Behind a hot start under new coach Kevin Willard, Maryland cracked the Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 on Monday for the first time in a year.
The 5-0 Terrapins enter the poll at No. 23, ranking for the first time since the second week of last season. Maryland joins five other Big Ten programs in the poll for the most of any conference.
The ranking comes after a weekend sweep at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off in Uncasville, Connecticut. Maryland beat Saint Louis, 95-67, on Saturday and previously unbeaten Miami, 88-70, on Sunday en route to the tournament title. Four of its five wins have been by at least 20 points.
It’s Maryland’s first 5-0 start since 2019-20 when the Terrapins won a share of the Big Ten regular season championship. For Willard, it’s the best start to a season by any first-year Terrapins coach.
Maryland was last ranked at No. 20 the week of Nov. 15, 2021. Things unraveled, however, after a 3-0 start turned into 5-3, leading to coach Mark Turgeon’s departure. The Terrapins return to action Friday when they host Coppin State at 4 p.m.
• George Gerbo can be reached at ggerbo@washingtontimes.com.
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