After winning a game in the NCAA Tournament in his first season, Kevin Willard struggled last season, finishing 12th in the Big Ten. It was a season that Terps fans want to forget, so it's time to look ahead to this upcoming season. Despite finishing tenth in the preseason poll, there is certainly optimism surrounding this team. Let's take a look at the potential reasons why,
Is Derik Queen the Real Deal?
The Derik Queen hype train is certainly real, and the reasons are certainly justifiable. He's the second highest ever rated recruit to commit to Maryland (247) and the 12th highest rated recruit in the Class of 2024 (247). All of the early reports are positive, and there seems to be a buzz about his performance in practice. Queen will look to fill a position where Maryland hasn't had an elite player since Jalen Smith as he and Julien Reese team up at the four and five with Queen likely to start at the four.
Can Maryland shoot better than 2023-24?
After a lackluster year two on offense under Kevin Willard, that's the biggest question for Maryland fans as they turn to a mix of familiar and new faces to answer exactly that. After being sidelined for the entirety of his first season with the program, former Loyola Marymount sniper Chance Stephens is part of the answer where he can give the Terps scoring off the bench. Ja'Kobi Gillespie also showcased flashes of his outside touch during his two seasons at Belmont, while freshman big Derik Queen has showcased his soft touch in practice as he continues to expand his range, but how effective Selton Miguel can be could be the biggest determining factor to answer this pivotal question this year.
To what extent can Ja'kobi Gillespie fill in for Jahmir Young?
In terms of Maryland's acquisitions through the transfer portal, none is bigger than point guard Ja'Kobie Gillespie. Gillespie had a fantastic season last year at Belmont, making the MVC All-Conference Second Team, MVC All Defensive Team, and MVC Most-Improved Team. There's no doubt that losing Jahmir Young is a big loss, but Gillespie is a fantastic replacement at the point guard position and should fill in just fine. Kevin WIlliard said at Big Ten Media Days he was looking for someone to take over the leadership role that Young held, as well.
Can DeShawn Harris-Smith take a big step forward?
Last season, there was a lot of buzz around freshman DeShawn Harris-Smith who certainly showed flashes of potential, but maybe didn't play to the level that Terps fans were hoping for. Kevin Willard has admitted he put a lot of pressure on him last season, as he started the vast majority of games. He averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds last season, and the Terps will look for him to take a big leap forward in his sophomore season with a year of experience under his belt.
Which of the other new additions will prove to be most valuable?
This is a Maryland team that has a fair amount of new additions. Gillespie is the biggest acquisition via the portal, but there are several other key ones. Most notably, Rodney Rice, a DeMatha product. Rice transferred from Virginia Tech with three years of eligibility left. Rice played sparingly in his one year as a Hokie, in the 2022-23 season, but had moments of looking very good, and perhaps with coaching could be developed into a solid player. Rice sat our last season due to injury, but figures to be an important part of the Terps' rotation. Additionally, Selton Miguel, from USF, could play a big role on Maryland. Miguel was the 2024 AAC Sixth Man of the Year putting up 14 points per game.
Related Links
Comments