17. Maryland Terrapins
Record: 16-3 (7-1 Big Ten)
Last Week: No. 19
There might not be a hotter team in the country than Maryland. The Terps have won seven in a row since their tough home loss to Seton Hall, including several on the road. During this last week alone, head coach Mark Turgeon’s team was able to take down Wisconsin (home) and Ohio State (away). With Bruno Fernando and Anthony Cowan leading the way, this team has emerged as a serious candidate to win the Big Ten. They might still be in the second tier behind Michigan State and Michigan but their 7-1 record speaks for itself.
Of course, there are plenty of games left on the schedule so I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I think Maryland has what it takes to be a potential top-10 team down the road. They might be one of the youngest teams in the nation but they have grown throughout this season and should continue to develop in the coming months. Additionally, the young roster has already shown poise beyond its years in close games.
Looking ahead, Maryland has a super-tough road game against Michigan State coming next but then two more very winnable games against Illinois and Northwestern following. The Terps are certainly a team to look out for moving forward.