Coach Chris Weller has guided the Terps to three Final Four appearances.

In 2000, however, things are again looking up for the Terps, which were 13-9 overall through Wednesday, including wins over the top teams -- Duke and Clemson -- in the Atlantic Coast Conference a year ago.

And, as coach Chris Weller said during a chat with ESPN.com on Feb. 9, the future looks bright as well.

"Our freshmen have had a tremendously positive impact on our team," said Weller, in her 25th season with the Terps. "As you may be aware, our team is predominantly made up of freshmen and sophomores. I think there is every reason to believe that there will be a Vicky Bullett and a Deanna Tate (former All-Americans) in this crew. And, as mentioned before, a couple of our freshmen, I think, are great candidates for the ACC All-Freshman Team, specifically Vicki Brick and Renneika Razor."

During her chat, Weller also spoke about the parity in the ACC and even got a visit from one of her former players.

If you missed the Feb. 9 chat, check out the edited transcript below.

Coach Weller: Hi everybody, I'm happy to be here and happy to answer any of your questions about Maryland women's basketball.

DWIGHT (TERPS '82): Hi coach Weller. I wanted to tell you that you're a tremendous coach. Keep up the great work. What will it take for the Terps to make the NCAA Tournament? Do you ever hear from Myra Waters? What is she doing?

Coach Weller: I hear from Myra Waters often. She is going to be re-locating back to this area as a guidance counselor at Morgan State University. She has her doctorate in psychology.

Dr. Myra Waters: Hi Coach. Congratulations on your success this year. What would you say are the primary differences between your 1998-99 team and your current team (13-9)?

Coach Weller: Myra, what a coincidence that you've asked a question! I've just gotten done talking about you! See, they still remember you! Our team last year was much like this year's team, with the exception that they had NO experience, and they grew in a very positive direction as people and competitors, which has provided the impetus for our success of this year's team. Both teams have concentrated on being selfless, courageous and compassionate competitors.

Dave: What do you think about the freshman you have on your team this year? How are they doing and what do you see in their future?

JOB WELL(ER) DONE

Weller, who has earned a 466-251 career record (.650 winning percentage) midway through her 25th season with the Terrapins, has led Maryland to 13-9 overall record this season. The Terps, just 6-21 in 1999, are 4-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which includes wins over Duke, last season's national runner-up and ACC regular-season champion, and Clemson, the 1999 ACC tournament champion. Weller took over the Terps in 1975 and quickly led the program to success. In her first season, Maryland posted posted 20 wins, followed by a No. 13 national ranking and a trip to the AIAW Regional Tournament the following year. In 1978, the Terps recorded a 27-4 record, won the first-ever ACC championship and advanced to the AIAW Final Four. Since, Weller has guided the Terps to three Final Four appearances, eight ACC championships and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances as the Terrapin program has produced five Olympians, three Kodak All-Americans and a handful of professional players. In 1989, Weller was named the ACC and American Sports Foundation's Coach of the Year. In 1992, Weller was again named the ACC Coach of the Year, but also was honored as the Naismith National Coach of the Year as well as the Basketball Writer's Association of American Coach of the Year. For more on the Terps, visit Maryland's official athletic site.

Coach Weller: Our freshmen have had a tremendously positive impact on our team. They're great people and skilled and competitive players. Vicki Brick brings a great heart to the way she plays the game. Renneika Razor is probably the quickest player that we've signed in many, many years. Terri Daniels has extraordinary skills which will become evident as she becomes a little stronger physically. Brie Jackson is the kind of person that makes the team atmosphere complete because she's got great personality and is a tremendously unselfish person.

Bobby: It seems that the balance of power in the ACC has shifted from top-heavy to more parity. Do you see that parity as a sign of strength for the league?

Coach Weller: The ACC, in my mind, always has great parity, dating as far back as the '89 year that we won the regular season and championship. We beat the last-place team during that year on our home court by one point in overtime. How much closer can you get? I truly believe that every single team in our conference is a top 50 team.

Moose: I would like to know if your style of play is designed for pushing the ball up the floor?

Coach Weller: Actually, my style of basketball is dictated by the players on our team. I think the most important thing that a coach can contribute to a team is to allow for an organization that lets the players' talents shine through. I personally prefer a pressing, running style of game because I think it's a greater challenge both physically and mentally to the players. And, of course, it's the kind of game everybody loves to watch. This year, we pride ourselves on our tenacious defense, which is the beginning of our offense. We prefer to run anytime we can.

