play in front of so many friends and family."
PROBABLE STARTERS: Maryland - F Terrence Morris (12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg), F Byron Mouton (9.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg), C Baxter (15.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg), G Dixon (18.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg), G Steve Blake (6.5 ppg, 6.9 apg). Stanford - F Jarron Collins (12.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg), F Ryan Mendez (11.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg), C Jason Collins (14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg), G Jacobsen (18.2, 3.9 rpg), G Michael McDonald (7.9 ppg, 4.7 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Maryland - At-large bid, ACC, defeated George Mason 83-80, first round, defeated Georgia State 79-60, second round, defeated Georgetown 76-66, semifinal. Stanford - Automatic bid, Pac-10 champion, defeated St. Joe's 90-83, second round, defeated UNC-Greensboro 89-60, first round, defeated Cincinnati 78-65, semifinal.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Maryland - 25-17, 18 years. Stanford - 16-8, 10 years.