WASHINGTON – The University of Maryland will kick off its last season of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball by going back to its roots.
The school will host its annual Maryland Madness on Friday, Oct. 18 at historic Cole Field House, which was home to Maryland basketball from 1955 to 2002.
The event marks the official kickoff to the basketball season. Both the men’s and women’s teams will be introduced and both teams will hold an intrasquad scrimmage for fans.
“Cole Field House represented many of the most iconic and memorable moments in Maryland basketball program history,” men’s head coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement. “Cole was host to multiple hall of fame coaches and countless All-Americans that helped make Maryland basketball what it is today. It will be a special evening for our fans, students, alumni and our university as we reconnect with the historic past of Cole Field House and Maryland basketball.”
When Cole closed in 2002, it owned the distinction of having hosted more upsets of No. 1 ranked teams than any building in the country. The final top-ranked team to fall in Cole was Duke in February 2002. Maryland went on to win their first national title that year.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams went a combined 774-246 (.759) during almost five decades of play at Cole Field House. Today, the teams play at the Comcast Center.
“It’s a great chance for this generation to get a glimpse of what Maryland basketball was like and to honor our history,” women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese said.
Doors will be open at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available to students and Terrapin Club donors beginning Sept, 30 at 8:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Should any tickets remain, men’s and women’s basketball season ticket holders who are not Terrapin Club donors can reserve seats online or by calling 1-800-462-TERP on Oct. 3 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Maryland will begin play in the Big Ten Conference next year.
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