Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Illinois, Maryland, and Michigan State fight at top
By Ryan Kay
2. Maryland 18-4 (8-3)
Key Wins
*Defeated Marquette 84-63 to win the Orlando Invitational.
*Beat Notre Dame 72-51 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
*Defeated Temple on a natural court 76-69.
*Beat Illinois, Rutgers, and Iowa at home.
Disappointing Losses
*Lost at Seton Hall 52-48.
*Lost on the road to Iowa by a score of 67-49.
*Lost to Wisconsin by 2 points on the road.
KenPom Ranking 11
Net Ranking 11
It is not a surprise to see the Terrapins tied for 1st place in the Big Ten with the Fighting Illini. Maryland’s only major key loss for Maryland from last season was losing Bruno Fernando to the NBA draft. The Terrapins did, in fact, bring back a great core of returning players in Anthony Cowan, Jalen Smith, Darryl Morsell, and Aaron Wiggins. Maryland has three players averaging double-digits in scoring this season and Terrapins bench may not have been producing the offensive productivity in Big Ten play as expected consistently, but they are able to contribute defensively allowing Maryland to win some close games in Big Ten play.
To fully understand Maryland’s success this season and in particular in Big Ten play, the Terrapins were one of the youngest teams in all of college basketball last season and they brought back five freshmen who have been making a meaningful impact on games as sophomores this year. The Terrapins leading scorer in Anthony Cowen Jr.has been the catalyst on offense once again this season and is almost a lock to be named 1st team All-Big Ten this season. Maryland and head coach Mark Turgeon bringing back five of their top six scorers from last season and it is not a surprise at all that they are not only sitting atop the Big Ten standings but winning close games as well.
If it were a weaker Big Ten conference this season, it would be feasible that the Terrapins could be undefeated at this point in Big Ten play. However, Maryland is battling night in and night out and winning close games as they did against Illinois, Indiana, and Rutgers. The Terrapins will look to have Cowen Jr. lead this young but talented group to a possible Big Ten title. Maryland is challenging the Fighting Illini and Spartans for Big Ten Supremacy but in this very deep and competitive conference they have to continue to be consistent and win at home. They will have a great opportunity to be solely in 1st place in the Big Ten when they travel to play at Illinois in on Feb. 7th.