Bob Haynie: Number One Seed Is What Matters For Terps
The Maryland Terrapins have risen back up the men's college basketball rankings. The Terps have rode a four-game Big Ten winning streak to become the 2nd-ranked team--behind Villanova--in both the AP and USA Today polls.
Rankings are nice, of course. There is some prestige with being ranked so high. But getting a top seed in the NCAA Tournament is the main goal for Coach Mark Turgeon and his troops.
At 22-3 overall and 10-2 in the conference play, the Terps have posted a gaudy record. They are undefeated at home and appear to be hitting their stride at the right time.
However, bracket projections are not being kind to Maryland with the NCAA Tournament a little more than a month away.
CBSSports.com has the Terps as a #3-seed in the West Region behind Villanova and Oregon. ESPN.com sees them as the #2-seed in the East (Villanova #1).
A #2-seed I can understand to some level as Maryland has only defeated two ranked teams (#3 Iowa, #18 Purdue) this season. And both of those wins were at the XFINITY Center. Their strength of schedule is rated 29th in the country by RealTimeRPI.com
That being said, RealTimeRPI.com does have the Terps at #5 in their overall rating percentage index. A team's RPI carries a lot of weight come Selection Sunday.
Starting with Wisconsin this coming Saturday, Maryland has six regular season games left and then the Big Ten Tournament. Closing strong will help ensure that a spot on one of those top bracket lines could be a reality.
Rankings are fun. The seed is the thing once March Madness begins.