COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland Men's Basketball begins Big 10 action on Thursday in Chicago.
They hope to fare better than the last two years when they were knocked out in the first round.
The fourth youngest NCAA team will draw inspiration from the 2002 National Championship team.
Winning a national championship trophy is the goal for every college team this time of year.
It starts with conference play for the Maryland Terps that's the Big 10.
With five freshman playing the majority of minutes, 53 to be exact, their talents will be called upon.
"Those young guys have been good," Head Coach Mark Turgeon said. "It's really unusual what they're doing especially on the defensive end."
"We don't even acknowledge each other as freshman," said Freshman Guard Eric Ayala. "The older guys don't either."
Earlier this month, members of the Terps only National Championship team were in town for the 100th anniversary of the program.
What that team did is not lost on this one.
"We always see these people and everything and talk about the 2002 team," said Guard Bruno Fernando. "It's always a reminder we gotta make sure we're one of those teams. Thirty years from now we want people to talk about this team today.
Coach Turgeon said he told his players he wants to make the tournament lasts a long time.