Maryland '02 NCAA Champs Heavy Tee Florida State Seminoles Joining them was traditional power

Joining them was traditional power Syracuse and Mississippi State who both played beyond their seeds to make it to the Final Four

Alabama was coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and added HS All-American James Robinson and JUCO standout Latrell Sprewell for the '90-91 campaign

a Sweet 16 appearance and a final AP ranking of 13

They were a team loaded with local talent with a Hall of Fame coach

Maryland '02 NCAA Champs Heavy Tee Florida State Seminoles Joining them was traditional powerLed by Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and Lonny Baxter, Gary Williams' squad entered the 2001 2002 season ranked #2 in the AP Poll. The Terps delivered on that lofty ranking by going 25 3 during the regular season and 15 1 in the loaded ACC. That dominant ACC run was enough to give Maryland the #1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. Wins over college basketball elites like Kentucky, UConn, Kansas and Indiana gave Maryland the schools first