Maryland reflects on Driesell's impact on elevating Terrapins to national elite

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Before Gary Williams led Maryland to the 2002 NCAA championship, Lefty Driesell made the Terrapins relevant.

Driesell, who died Saturday at 92, was remembered during Maryland’s game against Illinois as the coach who elevated the program from one with a single NCAA Tournament appearance to a postseason regular capable of competing with Atlantic Coast Conference powers Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State.

“Not being afraid to put Maryland’s basketball program out there, that takes some guts to do that,” Williams said. “Obviously, Lefty had that ability. He’s a great recruiter. There’s a lot of those players who are here today, just tremendous players. He was just great for the university and the state of Maryland. If you said ‘Lefty,’ you didn’t have to say anything else. Everybody knew who you were talking about.”

Maryland wore throwback uniforms Saturday that echoed Driesell's 1970s heyday at the school, and held a moment of silence before the game while encouraging fans to show the “V-sign" — a Driesell signature during his time at the school.