COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- What a difference a gym makes.
Maryland's 74-68 victory over Iowa Thursday would have been a massive win regardless of the context: The Hawkeyes have blitzed their way through a brutal Big Ten schedule and risen to No. 3 in the AP poll as a result. Yet Thursday was even bigger than a mere win over a top-five team: It was Maryland's first win over any ranked team all season.
That's right: For as good as Maryland as looked all year -- for as obviously talented and filled with promise -- the Terps somehow made it two days shy of February without handling a fellow rankee.