COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Tortoise beat the Hare again.
Maryland's Terrapins saw Indiana's Hoosiers hurry out to a 28-14 lead but then gained inexorable momentum to win the race, 78-75, Friday night.
But before IU fans get overly disappointed about a second straight league road loss following the Hoosiers' 3-0 start, they should remember that this 20-game Big Ten season is not a sprint.
It will require steady progress over a long period of time to maintain challenging position in the conference. Two-game windows, good or bad, are not necessarily revelatory.
And it must be reiterated that Indiana has dealt with a dizzying rash of injuries that precluded much in the way of normal team development since November.