Terps aim for edge on Badgers in title chase
UM, Wisconsin tied in 2nd place, a half-game behind Purdue in Big Ten
MADISON, WIS. — Nearly two weeks ago, a Big Ten championship seemed out of reach for the Maryland men’s basketball team. The Terps had lost two straight games, handing a one-point win to Purdue in the final minute at home and barely showing up three days later in a six-point defeat at Penn State.
The back-to-back losses seemed to erase the swagger from Maryland’s 8-1 start in the Big Ten. While still tied with the Boilermakers for second place, the Terps found themselves two games behind a Wisconsin team that seemed to be distancing itself from the rest of the league.
A lot has changed in the past 12 days.
Going into today’s game at Kohl Center, No. 23 Maryland (22-4, 10-3 Big Ten) has seemingly regained its momentum with two straight wins, including a 74-64 victory at Northwestern on Wednesday.
After winning eight straight and 17 of 18, No. 11 Wisconsin (21-5, 10-3) has lost two straight, including a 64-58 defeat at Michigan on Thursday that senior guard Bronson Koenig sat out with an injured calf.
Both teams are trying to keep pace with No. 16 Purdue (22-5, 11-3), which has won five straight and eight of nine after Saturday’s home win over Michigan State.
While all three teams are still hoping to improve their seeding in the eyes of the NCAA tournament selection committee, the top spot in next month’s Big Ten tournament in Washington is also part of the motivation.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said he has seen improvement since his Terps TV: Radio: