Disappointed Gooden Might Stick Around

ATLANTA —  After a disappointing Final Four, Kansas forward Drew Gooden might think longer about whether to declare for the NBA draft.

“It will be a tough decision,” the junior All-American said. “No one wants their college career to end like this. I will have to look at it and deal with it and make a decision later.”

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Point guard Aaron Miles--one of three freshmen who played a key role for Kansas--recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

“Heck of a game for a freshman,” Coach Roy Williams said. “I am--needless to say--going to enjoy coaching him.”

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This will be Maryland’s first appearance in the NCAA title game, but nothing new for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

It’s the eighth time in the last 13 years an ACC team has played for the national championship.

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In four previous meetings between Maryland and Indiana, the Terrapins have never won.

The last meeting was in a second-round NCAA tournament game in 1981, a 99-64 Indiana victory.

Maryland Coach Gary Williams is 0-7 against Indiana--0-6 at Ohio State and 0-1 at Boston College.

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Steve Lavin isn’t seeking a better gig, like so many other coaches prowling around Atlanta this weekend.

The UCLA coach decided not to come to the Final Four and accompanying National Basketball Coaches convention because he is sick. Bruin assistant Jim Saia is in Atlanta and Saturday interviewed for the head coaching vacancy at Fresno State.

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Maryland’s senior class is 109-31 over the past four years, the best in school history.

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Staff writers Robyn Norwood, Steve Henson and Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.