The Maryland men's basketball team's dramatic rise this season seemed to put the Terps on the brink of their first appearance in the top 10 of the AP poll since 2002-03. The Big Ten's equally dramatic plunge into mediocrity this season might have hurt Maryland's chances of getting there this week.
Despite winning their first two games in the conference -- including a wild double-overtime game at perennial power Michigan State -- Maryland (14-1) moved up just one spot in this week's AP poll, to No. 11.
The Terps moved up two places to No. 9 in the USA Today coaches' poll.
Villanova remained in the top 10 in both polls despite losing to Seton Hall.
"We don't ever talk about the ranking, honestly," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Monday on the Big Ten coaches' teleconference, before the polls were announced. "The only time we mention it is about the responsibility that comes with it.
"We know because there's a number in front of our name, we're getting everybody's best shot. We understand that. We're just trying to get better and I think our guys are buying into that."
The Terps, who also beat Minnesota in their Big Ten home opener Saturday, go on the road for two games this week at Illinois on Wednesday and at Purdue on Saturday.
No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 22 Ohio State are the only Big Ten teams that join Maryland in this week's AP top 25.