Over the next two weeks, I will release my All-Time team for each of the 12 Atlantic Coast Conference.
Each team will consist of 5 starters (at least 2 guards and 2 forwards) and 4 reserves to make up a 9 man rotation. The team can only include players who played their entire career in the last 50 years (1961-Present) and only their accomplishments in college taken into consideration.
Maryland
Starting Five
John Lucas – Guard – 1972-196
Lucas is considered to be the greatest guard in the history of the Maryland program. Lucas was a consensus 1st Team All-American in both 1975 and 1976 and 1st Team All-ACC in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Lucas was the point guard on three Maryland’s teams that finished in the Top 10 (2 in Top 5) in the final Associated Press poll. Lucas averaged 18.3 points on 52% shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists for his career. Lucas currently sits 6th on the Terrapin’s scoring list with 2,015 points and 5th in assists with 514. Lucas was also an All-American in tennis where he was a two-time ACC singles champion and two-time ACC doubles champion. Lucas was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Juan Dixon – Guard – 1998-2002
Dixon was instrumental in leading Maryland to back-to-back Final Four appearances and the 2002 National Title where he was named 2002 Final Four MVP. As a SR, Dixon averaged 20.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals per season on his way to ACC Player of the Year, consensus 1st Team All-American honors and finished 3rd in voting for 2002 Wooden Award. Dixon joined Lucas as the only three time first team All-ACC performer. Dixon finished his career 1st in career points with 2,269, 27th in career rebounds with 599, 13th in assists with 371 and 2nd in steals with 333. Dixon was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Len Bias – Small Forward – 1982-1986
Bias is the only player in Maryland history to win ACC Player of the Year in consecutive seasons doing so in both 1985 and 1986. Bias was a 3rd Team All-American in 1985 and consensus 1st Team All-American in 1986. Bias averaged 23.2 points per game on 54% shooting and 7.0 rebounds as a SR. Bias finished his career 3rd in career scoring with 2,149 points, 9th in career rebounds with 745 and 9th in career blocks with 87. Bias was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Joe Smith – Forward/Center – 1993-1995
Smith only played two season in College Park, but both seasons resulted in 1st Team All-ACC honors. As a SO, Smith averaged 20.8 points on 58% shooting while pulling down 10.7 rebounds. Smith was rewarded by being named the ACC Player of the Year and the National Player of the Year as well as consensus 1st Team All-American. Smith is one of five Terrapin’s to average a career double-double putting up 20.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Smith was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002 and was the #1 overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.
Tom McMillen – Forward – 1971-1974
McMillen was named to various All-American lists in each of his three seasons in a Terrapin jersey including consensus 2nd Team honors in 1974. McMillen was 1st Team All-ACC in 1972 and 1973 and was left off both the 1st and 2nd Team All-ACC lists in 1974 despite averaging 19.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. McMillen averaged 20.5 points and 9.8 rebounds for his career. The 6’11” McMillen played on the 1972 Olympic Team that lost the controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union. McMillen was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Bench
Len Elmore – Center – 1971-1974.
Elmore arrived in College Park as part of Lefty Driesell first full recruiting class, which also included fellow big-man Tom McMillen. Elmore was the rebounding ying to the scoring yang of McMillen. Elmore’s dominated the boards averaging 11.8 per game for his career and leaving Maryland has the only Terrapin in the history of the program to grab over 1,000 rebounds. Elmore was a 2nd Team All-ACC player as a SO and JR and 1st Team All-ACC and consensus 2nd Team All-American as a SR. Elmore’s averaged 14.6 points and 14.6 rebounds as a SR.
Albert King – Forward – 1977-1981
King was regarded as the #1 recruit in the nation out of high school after averaging 38.6 points and 22 rebounds as a SR. King averaged double figures in scoring in each of his four year career, but really blossomed as upperclassmen averaging 21.7 points as a JR and 18.0 points as a SR on over 50% shooting. King was named 1st Team All-ACC in 1980 and 1981 as ACC Player of the Year and consensus 2nd Team All-American in 1980. King finished his career with over 2,000 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists.
Steve Francis – Point Guard – 1998-1999
Francis transferred from Junior College to Maryland and was dominate in his one season as a Terrapin. Francis was 1st Team All-ACC, All-ACC Tournament, ACC All-Defensive Team and consensus 2nd Team All-American as a JR. Francis averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Francis left for the NBA after his JR season and was drafted #2 overall.
Walt Williams – Guard/Forward - 1988-1992
Williams was an versatile player who exploded as a SR and averaged 26.8 points per game and was named 1st Team All-ACC and consensus 2nd Team All-American. Williams scored over 30 for 7 consecutive games as a SR. You could also make a strong case for Buck Williams as the ACC 50th Anniversary team player was a solid scorer and rebounder for 3 years before turning pro as well as 2010 ACC Player of the Year and consensus 2nd Team All-American, Greivas Vasquez, but I opted to go with a swingman in Williams who could play both guard and forward.
