A 27-6 record and the No. 8 ranking in the country didn’t do Maryland any favors on Selection Sunday.
The Terrapins will return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010, but a No. 4 seed in the Midwest region and a potential Sweet 16 meeting with No. 1 Kentucky tempered the celebration for Mark Turgeon’s squad. Projected as a consensus No. 3 seed even after Saturday’s 62-58 loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals, the Terps were apparently punished for their inability to top the Spartans for the third time this season.
Maryland takes on No. 13 seed Valparaiso in Columbus on Friday and will face the winner of West Virginia-Buffalo in the second round on Sunday. The Terps haven’t reached the round of 16 since 2003.
John Calipari and the undefeated Wildcats would likely await if Maryland can escape the opening weekend.
The tip-off for Friday’s game is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. with the contest being shown on TNT.
