Maryland picked to finish 10th in Big Ten men's basketball preseason poll

Maryland has been picked to finish in the middle of the new 18-team pack in this year’s unofficial Big Ten men’s basketball preseason poll.

The Terrapins were picked 10th in the first season of the expanded 18-team league by media members. Opinions on Maryland varied wildly, with the Terrapins ranked as high as fifth and as low as 17th.

Two-time defending regular-season conference champion Purdue was selected to win the league again, receiving 20 of 33 first-place votes, and Purdue guard Braden Smith was selected to follow in the footsteps of center Zach Edey as preseason player of the year.

Maryland had a disappointing 2023-24 season, finishing 16-17 and 12th in the Big Ten under second-year coach Kevin Willard, only its second losing campaign since 1993. The Terrapins will try to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons when they open play Nov. 4 at home against Manhattan.

The Washington Times was a participant in the poll, a joint venture between The Columbus Dispatch and The Indianapolis Star, as the Big Ten no longer produces an official preseason ranking.