Oct. 28, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the ninth straight year, the Maryland men's basketball team will begin the season in the Top 25. The Terrapins, who return four starters and 10 letterwinners from last season's 19-13 squad, are ranked No. 21 in the preseason USA Today/ESPN preseason coaches poll, which was released on Friday.

The Terrapins have been ranked in every preseason coaches poll since 1997. Last year, Maryland advanced to the postseason for the 12th straight year and reached the semifinals of the NIT in New York.

In all, the Terps could play nine regular-season games against eight opponents ranked in the preseason Top 25. The ACC has four teams ranked among the nation's Top 21, including preseason No. 1 Duke, which the Terps will face twice this season. Last year, Maryland won both games against the Blue Devils.

The Terps take on arch-rival Duke in Durham on Jan. 11 and host the Blue Devils on Feb. 11 in College Park. Maryland hosts No. 11 Boston College at the Comcast Center on Dec. 11 in the Eagles' inaugural ACC contest. The Terps also face No. 11 Wake Forest at the Comcast Center on Jan. 15.

Maryland could face four Top 25 opponents in its first five regular-season games. After opening the season against Fairleigh Dickinson, The Terps play No. 7 Gonzaga in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Other possible opponents in the field include No. 2 UConn, No. 5 Michigan State and No. 9 Arizona. In all, the Maui Invitational includes six former national champions (Kansas, Arkansas).

The Terps also play No. 24 George Washington in the BB&T Classic on Dec. 5 at MCI Center.

USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Poll

Rank    School        2004-05  Points  Final 04-05
                      Record           Ranking
1.   Duke (28)         27-6     767      7
2.   Connecticut       23-8     692      17
3.   Texas (2)         20-11    683      NR
4.   Villanova (1)     24-8     644      13
5.   Michigan St.      26-7     632      4
6.   Oklahoma          25-8     617      20
7.   Gonzaga           26-5     540      18
8.   Louisville        33-5     536      3
9.   Arizona           30-7     532      6
10.  Kentucky          28-6     511      5
11.  Boston College    25-5     484      19
12.  Memphis           22-16    354      NR
13.  Stanford          18-13    331      NR
14.  Alabama           24-8     295      NR
15.  West Virginia     24-11    265      12
16.  Syracuse          27-7     210      21
17.  Illinois          37-2     201      21
18.  UCLA              18-11    190      11
     Wake Forest       27-6     190      11
20.  Iowa              21-12    176      NR
21.  Maryland          19-13    167      NR
22.  Indiana           15-14    153      NR
23.  Iowa State        19-12    118      NR
24.  Geo. Washington   22-8     109      NR
25.  Nevada            25-7     88       NR

Others receiving votes (with 2004-05 records): North Carolina State (21-14) 76; Ohio State (20-12) 72; Washington (29-6) 57; Kansas (23-7) 56; Wisconsin (25-9) 52; Texas Tech (22-11) 51; LSU (20-10) 45; Michigan (13-18) 35; Charlotte (21-8) 34; Oklahoma State (26-7) 34; North Carolina (33-4) 16; Old Dominion (28-6) 13; Georgetown (19-13) 10; Florida (24-8) 7; Northern Iowa (21-11) 7; Miami (Fla.) (16-13) 6; Vanderbilt (20-14) 3; Western Kentucky (22-9) 3; California (13-16) 2; UNLV (17-14) 2; Ohio (21-11) 2; Oral Roberts (25-8) 2; Utah State (24-8) 2; Bucknell (23-10) 1; Temple (16-14) 1; Texas A&M (21-10) 1.