Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2019-20 season

By Adam Childs | Sep 5, 2019

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany presents head coach Tom Izzo the championship trophy after the Michigan State Spartans beat the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins dribbles the ball against Kevin McClain #11 of the Belmont Bruins in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at VyStar Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2. Maryland

Bruno Fernando is gone, but Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan Jr. return to a team many are expecting to take the next step this year. The Terrapins made it into the tournament last year and were very close to making it to the Sweet 16 as they came up just short against LSU in a great game last year.

Can Mark Turgeon get Maryland to the next level and become a legitimate national title contender? Most people would agree that they aren’t there quite yet, but if he can get the Terrapins to continue to trend up they may be on their way there.

They still are a step behind the top team on this list, but they have just as much talent to claim the number two spot as anybody else in the conference. Smith is a good pick to be the breakout star of the conference this year and Cowan Jr can flat-out shoot it from the outside.

The big question will be if Smith can thrive without Fernando helping him down low. But on the other side without him there it will free up some space for Smith to really shine. He has shown the ability to take control of games and can shoot from the outside also. He will just need to stay out of foul trouble if the Terrapins want to be successful.

The season can swing on the two stars for the Terrapins, but they are two very good players to rely on. Here is to the Terrapins making that leap and competing with the Spartans for the Big Ten title.

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