Maryland men’s basketball is among ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s first four teams out of the NCAA tournament in his most recent projections.
FIRST FOUR OUT: Alabama, Maryland, Ohio St, St. Mary's. NEXT FOUR OUT: VaTech, Houston, Boise St, Georgia. FOUR MORE: Marquette, Okla St, Oregon, BYU. CONSIDERED: San Diego St, Utah, Iowa St, UNI, Penn St, UNLV, Miss St, WKU.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) December 27, 2017
As it stands in Lunardi’s head, the Big Ten would receive four bids, with Michigan State being the conference’s automatic qualifier.
Full bracket tomorrow. Seed list as Big East opens major conference play today (CAPS=AQ): 01-NOVA, 02-Duke, 03-MICHST, 04-ArizSt, 05-A&M, 06-Xavier, 07-Wvu, 08-Unc, 09-Purdue, 10-KU, 11-WICHST, 12-UVa, 13-Okla, 14-Tcu, 15-ZONA, 16-Miami...
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) December 27, 2017
...17-ZAGA, 18-Uk, 19-Tenn, 20-SHall, 21-Ark, 22-TTech, 23-Cincy, 24-Fsu, 25-Bay, 26-Clem, 27-Creigh, 28-NDame, 29-Lville, 30-Mich, 31-Texas, 32-Fla, 33-NEV, 34-Cuse, 35-URI, 36-Bona, 37-Smu, 38-Butler, 39-Mizzou, 40-Usc, 41-StJohn (LAST 4 IN) 42-Minn, 43-Ucla, 44-Temp, 45-Aub...
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) December 27, 2017
...46-MTSU, 47-NMST, 48-MISSOUST, 49-UTA, 50-BC, 51-TOWS, 52-SFA, 53-SODAK, 54-VERM, 55-BALLST, 56-LIPSCOMB, 57-UCSB, 58-MURR, 59-ETSU, 60-BUCK, 61-NOKY, 62-PRINCE, 63-IONA, 64-IDAHO, 65-UNCA, 66-FRAN(PA), 67-TEXSO, 68-HAMPTON.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) December 27, 2017
Coming off of an eight-day layoff, the Terps are 11-3 and 1-1 in conference play heading into the second half of the season. Maryland’s three losses come at the hands of St. Bonaventure, Syracuse and Purdue, each of which is a projected tournament team. The Butler and Bucknell wins were the only two Terps’ wins that came against projected tournament teams.
UMBC will make the trip down I-95 to play Maryland Friday before the Terps kick off conference play (again) on Jan. 2 when Penn State comes to College Park.
In other news
USA Today released its All-State football teams Wednesday, and Maryland commits were well-represented. Three-star cornerback Vincent Flythe, four-star safety Noah Boykin and three-star receiver Dontay Demus made First Team All-D.C., as did four-star running back target Mychale Salahuddin.
In Maryland, four-star offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan was named to the first team, as was four-star defensive tackle Austin Fontaine—but on the offensive line. On defense, three-star linebackers Chance Campbell and Durrell Nchami were named to the first team, as was three-star safety Raymond Boone. Three-star offensive lineman Evan Gregory was named to the second-team.
Maryland women’s basketball 2018 commit Taylor Mikesell had herself a record-breaking day Wednesday. Her 50 points set a new Ohio state record, breaking the previous one that stood since 1975. Mikesell’s 10 made 3-pointers was a new Jackson High School record. What might be more impressive is that she almost doubled up her opponents on her own, as Jackson won 86-27.
Now-former women’s volleyball head coach Steve Aird accepted the head coaching job at Indiana, marking an end to his four-year tenure in College Park.
Maryland football beat a team that won a bowl game over a team with a winning record! Just 247 days until the season kicks off.