Maryland basketball’s season won’t end in either of college basketball’s top two tournaments.
After a 19-13 campaign that ended with a pair of disheartening losses and a one-and-done stint in the Big Ten tournament, the Terps are not in the field for either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. They didn’t accept bids to any other postseason tournaments.
So that’s that.
Now it’s on to the offseason, where the Terps look to build for 2018-19. Maryland is losing seniors Michal Cekovsky, Jared Nickens and Sean Obi to graduation, and will have to wait on NBA decisions from players like Justin Jackson and Bruno Fernando. The 2018 recruiting class includes five-star forward Jalen Smith and four-star prospects Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala, and might not be finished yet. The duo of Anthony Cowan Jr. and Kevin Huerter is likely to return.
Making the NIT would have given the Terps another chance at 20 wins and an outside shot to gain some momentum for next season. Instead, missing it is a disheartening way to close a season filled with disheartening moments. Sounds about right.