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CNN Live At Daybreak

Maryland, Indiana Square Off Tonight

Aired April 01, 2002 - 06:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk basketball now. While pro baseball gets underway, college basketball is about to wrap up its big dance. The University of Maryland and Indiana are in tonight's NCAA championship game.

CNN Sports Illustrated's Larry Smith looks at how the two teams see themselves lining up against each other.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNNSI ANCHOR (voice-over): The Indiana Hoosiers have been overlooked all season, but they spent Easter Sunday as one of two teams who are still standing. IU is shooting 55 percent from the field, 53 percent from three point range during the NCAA tournament, to climb to the summit and a championship clash with Maryland Monday night.

DANE FIFE, INDIANA GUARD: We've got very good inside passers, and they get the ball to us for open shots. And we do well in transition getting open shots for shooters like myself and Horny (ph) and Coverdale.

STEVE BLAKE, MARYLAND GUARD: That's one of the things they do well, so we have to be prepared for that. And we've played teams like Duke, who kind of play a little like that, put up a lot of threes. And so we'll just have to be ready to contest every shot they take from three point line.

KYLE HORNSBY, INDIANA GUARD: We've shot the ball real well in the NCAA tournament, with the exception of Duke, I would say. But they really pressures on the perimeter. So we'll see what Maryland does, but it will be a key. We will have to shoot the ball well.

SMITH: In Maryland, the Hoosiers get an opponent much like the Oklahoma team that they beat in the semifinals. The Terrapins love the up-tempo game, averaging 87 points per game during the tournament. Their challenge will be to convert in transition versus an Indiana defense that allowed Oklahoma just six pass break points on Saturday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love to run, so it will to our advantage, you know. I mean everybody on our team, you know, likes to get out and, you know, push the ball ahead. And, you know, if we play that type of game, you know, we'll be fortunate. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We pride ourselves in great team defense. We know that since we're not as athletic as everybody we're going to get beat sometimes, and we have great shot blockers behind us. So it allows us to pressure the ball.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a fortunate team because we're able to do both. I mean we can shoot the three, you know. We can get on transition, and we also get the ball inside the line (UNINTELLIGIBLE). So I don't think we really have a weakness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the keys with them is their defense and can we attack their defense? You know, Oklahoma really struggled with that last night, and hopefully we can do a better job.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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