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Throwback Thursday: Juan Dixon and company win Maryland’s lone national title

Juan Dixon #3 of the University of Maryland holds the ball

Juan Dixon #3 of the University of Maryland holds the ball

Getty Images

With the amount of talent returning to campus, led by sophomore point guard Melo Trimble and senior forward Jake Layman, and the addition of five-star big man Diamond Stone the Maryland Terrapins are expected to be a national title contender in 2015-16. Mark Turgeon led the Terrapins back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years last season, and after reaching the Round of 32 expectations are much higher in advance of the upcoming campaign.

With that being the case, why not turn back the clock to the program’s proudest moment, when Maryland alum Gary Williams coached his alma mater to the national title in 2002? That team was an experienced group led by senior (and Final Four Most Outstanding Player) Juan Dixon, with point guard Steve Blake, wing Byron Mouton and forwards Lonnie Baxter and Chris Wilcox (just to name four) also factoring into the team’s run to the crown.

That Maryland team, which rebounded from a tough loss to eventual national champion Duke in the 2001 national semifinals, won 32 games and finished atop the ACC with a 15-1 conference record. Above is Maryland’s title game victory over Indiana, which was preceded by wins over Siena, Wisconsin, Kentucky, UConn and Kansas.

Video credit: NCAA