Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoAtlanta ? Maryland 83, Kansas 63. Only about six minutes remaining. Terps coach Gary Williams wasn’t counting his chickens, though.
“First of all, no one’s beating Kansas by 20,” Williams said. “It’s not going to happen.”
And it didn’t. Kansas made a stirring comeback, creeping as close as four points in the waning seconds before the Terrapins pulled away.
When the Terps most desperately needed a basket, senior All-America guard Juan Dixon came through. His short runner at the 1:40 mark was Maryland’s first basket since 6:08 remained and the Jayhawks started their comeback.
“Kansas is a great team. They didn’t give up at all,” Dixon said. “But we stayed strong. I hit a big shot when we needed it. I missed the three (pointer) before that, so I definitely wanted to come back and make a play.”
Dixon also hit three of four free throw attempts with the clock under a minute and tied his career scoring high with 33 points.
“Juan Dixon was sensational,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “He had 19 at the half, then early in the second half he made a couple of buckets and we wanted to get off to a good start in the second half.”
Dixon, a first-team All-American, was merely doing his thing.
“I just want to be as aggressive as possible on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I think guys feed off my energy. I’m just out there trying to be a leader.”
Maryland also had a strong performance from 6-foot-9 sophomore Chris Wilcox, who scored 18 points, grabbed nine boards and blocked four shots. Most important, Wilcox intimidated KU All-American Drew Gooden early on.
“Chris is special,” Maryland coach Williams said. “He’s got some things he can do. What he’s done this year is really increase his knowledge of how to play basketball. Chris has really worked hard to learn the game.”
Another key player was backup big man Tahj Holden who logged 24 minutes because starter Lonny Baxter was in foul trouble early. Holden had 13 points and five boards off the bench.
“Tonight he really had to be a factor inside for us and he was,” Williams said of Holden, a 6-10 junior.
Still, Dixon was the man for the Terps on this night.
“That’s not being a senior,” Williams said. “He did that when he was a sophomore.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoAtlanta ? Maryland 83, Kansas 63. Only about six minutes remaining. Terps coach Gary Williams wasn’t counting his chickens, though.
“First of all, no one’s beating Kansas by 20,” Williams said. “It’s not going to happen.”
And it didn’t. Kansas made a stirring comeback, creeping as close as four points in the waning seconds before the Terrapins pulled away.
When the Terps most desperately needed a basket, senior All-America guard Juan Dixon came through. His short runner at the 1:40 mark was Maryland’s first basket since 6:08 remained and the Jayhawks started their comeback.
“Kansas is a great team. They didn’t give up at all,” Dixon said. “But we stayed strong. I hit a big shot when we needed it. I missed the three (pointer) before that, so I definitely wanted to come back and make a play.”
Dixon also hit three of four free throw attempts with the clock under a minute and tied his career scoring high with 33 points.
“Juan Dixon was sensational,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “He had 19 at the half, then early in the second half he made a couple of buckets and we wanted to get off to a good start in the second half.”
Dixon, a first-team All-American, was merely doing his thing.
“I just want to be as aggressive as possible on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I think guys feed off my energy. I’m just out there trying to be a leader.”
Maryland also had a strong performance from 6-foot-9 sophomore Chris Wilcox, who scored 18 points, grabbed nine boards and blocked four shots. Most important, Wilcox intimidated KU All-American Drew Gooden early on.
“Chris is special,” Maryland coach Williams said. “He’s got some things he can do. What he’s done this year is really increase his knowledge of how to play basketball. Chris has really worked hard to learn the game.”
Another key player was backup big man Tahj Holden who logged 24 minutes because starter Lonny Baxter was in foul trouble early. Holden had 13 points and five boards off the bench.
“Tonight he really had to be a factor inside for us and he was,” Williams said of Holden, a 6-10 junior.
Still, Dixon was the man for the Terps on this night.
