Maryland’s 2001-02 National Championship Team Heading to Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame6d
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
One of the greatest teams in University of Maryland athletics history is receiving another well-deserved honor.
Maryland’s 2001-02 men’s basketball national championship team has been selected for induction into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame as the 2026 Team of Distinction, the Hall of Fame and Maryland Athletics announced Monday. The Terrapins will be honored during an induction ceremony at Nationals Park on Sunday, Aug. 30, before the Washington Nationals host the Miami Marlins.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 11 a.m., with first pitch scheduled for 12:15 p.m. The names of Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame inductees are permanently displayed at Nationals Park.
For Maryland basketball fans, the honor brings another opportunity to celebrate a group that delivered the greatest season in the history of the men’s program.
A Team That Made Maryland History
Led by Hall of Fame head coach Gary Williams, Maryland finished the 2001-02 season 32-4 overall and 15-1 in the ACC, winning the ACC regular-season championship before making a dominant run through the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins capped the season by defeating Indiana, 64-52, in the national championship game on April 1, 2002.
It remains the first and, to date, only NCAA men’s basketball championship in Maryland history.
Maryland was also undefeated at Cole Field House during its final season playing full time in the historic building. The combination of talent, experience and chemistry made the Terrapins one of the deepest teams of their era.
The roster featured Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake, Chris Wilcox, Byron Mouton, Drew Nicholas, Tahj Holden, Ryan Randle, Calvin McCall, Andre Collins, Earl Badu and Mike Grinnon.
Williams was joined on the coaching staff by assistants Dave Dickerson, Jimmy Patsos and Matt Kovarik, with Troy Wainwright serving as director of operations.
Juan Dixon Led the Way
At the center of Maryland’s championship run was Baltimore native Juan Dixon.
Dixon finished his Maryland career as the program’s all-time leading scorer and produced one of the best individual seasons in program history. He earned ACC Player of the Year honors, was named an Associated Press First Team All-American and ultimately received NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
His connection to Maryland and the Baltimore-Washington region made the championship run even more meaningful.
Dixon attended Calvert Hall before becoming one of the most recognizable athletes ever to wear a Maryland uniform.
He repeatedly delivered during Maryland’s NCAA Tournament run.
Against Wisconsin in the second round, Dixon scored 29 points as Maryland rolled to an 87-57 victory. During that game he surpassed Len Bias in Maryland career scoring and also passed Bias for the most NCAA Tournament points by a Terrapin.
Dixon followed with 19 points against Kentucky in the Sweet 16 before scoring 27 in Maryland’s 90-82 Elite Eight victory over Connecticut.
Then came one of the defining performances of his career.
In Maryland’s national semifinal against Kansas, Dixon matched his career high with 33 points as the Terrapins advanced to the national championship game for the first time in program history.
He finished the job against Indiana.
Dixon scored a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and hit two three-pointers as Maryland defeated the Hoosiers, 64-52. He also contributed five steals in the championship game.
Baxter Was Maryland’s Force Inside
Dixon was the star, but Maryland’s championship roster was far from a one-man team.
Lonny Baxter gave Williams a physical presence inside and was one of the most accomplished frontcourt players of the Gary Williams era.
Baxter was named the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player in both 2001 and 2002 while helping Maryland reach consecutive Final Fours.
His best performance of the 2002 tournament may have come against Connecticut.
Baxter scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Elite Eight victory. He went 15-for-18 at the free-throw line while helping Maryland reach the Final Four for a second consecutive season.
Against Indiana in the championship game, Baxter recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds, giving Maryland a major advantage on the glass.
The Terrapins outrebounded Indiana 42-31 in the title game.
Steve Blake Ran the Offense
Steve Blake provided Maryland with one of the best floor generals in college basketball.
The junior point guard was not always Maryland’s leading scorer, but his passing, defense and ability to control games made him an essential part of the championship lineup.
One of Blake’s biggest moments came against Connecticut in the Elite Eight.
