The 6th Greatest Basketball Program In The South: Maryland Terrapins

Maryland Terrapins

Location: College Park, Maryland

Nickname: Terrapins

Reason For Nickname: In 1932, then-president Curley Byrd suggested that their athletic programs be known as the Terrapins. The name has stuck ever since.

Colors: Officially - red, white, black, and gold

Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference

Arena: Comcast Center (built 2002, capacity 17,950)

Postseason Appearances:

NCAA Appearances: 22 Appearances, two Final Fours, one National Championship

NIT Appearances: 7 Appearances, one Championship

Conference Championships: 1958, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1995, 2002, 2004

Coaching Legacy: Maryland’s resurgence in basketball became possible thanks in part to Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams. Driesell led the Terps to success during the 1970’s and 80’s while Williams took the program to its proudest moment in 2002 by beating Indiana to win their first National Championship.

Big Man On Campus: Maryland’s storied basketball history has seen its share of great players. But none of them can hold a candle to the late Len Bias, who was among one of the greatest college basketball players in the last quarter of a century. Tragically, Bias died 48 hours after being drafted by the Celtics in the first round, a tragedy that still haunt the Celtics organization to this day.

Rivalries: Maryland’s biggest basketball rival is Duke, which has been more in the national forefront lately because of the success of the two programs. Other rivals include Virginia and Georgetown.

Did You Know?: The first Midnight Madness was conducted in old Cole Field House back in 1970 under coach Lefty Driesell.