This edition of Big Ten basketball previews will focus on Maryland. Last season, the Terps exceeded expectations by going 22-13 and making the second round of the NCAA Tournament. As coach Kevin Willard enters his second season, expectations for Maryland should be a bit higher.
The Team
Maryland returns three of their five starters from last year. They bring back Jahmir Young, the team’s leading scorer, and an all-conference selection last season. They also return Donta Scott, a four-year starter, and Julian Reese, who has quickly become a rising star in the conference. The other two starters will be newcomers to the team. The other starting guard will be Deshawn Harris-Smith a highly touted recruit from Virginia. On the other hand, the final starting position is still being determined. There are two players competing for the final spot; freshman Jamie Kaiser Jr. and Indiana transfer Jordan Geronimo.
On the bench, the Terps will have depth problems in the front court. Last year’s third-string center, Caelum Swanton-Rodger, will likely be the first big man off the bench this season. He had a few good moments last year but didn’t see much action. The other backup center will be New Mexico State transfer, Mady Traore, who left the program after it was suspended due to multiple legal issues.
Guard reserves will include Jahari Long the backup point guard from last year and Jahnathan Lamothe a freshman. They should also receive significant minutes from sophomore Noah Batchelor, who the Terps view as a solid rotational piece.
Team Strengths
The defense will be the Terps’ biggest strength this season. Willard has been known for his strong defenses since his days at Seton Hall. Last season, the Terps ranked as the 32nd-best defense in the country and only allowed 63.5 points per game.
Another strength of the team will be its veteran lineup. Young and Scott are each entering their fifth year of college. Julian Reese is going to be a junior. Jahari Long is entering his senior season. All of the veterans in the locker room will help the younger players, like Harris-Smith and Kaiser, adjust to the tough Big Ten schedule.
Team Weaknesses
The biggest weakness of the Terps is their three-point shooting. They lost two of their best shooter from last season; Don Carey and Hakim Hart. Nothing was done to replace these two. Young and Scott are both solid shooters and Kaiser is supposed to be good, but you never know with a freshman.
Another weakness of the team will be frontcourt depth. After Reese, there is no proven big man on the roster. Swanton-Rodger did receive some playing time last season, but not much. Scott has some experience playing center but was mainly utilized in a five-out offense. Overall, the team will need Swanton-Rodger or Traore to take a big step this season in order to help them compete in the conference.
The final weakness for Maryland is playing on the road. The Terps only won a single road game last season, which was at Minnesota which is one of the worst teams in the conference. They did have some close calls including an overtime loss at Nebraska and a last-second tip-in against Penn State.
Penn State wins it at the buzzer. pic.twitter.com/vKwtbKMiJ1
— Emmett Siegel (@EmmettSiegel_) March 5, 2023
The Verdict
This season should be another good one for the Terps. Their roster is full of talent and much of the Big Ten has regressed from last season. If they see some improvements from their bench and the freshmen live up to the hype, they could challenge for the conference title. An NCAA tournament bid is the floor for this team.
