Nov. 7, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland debuted as the sixth-strongest team in the nation in the Sagarin men's college basketball preseason power rankings. The Terrapins, who earned a rating of 90.10 this preseason, have consistently been featured as a top 25 team in the power rankings since 1995.

The computer-based power ratings for men's college basketball were devised by Jeff Sagarin, a 1970 MIT mathematics graduate. The rating is a numerical measure of a team's strength.

The Terrapins' highest-ever finish in the power rankings came in 2002, when the Terps were rated third in the nation. Maryland has finished in the top 20 of the power rankings in seven of the last nine years.

Here is a look at the preseason Sagarin top 25:

1.   Duke           =  93.29
2.   Kansas         =  92.91
3.   Kentucky       =  92.40
4.   Arizona        =  92.15
5.   Oklahoma       =  90.38
6.   Maryland       =  90.10
7.   Illinois       =  89.57
8.   Florida        =  89.45
9.   Texas          =  88.88
10.  Pittsburgh     =  88.37
11.  Syracuse       =  87.97
12.  Stanford       =  87.96
13.  Wake Forest    =  87.79
14.  Michigan St.   =  87.59
15.  Connecticut    =  87.45
16.  Cincinnati     =  87.14
17.  Xavier         =  87.02
18.  Marquette      =  87.01
19.  Notre Dame     =  86.74
20.  Georgia        =  86.60