Kevin Willard believed his new Maryland team would get off to a good start.
But this has been a bit more than even Willard expected early in his tenure after a successful run at Seton Hall.
“I didn’t envision this,” Willard said. “I’m not going to lie.”
The Terrapins (8-0, 1-0 Big Ten) made the week’s biggest jump in Monday’s latest AP Top 25 by rising nine spots to No. 13. That marks the program’s highest ranking since pushing into the top 10 during the 2019-20 season, and it comes with the Terps preparing for a stretch that could build even more momentum.
First comes Tuesday’s trip to Wisconsin in Big Ten play, followed by a matchup with seventh-ranked Tennessee in New York on Sunday in one of the marquee games on this week’s Top 25 schedule.
Maryland opened Big Ten play by beating No. 17 Illinois on Friday night.
The Terrapins currently rank 12th nationally in…
