DATE=03/14/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW (S)

NUMBER=287577

BYLINE=DAVID BYRD

DATELINE=WASHINGTON, DC

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Action continues today (Friday) in the U-S men's college basketball tournament at the M-C-I center here in Washington. As V-O-A's David Byrd reports, four games are on the schedule, including East Region top-seed Maryland taking on Siena.

TEXT: The Maryland Terrapins made it to the N-C-Double-A tournament semi-finals last season, only to be ousted by the Duke Blue Devils in the final four (95-84).

This season, Maryland won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title with 26 wins and four losses. Juan Dixon led the Terrapins with an average of more than 19 points per game. He says that Maryland hopes to improve on its performance in the A-C-C tournament, where it lost to North Carolina State.

/// DIXON ACT ///

We have been ranked in the top five all year. And we knew that going into each game, that we would get each team's best shot. And we're certainly prepared for it. We have got to be ready to work, and ready to do things differently than we did against N-C State. And, hopefully, we will be successful in the tournament.

/// END ACT ///

Maryland plays a Siena Saints team that made it to the 64-team field by scoring an 81-77 win over Alcorn State in the play-in game Tuesday night. Other games in the East Regional Friday have North Carolina State taking on Michigan State, Connecticut playing Hampton, and Saint John's facing Wisconsin. Friday's winners advance to the regional semi-finals Sunday, also here at the M-C-I Center. (SIGNED)

NEB/SPTS/BYRD/PARKE/TW