The preseason buzz surrounding Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak continues.

One of the top defensive players in the Atlantic Coat Conference, the senior standout was one of 51 players nationwide selected to the Butkus Award preseason watch list.

It’s the fifth postseason award to put the Terps’ linebacker on their watch list. Along with the Butkus, Wujciak is on the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, Lott Trophy, Lombardi Award and Bednarik Award.

Joining Wujciak on the Butkus list is teammate Adrian Moten, a senior linebacker.

Also earning preseason attention is junior receiver Torrey Smith, who been placed on the Paul Hornung Award watch list (for the nation’s most versatile player) and the Biletnikoff Award (for the nation’s best wide receiver).

Maryland meets Navy on Sept. 6 in Baltimore to kick off the season. The Terps are looking to rebound from a 2-10 showing (1-7 ACC) in 2009.

—30—

In College Park, there is plenty of hope the 2010 season will be better for the Maryland Terrapins.

It’s apparent the media covering the Atlantic Coast Conference doesn’t share that sentiment. The Terps, which finished 2-10 a year ago and went 1-7 in conference play, is picked last in the Atlantic Division in the ACC preseason media predictions.

According to the media voting, Maryland is looking up in the Atlantic at, in order, Florida State, Clemson, Boston College, N.C. State and Wake Forest.

In the Coastal Division, the media voted Virginia Tech first. Miami was second, followed by defending ACC champion Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke and Virginia.

Maryland begins the 2010 season with Navy on Sept. 6 at Baltimore. The Terps are coming off a season during which they lost their final seven games, four of those by a touchdown or less.

—30—

It looked like the Maryland Terrapins had clawed all the way back from a big second-half deficit in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

But six seconds was just enough time for Michigan State to snatch away a trip to the Sweet 16. Korie Lucious nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, and the Terps season came to a painful end in an 85-83 loss in the second round of the NCAAs in Spokane, Wash.

Maryland (24-9) trailed 67-51 with 12 minutes left. The Terps were struggling with their shooting (43.9 percent from the field on this day) and could not slow down Michigan State.

But Maryland found one more surge, and it nearly was enough for an improbable comeback. Senior guard Greivis Vasquez, who led the Terps with 26 points, scored nine of Maryland’s final 11 points. His basket with six seconds to go gave Maryland a slim 83-82 lead.

The Spartans had just enough time though, and Lucious hit the biggest shot of his life.

Eric Hayes added 18 points for the Terps. Landon Milbourne scored 11, and Jordan Williams pitched in 10 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the ACC regular season co-champions.

—30—

The glow of a  24-win season and a share of the ACC regular-season championship will shine brightly one day for the Maryland Terrapins.

But not this soon, not after their stellar season ended on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the NCAA Tournament. Korie Lucious nailed a 3-pointer as time expired, and Maryland’s surge from 16 points down in the second half fell short, the Terps losing 85-83 in the second round of the NCAAs in Spokane, Wash.

Maryland (24-9) finished its stellar season by losing twice in three postseason games. This one was the most painful.

The Terps struggled mightily for most of the day. They trailed 67-51 with 12 minutes left and teetered on the brink of being blown out.

But senior guard Greivis Vasquez fueled a frantic surge back into this one. He scored a team-high 26 points, including nine of Maryland’s final 11 points. His basket with six seconds left gave Maryland an 83-82 lead.

That was just enough time for Michigan State to get into the frontcourt and get the ball to Lucious, who knocked down the game-winner jumper to send the Spartans into the Sweet 16 and send the Terps into the offseason.

Eric Hayes added 18 points for Maryland, which shot just 43.9 percent from the floor and could not come up with an answer for the Spartans’ offense for most of the day. Landon Milbourne added 11 points, and Jordan Williams posted a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

—30—

Twenty-three victories this season, 13 of those coming in Atlantic Coast Conference play. A No. 19 ranking in the nation.

There is plenty to feel good about if you’re the Maryland Terrapins entering the ACC tournament. But when the Terps take the floor to open tourney play against Georgia Tech in Friday’s quarterfinals at Greensboro Coliseum, they know one bad performance can leave quite a bitter taste in their mouth.

That feeling hasn’t been experienced by Maryland in quite some time. The Terps have won seven games in a row, not having lost since a 77-56 loss Feb. 13 at Duke. Maryland extracted some revenge on the Blue Devils on March 3, downing Duke at home 79-72, and finished the season tied with the Blue Devils atop the ACC at 13-3.

Maryland enters the postseason with victories in nine of its past 10 and 13 of its past 15 games.

Tech reached the quarterfinals by knocking off North Carolina on Thursday, 62-58.

—30—

It was a day Greivis Vasquez moved into some exclusive company, and the Maryland Terrapins moved into second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

They both can thank Cliff Tucker for ending the day on a good note.

Tucker knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing at the buzzer, lifting the Terps to an exhilarating 76-74 victory over Georgia Tech. The win moves Maryland into second in the conference, just 1 ½ games behind ACC leader Duke with two weeks left in the regular season.

Vasquez scored 18 points, giving him 2,013 career points and making him the sixth Maryland player to reach 2,000 points. He’s the first player in ACC history to surpass 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds in his career.

Still, Maryland found itself down 74-73 when Tech’s Derrick Favors scored on a jumper in the lane with three seconds left. The Terps got to midcourt and called timeout, setting the stage for Tucker’s heroics.

Maryland plays host to Clemson on Wednesday.

—30—