With the shot clock nearly expired and Maryland holding a narrow lead, Blake hit a crucial three-pointer that pushed the Terrapins ahead 86-80 with approximately 25 seconds remaining. Maryland went on to win 90-82.
Blake finished the championship game against Indiana with six points, six rebounds and three assists.
His combination with Dixon gave Maryland one of the nation’s premier backcourts.
Wilcox Gave Maryland Another Dimension
Chris Wilcox brought athleticism and NBA-level talent to the Maryland frontcourt.
The sophomore scored 18 points in Maryland’s Final Four victory over Kansas, helping the Terrapins survive a loaded Jayhawks team featuring future NBA players Kirk Hinrich, Drew Gooden, Nick Collison, Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles and Keith Langford.
Wilcox added 10 points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot in the championship game.
His combination of size, explosiveness and defensive ability gave Williams another weapon alongside Baxter.
Maryland’s Road to the Championship
Maryland earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and began its championship run close to home at the MCI Center in Washington.
The Terrapins opened with an 85-70 win over Siena before overwhelming Wisconsin, 87-57. Dixon scored 29 points in each of those games.
Maryland then defeated Kentucky, 78-68, in the Sweet 16.
The Elite Eight produced one of the tournament’s best games when Maryland defeated Connecticut, 90-82. Baxter scored 29 points, Dixon added 27 and Blake buried the late three-pointer that effectively sent the Terrapins back to the Final Four.
Maryland then defeated Kansas in the national semifinals behind Dixon’s 33-point performance.
That set up the national championship showdown with Indiana.
The Night Maryland Became National Champion
Maryland entered the championship game against fifth-seeded Indiana as the favorite, but the Hoosiers had already eliminated top-seeded Duke during their own improbable tournament run.
The Terrapins led 31-25 at halftime and outscored Indiana 33-27 after the break to finish off a 64-52 victory in front of 53,406 fans.
Maryland held Indiana to just 34.5 percent shooting from the field. The Terrapins also recorded 12 steals and six blocked shots. Dixon led Maryland with five steals, while Baxter blocked three shots.
Dixon led the offense with 18 points, Baxter had 15, Wilcox scored 10 and Drew Nicholas contributed seven points off the bench.
When the final seconds disappeared, Maryland had finally reached the top of college basketball.
The Perfect Team to Represent the Region
The Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who gained prominence through athletics in the Greater Washington area. Teams can also receive recognition as a Team of Distinction when their accomplishments made a significant positive impact on the region.
Few teams fit that description better than the 2001-02 Terrapins.
Maryland played its first two NCAA Tournament games at the MCI Center in Washington and featured several players with direct ties to Maryland and the greater Washington-Baltimore region.
Dixon came from Baltimore and Calvert Hall. Baxter, a Silver Spring native, attended Anacostia High School in Washington before Hargrave Military Academy. Earl Badu was another Baltimore product who attended St. Frances Academy.
The championship became a defining sports moment for an entire generation of Maryland fans.
Strong 2026 Hall of Fame Class
Maryland’s championship team will join an impressive Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame class.
The individual members of the Class of 2026 are Tommy Amaker, Elena Delle Donne, London Fletcher, Elana Meyers Taylor and legendary Maryland high school football coach Al Thomas.
Maryland’s 2001-02 team stands alone as the class’s Team of Distinction.
The recognition also arrives at an appropriate time.
The 2026-27 season will mark the 25th anniversary season of Maryland’s national championship, giving the university and its fans another opportunity to celebrate Williams, Dixon, Baxter, Blake, Wilcox and the rest of a team that permanently changed the perception of Maryland basketball.
Twenty-five years later, banners still hang, memories remain vivid and the championship continues to serve as the standard every Maryland team is measured against.
Now the 2001-02 Terrapins will have another permanent place in Washington sports history.
Maryland Sports Blog will continue covering Maryland basketball and the 25th-anniversary celebrations throughout the 2026-27 season.
