After a 1-1 week, the Maryland men’s basketball team fell from No. 7 to No. 9 in the Associated Press poll released Feb. 24.
Kansas (24-3) is the new No. 1. The Jayhawks are followed in the rankings by Baylor (24-2), Gonzaga (27-2), Dayton (25-2) and San Diego State (26-1).
The Terps (22-5 overall, 12-4 in the Big Ten) are the top-ranked Big Ten team. Five other Big Ten teams are ranked: Penn State (No. 16), Iowa (No. 18), Michigan (No. 19), Ohio State (No. 23) and Michigan State (No. 24).
Maryland defeated Northwestern, 76-67, Feb. 18, with sophomore center Jalen Smith (22 points, 19 rebounds) leading the way. Smith fell one rebound shy of posting the Terps’ first 20-20 performance since Joe Smith in 1995. Junior guard Darryl Morsell scored 13 points, and the Terps improved to 13-0 when he scores in double figures. Former Loyola lacrosse star Pat Spencer scored seven points for Northwestern.
