Kevin Willard believed his new Maryland team would get off to a good start.
But this has been a bit more than even Willard expected early in his tenure after a successful run at Seton Hall.
“I didn’t envision this,” Willard said. “I’m not going to lie.”
The Terrapins (8-0, 1-0 Big Ten) made the week's biggest jump in Monday’s latest AP Top 25 by rising nine spots to No. 13. That marks the program’s highest ranking since pushing into the top 10 during the 2019-20 season, and it comes with the Terps preparing for a stretch that could build even more momentum.