“That’s not being a senior,” Williams said. “He did that when he was a sophomore.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoAtlanta ? Maryland 83, Kansas 63. Only about six minutes remaining. Terps coach Gary Williams wasn’t counting his chickens, though.
“First of all, no one’s beating Kansas by 20,” Williams said. “It’s not going to happen.”
And it didn’t. Kansas made a stirring comeback, creeping as close as four points in the waning seconds before the Terrapins pulled away.
When the Terps most desperately needed a basket, senior All-America guard Juan Dixon came through. His short runner at the 1:40 mark was Maryland’s first basket since 6:08 remained and the Jayhawks started their comeback.
“Kansas is a great team. They didn’t give up at all,” Dixon said. “But we stayed strong. I hit a big shot when we needed it. I missed the three (pointer) before that, so I definitely wanted to come back and make a play.”
Dixon also hit three of four free throw attempts with the clock under a minute and tied his career scoring high with 33 points.
“Juan Dixon was sensational,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “He had 19 at the half, then early in the second half he made a couple of buckets and we wanted to get off to a good start in the second half.”
Dixon, a first-team All-American, was merely doing his thing.
“I just want to be as aggressive as possible on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I think guys feed off my energy. I’m just out there trying to be a leader.”
Maryland also had a strong performance from 6-foot-9 sophomore Chris Wilcox, who scored 18 points, grabbed nine boards and blocked four shots. Most important, Wilcox intimidated KU All-American Drew Gooden early on.
“Chris is special,” Maryland coach Williams said. “He’s got some things he can do. What he’s done this year is really increase his knowledge of how to play basketball. Chris has really worked hard to learn the game.”
Another key player was backup big man Tahj Holden who logged 24 minutes because starter Lonny Baxter was in foul trouble early. Holden had 13 points and five boards off the bench.
“Tonight he really had to be a factor inside for us and he was,” Williams said of Holden, a 6-10 junior.
Still, Dixon was the man for the Terps on this night.
“That’s not being a senior,” Williams said. “He did that when he was a sophomore.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoAtlanta ? Maryland 83, Kansas 63. Only about six minutes remaining. Terps coach Gary Williams wasn’t counting his chickens, though.
“First of all, no one’s beating Kansas by 20,” Williams said. “It’s not going to happen.”
And it didn’t. Kansas made a stirring comeback, creeping as close as four points in the waning seconds before the Terrapins pulled away.
When the Terps most desperately needed a basket, senior All-America guard Juan Dixon came through. His short runner at the 1:40 mark was Maryland’s first basket since 6:08 remained and the Jayhawks started their comeback.
“Kansas is a great team. They didn’t give up at all,” Dixon said. “But we stayed strong. I hit a big shot when we needed it. I missed the three (pointer) before that, so I definitely wanted to come back and make a play.”
Dixon also hit three of four free throw attempts with the clock under a minute and tied his career scoring high with 33 points.
“Juan Dixon was sensational,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “He had 19 at the half, then early in the second half he made a couple of buckets and we wanted to get off to a good start in the second half.”
Dixon, a first-team All-American, was merely doing his thing.
“I just want to be as aggressive as possible on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I think guys feed off my energy. I’m just out there trying to be a leader.”
Maryland also had a strong performance from 6-foot-9 sophomore Chris Wilcox, who scored 18 points, grabbed nine boards and blocked four shots. Most important, Wilcox intimidated KU All-American Drew Gooden early on.
“Chris is special,” Maryland coach Williams said. “He’s got some things he can do. What he’s done this year is really increase his knowledge of how to play basketball. Chris has really worked hard to learn the game.”
Another key player was backup big man Tahj Holden who logged 24 minutes because starter Lonny Baxter was in foul trouble early. Holden had 13 points and five boards off the bench.
“Tonight he really had to be a factor inside for us and he was,” Williams said of Holden, a 6-10 junior.
Still, Dixon was the man for the Terps on this night.
“That’s not being a senior,” Williams said. “He did that when he was a sophomore.”
