Kevin Willard remained composed during the early struggles of the Maryland Terrapins in the Big Ten conference schedule. His main goal was to ensure that the team was in a good position as they approached February. Now, as the month begins, Maryland finds itself right on track.
Entering their Thursday matchup against Ohio State and a Sunday game against Rutgers, the Terps are back in the AP Top 25 for the first time in nearly two years, ranked 18th. After starting the league play with a disappointing 1-3 record that included two defeats against teams from the Pacific Northwest, Maryland has bounced back impressively, winning four consecutive games and six out of seven.
Willard expressed his pride in his team’s perseverance following their victory against then-No. 17 Wisconsin. “Their attitude has been just phenomenal,” he noted, highlighting their resilience in overcoming early setbacks in the conference schedule. Boone Maryland’s overall record now stands at 17-5, with a conference mark of 7-4. According to KenPom, they are currently one of nine teams nationwide ranked in the top 25 for both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, scoring an average of 119.0 points per 100 possessions while allowing 95.1.
The Terrapins have excelled defensively as well, ranking second in KenPom by blocking 5.4% of opponents’ two-point shots and third by achieving steals on 6.9% of possessions. Among their recent performances, a standout was their 91-70 victory against then-No. 17 Illinois on January 23, where Maryland scored 53 points in the second half, marking their best road game against a ranked opponent since January 2002.
This recent success has propelled Maryland back into the rankings for the first time since a fleeting visit to No. 21 in late February of last year. Forward Julian Reese attributed their achievements to a focused mindset aimed at playing their best basketball. Willard acknowledged that surviving January’s challenges, which included significant travel, was crucial. “We’re getting a nice week here, a bye week, and just getting these guys refreshed mentally going into … what you want to be a fun February,” he commented.
On a different note, second-ranked Duke has been dominating its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule without facing serious challenges thus far. With an unbeaten ACC record, the Blue Devils are gearing up for tougher matches this week against Syracuse and Clemson. Duke, sitting at 19-2 overall, boasts the longest winning streak in the nation at 15 games and could potentially be the first team to end the ACC regular season undefeated since 1999.
Meanwhile, No. 12 St. John’s, having achieved its highest ranking since the 1999-2000 season, faces a challenging week with games against No. 11 Marquette and No. 19 UConn, the reigning national champions.
In the Southeastern Conference, exciting matchups continue, with numerous ranked teams in the polls. The highlight of the week pits No. 1 Auburn against No. 6 Florida, while No. 15 Missouri faces tests against No. 4 Tennessee and No. 10 Texas A&M.
Assessing the rankings reveals a general consensus among significant ranking metrics concerning Auburn and Duke, both consistently ranking within the top three. Other teams like Alabama, Tennessee, Houston, Florida, and Iowa State also display strong standings. However, discrepancies emerge around teams such as AP No. 9 Michigan State and No. 10 Texas A&M, which appear differently across various rankings.
Finally, keep an eye on certain teams looking to crack into the rankings. Clemson is close, trailing No. 25 Ole Miss, and could secure a spot with wins against Georgia Tech and Duke. Saint Mary’s is dominating the West Coast Conference, holding a remarkable 20-3 record with their sights set on continued success as they head into pivotal games this week.
