COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Head coach Mark Turgeon and Director of Athletics Damon Evans formally presented the Maryland Men's basketball team its 2020 Big Ten Championship rings in a ceremony at the XFINITY Center Friday evening. The celebration capped one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory for the Terrapins, as the program captured its first-ever Big Ten Championship.
Maryland defeated Michigan 83-70 in their final game of the season on March 8 to clinch a share of the title, raising the trophy and cutting down the nets in front of a sold-out XFINITY Center crowd in what would end up being the team's final game of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"What I'll remember the most about this team is how much we all loved each other," said Turgeon. "There were ups and downs throughout the year, but we always stuck together and stayed positive no matter what the situation was. I'm so proud of you guys and have so much fun coaching you. The last time we were all together in the locker room in March, we said we were Big Ten Champions and nobody can take that away from us."
Student-athletes, coaches and staff gathered to watch the team get their first look at the rings. Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith both returned to XFINITY Center to join their teammates for the celebration, as the group posed for photos and watched a commemorative video of the 2020-21 season.
"When you look up at those rafters you see only 10 other conference championships," said Damon Evans. "In over 100 years of this illustrious program you accomplished what only a few teams before you did. I remember talking to Anthony [Cowan] before the beginning of the season and the two things he said he wanted to do were graduate and hang a banner. And you did that. I'm so proud to be with you here tonight to celebrate our program's first-ever Big Ten title together."
Boldly shimmering in red and gold with accents of white and black, the four colors of the Maryland state flag are all represented. A replica image of the Big Ten Conference Championship trophy adorned with a net is featured, marking the first in Maryland men's basketball history.
Resting below the name of each player/coach from the championship team is the iconic flag of the state of Maryland, worn proudly by its flagship university, and the teams 24-7 record during its championship season. The hardwood panels flanking each side of the ring are an ode Maryland's illustrious home court advantage, where the Terps posted a 16-1 record in 2019-20.
Maryland put together one of the team's best seasons in recent memory this past year, finishing 24-7 with a 14-6 mark in the Big Ten to capture the program's first-ever Big Ten Championship. The Terrapins were ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 all season long, ending the shortened season tabbed 12th nationally.
Four players garnered All-Big Ten honors, highlighted by First Team All-B1G selections Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith. Smith became Maryland's 13th AP All-American after totaling 21 double-doubles on the season (3rd nationally) while ranking second in the Big Ten in rebounds (10.5/g) and blocked shots (2.4/g).
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