Each team will consist of 5 starters (at least 2 guards and 2 forwards) and 4 reserves to make up a 9 man rotation. The team can only include players who played their entire career in the last 50 years (1961-Present) and only their accomplishments in college taken into consideration.
Maryland
Starting Five
John Lucas – Guard – 1972-196
Lucas is considered to be the greatest guard in the history of the Maryland program. Lucas was a consensus 1st Team All-American in both 1975 and 1976 and 1st Team All-ACC in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Lucas was the point guard on three Maryland’s teams that finished in the Top 10 (2 in Top 5) in the final Associated Press poll. Lucas averaged 18.3 points on 52% shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists for his career. Lucas currently sits 6th on the Terrapin’s scoring list with 2,015 points and 5th in assists with 514. Lucas was also an All-American in tennis where he was a two-time ACC singles champion and two-time ACC doubles champion. Lucas was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Juan Dixon – Guard – 1998-2002
Dixon was instrumental in leading Maryland to back-to-back Final Four appearances and the 2002 National Title where he was named 2002 Final Four MVP. As a SR, Dixon averaged 20.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals per season on his way to ACC Player of the Year, consensus 1st Team All-American honors and finished 3rd in voting for 2002 Wooden Award. Dixon joined Lucas as the only three time first team All-ACC performer. Dixon finished his career 1st in career points with 2,269, 27th in career rebounds with 599, 13th in assists with 371 and 2nd in steals with 333. Dixon was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Len Bias – Small Forward – 1982-1986
Bias is the only player in Maryland history to win ACC Player of the Year in consecutive seasons doing so in both 1985 and 1986. Bias was a 3rd Team All-American in 1985 and consensus 1st Team All-American in 1986. Bias averaged 23.2 points per game on 54% shooting and 7.0 rebounds as a SR. Bias finished his career 3rd in career scoring with 2,149 points, 9th in career rebounds with 745 and 9th in career blocks with 87. Bias was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Joe Smith – Forward/Center – 1993-1995
Smith only played two season in College Park, but both seasons resulted in 1st Team All-ACC honors. As a SO, Smith averaged 20.8 points on 58% shooting while pulling down 10.7 rebounds. Smith was rewarded by being named the ACC Player of the Year and the National Player of the Year as well as consensus 1st Team All-American. Smith is one of five Terrapin’s to average a career double-double putting up 20.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Smith was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002 and was the #1 overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.
Tom McMillen – Forward – 1971-1974
McMillen was named to various All-American lists in each of his three seasons in a Terrapin jersey including consensus 2nd Team honors in 1974. McMillen was 1st Team All-ACC in 1972 and 1973 and was left off both the 1st and 2nd Team All-ACC lists in 1974 despite averaging 19.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. McMillen averaged 20.5 points and 9.8 rebounds for his career. The 6’11” McMillen played on the 1972 Olympic Team that lost the controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union. McMillen was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Bench
Len Elmore – Center – 1971-1974.
Elmore arrived in College Park as part of Lefty Driesell first full recruiting class, which also included fellow big-man Tom McMillen. Elmore was the rebounding ying to the scoring yang of McMillen. Elmore’s dominated the boards averaging 11.8 per game for his career and leaving Maryland has the only Terrapin in the history of the program to grab over 1,000 rebounds. Elmore was a 2nd Team All-ACC player as a SO and JR and 1st Team All-ACC and consensus 2nd Team All-American as a SR. Elmore’s averaged 14.6 points and 14.6 rebounds as a SR.
Albert King – Forward – 1977-1981
King was regarded as the #1 recruit in the nation out of high school after averaging 38.6 points and 22 rebounds as a SR. King averaged double figures in scoring in each of his four year career, but really blossomed as upperclassmen averaging 21.7 points as a JR and 18.0 points as a SR on over 50% shooting. King was named 1st Team All-ACC in 1980 and 1981 as ACC Player of the Year and consensus 2nd Team All-American in 1980. King finished his career with over 2,000 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists.
Steve Francis – Point Guard – 1998-1999
Francis transferred from Junior College to Maryland and was dominate in his one season as a Terrapin. Francis was 1st Team All-ACC, All-ACC Tournament, ACC All-Defensive Team and consensus 2nd Team All-American as a JR. Francis averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Francis left for the NBA after his JR season and was drafted #2 overall.
Walt Williams – Guard/Forward - 1988-1992
Williams was an versatile player who exploded as a SR and averaged 26.8 points per game and was named 1st Team All-ACC and consensus 2nd Team All-American. Williams scored over 30 for 7 consecutive games as a SR. You could also make a strong case for Buck Williams as the ACC 50th Anniversary team player was a solid scorer and rebounder for 3 years before turning pro as well as 2010 ACC Player of the Year and consensus 2nd Team All-American, Greivas Vasquez, but I opted to go with a swingman in Williams who could play both guard and forward.
Horrible man. Steve blake??? Only player in acc HISTORY to record 1000 points 800 assists 400 rebounds and 200 steals and WON an NCAA title. Come on man. Steve Francis had what, 1 good year at maryland. this is a joke
ReplyDeleteJB