For the first time since the week of Feb. 27, 2023, Maryland men’s basketball is ranked inside the AP top-25 as they take their four-game win streak into February.
Maryland drew 390 votes and was ranked 18th in Monday’s updated AP poll, one of six ranked Big Ten teams alongside Purdue (7), Michigan State (9), Wisconsin (21), Illinois (23), and Michigan (24).
Mike Hlas of The Gazette was most bullish on Maryland, placing them 13th, with six ballots including the Terps inside the top-15 and 36 brackets inside the top-20.
This marks the highest the program has been ranked since week five of Kevin Willard's first season as the Terps' head coach.
Maryland drew votes for 13 consecutive weeks and twice climbed as high as 26th after drawing the most votes outside the top-25. Maryland unofficially ranked 27th last week after finishing 15 points shy of UConn for the final spot inside the updated rankings, but it became apparent that all that stood in the way of their AP ranking was last Wednesday’s home game vs. Wisconsin.
Maryland’s backcourt exploded in the second half before holding off a late Badger run en route to a 76-68 win in the annual Gold Rush game, taking care of business before enjoying a rare eight-day break in the midst of conference play. It marked the fourth consecutive win for Maryland and fifth in their last six games as the Terps find themselves climbing heading into a month with four of six games in College Park.
“I think the biggest thing was just getting through January,” head coach Kevin Willard said after Wednesday’s win. “I knew January was going to be hard with the two swing trips. So I think the biggest thing is, you know, we're getting a nice week here, a bye week, and just getting these guys refreshed mentally, going into a – which is what you want to be – a fun February.”
The first of two road games is this week, though, as Maryland returns to action this Thursday, Feb. 6 at Ohio State with tipoff set for 7 PM on FS1. Maryland will look to move to 2-0 against Ohio State after leading by as many as 41 and beating the Buckeyes, 83-59, back on Dec. 4.
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