Maryland Basketball a 5-Seed in Lunardi’s Bracketology

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Feb 14, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Dez Wells (44) dribbles past Penn State Nittany Lions forward Ross Travis (43) in the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. The Terrapins won 76-73. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Now in the midst of the final stretch of the college basketball season, teams are fighting to position themselves for a deep run into March. Coming off of a big win at home against Indiana and a road win at Penn State, Maryland now holds a 21-5 overall record and 9-4 record in the Big Ten conference. In his latest Bracketology update, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has the Terps as a five-seed facing either NC State or Tulsa in the Round of 64.

Other experts have the Terps as either a three-seed or four-seed right now, but Lunardi’s projection seems to be a pretty accurate one at this point in the season. They are currently ranked 16th in the AP Top 25. With five wins against teams in the RPI Top 50, particularly Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and two wins over Michigan State, Maryland is in prime position for a top-5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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For the most part, the Terps have won the games they were supposed to win, minus three hiccups on the road in conference play at Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. Those losses could come back to haunt them during the selection process.

Looking at Maryland’s total body of work, this team belongs somewhere near the top, but every year, there are some surprises when the seeds are announced.

With five games left on their regular season schedule, the Terps have an opportunity to improve their positioning for postseason play. Each game is winnable, but the biggest test will be on February 24, when B1G leader Wisconsin travels to the XFINITY Center. If Maryland can pull off the upset and win out, they are almost sure to be a top-three seed come Selection Sunday.

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