The Maryland men’s basketball team moved up six spots to No. 13 in the AP Poll released Monday, the team’s highest ranking since the 2015-16 season.
The Terps are on a seven-game win streak entering Monday’s game at Michigan State, which remained at No. 6 after beating Nebraska in Lincoln on Thursday. If Maryland wins, it will be in first place in the Big Ten.
Coach Mark Turgeon’s squad went 2-0 since re-entering the rankings at No. 19 last week, knocking off Wisconsin, 64-60, before cruising past Ohio State on the road, 75-61. The Terps haven’t lost since Dec. 22, when Seton Hall topped them, 78-74, at Xfinity Center.
[Read more: Maryland basketball vs. Michigan State: How to watch and what to watch for]
Monday’s tilt with the Spartans is likely Maryland’s most-anticipated game since the 2015-16 season. Michigan State opened the season at No. 10 and is on an 11-game win streak despite guard Joshua Langford and forward Kyle Ahrens being injured for parts of that stretch.
Langford (foot) won’t be available Monday, while Ahrens (back) is questionable, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.
The Terps had a minor injury scare of their own Friday, when guard Eric Ayala took a hard fall on his left hip and missed the final 12:57 of the team’s win over the Buckeyes. But Ayala has been a full participant in practice since then, and he should be ready to go against the Spartans, Turgeon said on a conference call Sunday.
