Maryland Basketball: What 2020 Final Four run would’ve meant for Terps
After a season with five Top 100 recruits and a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship, where would a run to the Final Four place the 2019-20 Maryland Basketball team in terms of memorable teams in program history?
There is no denying the history of Maryland Basketball. After 1,587 victories over 97 seasons, the Terrapins have punched their ticket into the National Championship Tournament 28 times. Their success in the tournament has equated into a 42-27 record, yet they have only one National Championship to their name, which they won during the 2001-02 season being led by seniors Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter.
Maryland lost in the National Semifinal to end its 2000-01 season, which consisted of the same core as the title-winning team mentioned above. When deciding where a Final Four run would have placed 2019-2020 Terrapins among the memorable teams of the last 40 years, the quantifier of “last 40 years” held a fair amount of weight. There is no denying the success Maryland had in the 1970s under coach Lefty Driesell while losing in the Regional Final twice with John Lucas at guard.
When it comes to the last 40 years of the program’s history if the 20019-20 squad made a Final Four run, it would place them as the seventh most memorable team in program history. Despite the season being cut short, Maryland still finished with a 14-6 record, the same as Michigan State and Wisconsin, which would give them a share of their conference’s regular-season title, a feat the program has accomplished six times in their history. The Terrapins rode the program’s fifth toughest Strength of Schedule to a 24-7 overall record and a 14-6 Big 10 record, which allowed them to reach No. 3 on the Associated Press Poll after opening the season 8-0 on December 2nd.
Two Big Ten losses in January would see the Terrapins drop as far down to No.17, prior to an eight-game Big Ten winning streak that would raise expectations and their rank to No.7 in the nation. The Terrapins were led this season by senior guard Anthony Cowan who despite his 16 points and almost five assists per game, is not projected to be selected in the NBA Daft.
The one player that is attracting interest as a late first-rounder is sophomore Jalen Smith. Whereas teams are fondly remembered when looked back upon when players are doing well in the NBA, a lot can be said for recognizing the greatness a player had in your program, despite his success at the next level. Regardless if Cowan plays in the NBA, there is no denying his contribution to Maryland Basketball.
Next. Final Big Ten power rankings for 2019-20. dark
If the 2019-20 Maryland Terrapins had made a Final Four run they would have done so as a #4 seed at best after ending the season at No.12 in the Associated Press Poll and No.18 in NET, after attempting the most three-point field goals in the Big Ten this season there was always a chance they could shoot themselves into some big wins in the conference tournament and beyond. The run of the 2019-20 Terrapins would not be as dominant as the 2001-02 team, or as filled with upsets as the 1993-94 team, but memorable enough for seventh in program history.