John: Coach, I was wondering why at the end of the Clemson game you didn't try a pass and shoot underneath the basket with Branka instead of throwing out to Marché and trying a long 3?

Coach Weller: Actually, our first attempt was to look inside to Renneika Razor who had been getting open pretty easily. When we couldn't get it in, we called timeout because Clemson was packing that lane so tightly, and with Deedee Warley having fouled out only a moment previously, we felt like overtime might have been tough and maybe we could catch Clemson not expecting us to take a 3-pointer. Marché is a 40-plus percent 3-point shooter and it would have been difficult to play the overtime with the foul situation we were in.

ColeFieldHouseCrazy: Coach, tell us about YOUR game. Are you a slasher, bomber or high-riser?

Coach Weller: Actually, I'm the best shooter I've ever seen. I've never seen a shot I wouldn't take! I tell this to my team all the time because that's the mentality I think a shooter needs to have.

Terp Women's Hoops Nut: Do you ever go to any Mystics games? Now that Vicky Bullet is playing for the team, will you go more often?

Coach Weller: Unfortunately, I've only been to one Mystics game, but I love the atmosphere. I went to that game because they were playing the Charlotte Sting, on which Vicky and another former player, Sonia Chase, were playing. I am truly excited that Vicky will be returning to our area. I'll definitely be getting to more games to support her.

Terp Rebounder: You guys haven't lost two in a row all season. Can you keep your streak alive against N.C. State tomorrow? What are the keys to that game?

Coach Weller: The focus of our team throughout the season has really been to enjoy each game in its own right. The stat about two-in-a-row is perhaps of interest to others, but our goal is just to play the best game we can play the day we're playing that game. The N.C. State game is going to be a great challenge. The Wolfpack will offer us a matchup that is more difficult than most others in the ACC, but we're excited about seeing if we can make improvements on our first effort against them.

JPgrad: Coach, I'm an alum who was at your sellout game with Virginia in the early '90s. It's great to see the rebound this year. Who are some of your up-and-coming players to look for in the future?

Coach Weller: As you may be aware, our team is predominantly made up of freshmen and sophomores. I think there is every reason to believe that there will be a Vicky Bullett and a Deanna Tate (former All-Americans) in this crew. Deedee Warley is continuing to establish herself as one of the premier post players in our conference. Marché Strickland is proving to be one of the best outside shooting players in the league. And, as mentioned before, a couple of our freshmen, I think, are great candidates for the ACC All-Freshman Team, specifically Vicki Brick and Renneika Razor.

Terps Rock!: Hi, Coach! Glad to see you're chatting on ESPN.com! How do you think you'll fair in the rest of the conference schedule and at the conference tournament in March? Any chance of us Terps faithfuls following both the women's and men's team throughout tourney time this year?

Coach Weller: Hey, it's great to have Terp faithfuls on this chat! I sure hope that you will be able to follow both the men's and women's teams throughout the tourney this year. But as far as our team is concerned, we want to avoid any speculation because we really need to concentrate on the "one game at a time" concept. We are treading in new waters this year, as it is -- being very competitive in the league but not yet at the top.

Beantown Bomber: Coach, a Maryland fan here from Boston. Can you talk about your recruiting region? We've got some great players who would look good in red and white. Thanks!

Coach Weller: Actually, it's always nerve-wracking to talk about recruiting publically because you never want to make a mistake and violate an NCAA rule! Ironically though, Marché Strickland is from Massachusetts (Kingston). Basically, if anybody knows of a great player out there, please call and let us know! 301-314-1747. Thanks for the support!

Dookie: How much impact, if any, will the new arena have on recruiting?

Coach Weller: As an alum of Maryland, I have a great love for Cole Field House. But the prospects of having an arena such that we're going to have is truly a huge asset for our program. It's definitely going to have an impact on recruiting. It's state-of-the-art, which parallels everything else about the University of Maryland. President Mote and Debbie Yow have done a great job in making a new arena a reality.

I've got to run now because we've got practice in 15 minutes! As a computer-illiterate, this has been an extremely interesting exercise. It's really great to chat with people connected to our program and I hope we can do it again. Thanks for your support for women's basketball, in general, and the University of Maryland. And don't forget to come to the N.C. State game on Thursday! Thanks.