Maryland basketball receives one vote in first 2024-25 AP Poll

Maryland men's basketball drew just one vote in the first AP poll of the 2024-25 season.

Only four Big Ten teams were included in the initial top-25 with Purdue (14) leading the way alongside Indiana (17), UCLA (22) and Rutgers (25). Marquette, who heads to College Park on Nov. 15, ranked 18th nationally and serves as the only ranked non-conference opponent on the 2024-25 season.

Maryland's preseason outlook has been mixed through the offseason, initially tabbed as a preseason top-25 team after its initial portal additions only to find themselves among the 'First Four Out' in ESPN's first bracketology of the season. KenPom's initial rankings for the season project Maryland to finish 20-11 (10-10), while the Terps were also projected to finish tenth in the preseason Big Ten standings. Head coach Kevin Willard is tasked with getting the program back into the tournament for the second time in three seasons, while aspirations for a return to the second weekend of postseason play for the first time since 2016 still loom large.

Maryland fell to Georgetown, 68-64, in the first 'secret' scrimmage of preseason though heralded freshman big Derik Queen led the way.

“DQ is an old school type of player," Willard said at Big Ten Media Day. "He's not going to ‘wow’ you with dunks or running the floor. He's kind of one of those guys that has an unbelievable feel for the game. He's a terrific passer, can score down a low post. And I think really what's kind of special, why I bring up leadership with Julian is Julian is kind of taking him under his wing a little bit. And kind of like, alright you’re going to get double teamed. Here's some reads where you're at. And I think Derik's one of those young men, I think everyone's going to really enjoy watching play because he plays the game of basketball with such joy and has such a great feel for the game.”

Willard and the 2024-25 staff and team will take the podium for media day on Tuesday ahead of the Nov. 4 season opener vs. Manhattan.