For the past four years, fans entering the Comcast Center have been welcomed by a display of the 2001-02 men’s basketball team and its Sears championship trophy.
Now the Terrapin men have some company in the Comcast Center lobby, in the form of the 2005-06 women’s basketball team and its Orbitz championship trophy.
Last night the Terps culminated their celebration as national champions with a ceremony unveiling their new display and official court from the TD Banknorth Garden used during the final four.
“We talked a lot about last season being etched in history and now it’s truly come true as you can see with the trophy,” coach Brenda Frese said. “It will always be a part of history here with Maryland women’s basketball.”
The final four court features the tournament bracket as well as pictures of Kristi Toliver’s miracle three-pointer against Duke and the team celebrating on the court after winning in the championship game.
The court sits right under the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame, on the same hallway as the men’s court from the Georgia Dome in 2002.
“Instead of walking through the front [of the Comcast Center] I walk through the back, just to walk past it everyday,” Toliver said. “The first time we really saw it we all just kind of stopped and stared and it made us tingly, like we want another one.”
“It’s just awesome,” forward Crystal Langhorne said. “I remember the first time looking and saying, ‘There’s my scuff mark on the floor.'”
The players now have a constant reminder of their accomplishments from last April and will be remembered for years to come by anyone who comes into Comcast Center for an event.
“Something reminds you about it everyday,” senior Shay Doron said. “It’s always in the back of my mind. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love it, and it’s always going to be a part of my life.”
Although the Terps were excited to see their accomplishments rewarded, they know that next season is right around the corner, and nothing short of a second title will be satisfying for them.
The team has been training hard all summer and they are looking forward to defending their national title.
“Our team is very motivated and they’re working hard this preseason again,” Frese said. “Our team has always been grounded and stayed humble. I think they’ll continue to keep working hard.”
“Everybody needs to get better in the off-season if we want to win again,” Langhorne said. “We had a team meeting and basically said last year was last year. Everybody starts out at 0-0, and everyone has to bring their A-game.”
Winning back-to-back championships isn’t out of the question for the Terps; they return all of their key players from last year and gain even more talent to an already deep roster.
Both Tennessee and Connecticut have won in consecutive seasons in the past 10 years – each team put up three-peats.
It certainly will be no cakewalk for the Terps however, as they play in the nation’s top conference and will have to contend with teams like North Carolina and Duke, who both return key players as well.
“We definitely aren’t just satisfied where we are,” Toliver said. “We’re looking to get another wall and another ball. And seeing these exhibits just makes you hungrier.”
Contact reporter Mark Selig at mseligdbk@gmail.com.
