Maryland Basketball: No love lost, no love found for Terps in AP Top 25

By Christopher Church | Jan 9, 2017

Dec 27, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon looks on in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Maryland basketball still finds themselves on the outside of the latest AP Top 25 rankings despite just two losses on the season.

The Maryland basketball team is 14-2 entering week 10 of the season and is coming off a huge road win at Michigan Saturday afternoon. The Terps received just five receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25 rankings and remain on the outside looking in of the nation’s top 25 college basketball teams.

Besides ranking No. 25 in the AP Top 25 preseason rankings, the Terps have continued to drift in the poll’s receiving votes section every week this season. Maryland has merely missed a spot in the top 25 several times including in weeks four and eight where they tallied the most receiving votes, also known as No. 26 in the nation.

Having said that, a red-hot Nebraska Cornhuskers team on New Year’s Day handed Maryland their second loss of the season and even worse, a loss at home. Before the game, the Terps were almost guaranteed a spot in the top 25 with what seemed at the time, an apparent win against Nebraska.

More from Maryland Terrapins

Let’s take a look at one team ahead of Maryland in the AP Top 25. Remember when Maryland beat Kansas State to win the Barclays Center Classic title during Thanksgiving weekend? Well, Kansas State is tied for the No. 25 spot in the latest AP poll.

Why? I’m not sure either.

In addition to beating Maryland beating Kansas State earlier this season, Maryland ranks No. 34 while Kansas State is No. 52 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball RPI rankings. Kansas State is winless against RPI top 50 teams with losses against Kansas and Maryland. The Wildcats SOS (strength of schedule) ranks 177th versus all Division I games and a non-conference SOS that ranks 257th. Lastly, Kansas State’s best win of the season came against Colorado St.

The teams ahead of Maryland in the receiving votes is Seton Hall (11), South Carolina (7), Iowa State (7), Indiana (6), and Virginia Tech (6).

Sports Illustrated’s Bracket Watch has Maryland at a comfortable seven seed while Kansas State sneaks in and categorized under the “Last Four In.” Seton Hall (9 seed), South Carolina (8 seed), Iowa State (9 seed), and Indiana (9 seed) all are projected to have lower seeds than Maryland at the moment.

This week, the Terps host Indiana Tuesday night and end the week with a road game at Illinois, who Maryland beat earlier this season in the B1G Ten opener in College Park.

Next: Are the Orioles moving on from Mark Trumbo?

If Maryland basketball wins their next two games, I don’t see any explanation for the voters to leave Maryland out of the AP Top 25.

Home/Maryland Terrapins