Kevin Willard couldn’t have been more blunt on Tuesday.
Maryland basketball’s coach admitted that last season was a disaster. Roster construction, coaching management and the personnel were not good enough for the program’s lofty standards.
The third-year coach tried to rectify his mistakes this offseason. He added perimeter shooting from the transfer portal, which he neglected to do last summer. The Terps focused on shot-creation, which was solely designated to Jahmir Young last season. And they now have an experienced bench that can play meaningful minutes.
Belmont transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie will replace Young as Maryland’s lead ball-handler. Wing additions Selton Miguel and Rodney Rice add much-needed three point shooting. Queen, the Terps’ prized five-star freshman, is a “lifetime, generational talent.”
But it wasn’t about specific talent identification or finding a hidden gem. Instead, Willard said that the biggest difference between this year’s team and past iterations was simple.
“So there’s two big factors in the transfer portal, money and money. So last year, going into the season, we didn’t have any money, so we couldn’t really be overly aggressive in the transfer portal,” Willard said. “And this year… We were able to be more aggressive in the portal because we had more money.”
Last year, Willard insisted that his team’s length and size would give it an advantage over the rest of the conference. But that only takes you so far. The Terps now believe they have the weapons to improve on the 155th rated offense, according to Kenpom.
The Terps roster is better suited for Big Ten play this season. Lineup projections feel more cohesive, positional depth is stronger and Maryland’s shooting has the potential to be an asset.
“That was our number one priority was getting shotmakers,” assistant coach Greg Manning Jr. said. “When you have what we went through last year… just not being able to shoot the ball.”
Players are excited for the changes, too. Jahari Long said that the number of scorers the Terps have is a stark contrast to last season. Maryland expects to play faster this season, Jordan Geronimo said.
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“The biggest change is we got some shooters,” Geronimo said.
The recipe is obvious for an effective offensive attack. Queen and senior forward Julian Reese form one of the strongest front courts in the country. Gillespie is excellent at playing out of ball screens and the wings should be filled with better shot-finishers.
“I feel like we got every piece,” Queen said.
3 weeks until tip-off… We workin’ over here. ⏳?️♂️ pic.twitter.com/vF3tpX27Gz
— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) October 14, 2024
But it could also fall apart quickly. Miguel shot 27% from three prior to his breakout senior season. Rodney Rice has been oft-injured and DeShawn Harris-Smith has never been advertised as a shooter.
Willard knows that. It’s why he brought in experienced depth, something the Terps didn’t have previously.
“That was probably the biggest thing we wanted to adjust in what we were trying to do and not be so freshman heavy,” Willard said.
Except for one freshman. Queen, Maryland’s highest rated prospect since Diamond Stone, has excelled in practice. Every player raved about “DQ”, whose game doesn’t look like a freshman.
His understanding of pace has impressed the Terps coaching staff. It’s unusual for a freshman to understand how to change speeds, Manning Jr. said. Queen grasped it from the beginning.
“I think I have the best young player in the country,” Willard said. “He is as skilled a big man as I’ve ever seen on the court.”
If that reads like hyperbole, it’s not. Willard seemed in awe of Queens talent, who he called a surefire top-10 NBA draft pick. It’s high expectations to place on a freshman.
The supporting cast around Queen will allow him to ease into the collegiate game, though. The roster cohesion is noticeably improved. Maryland’s top end-talent could place them at the top of an open Big Ten race.
But with the various ingredients, Willard’s not sure what the final recipe will look like yet.
“I’m not sure what we are, [but] I like this group.”
