The power of social media materialized into a new NIL opportunity for Maryland men’s basketball on Thursday afternoon after releasing ‘Crab Five’ merch, the new nickname coined to Maryland’s starting five.
T-shirts and sweatshirts were released via Brownboynation.com with profits for Turtle NIL.
Considering Maryland’s averaging nearly 15 points per game more than the 2023-24 season, the fifth-largest improvement nationally, there’s reason for the growing buzz in College Park.
Maryland’s starting five has remained consistent over the last 22 games, but they’ve hit their stride over the last six weeks having won their last three straight, seven of their last eight games and nine of their last 11.
That hot start vaulted Maryland back inside the AP top 25 for the first time in nearly two years, debuting at 18th back on Feb. 3. The road loss to Ohio State dropped them seven spots to 25th last week before jumping five spots back to 20th in Monday’s latest update.
That starting five is the reason for Maryland’s ascension through 2025 with all five starters averaging double figures and just shy of 70 combined points per game, the highest among any starting five across major conference programs.
Derik Queen leads the way averaging a team-high 16 points with Ja'Kobi Gillespie second with 14.7 points and team-high 4.8 assists. Julian Reese is averaging a near double-double with 13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds while Selton Miguel and Rodney Rice, both shooting around 45% from the field, average 13.4 and 12 points per game.
Maryland is one of two schools to have all five starters score in double figures in five games, tying Kentucky for the most nationally.
The starting five scoring all 83 points in the road win vs. Nebraska, marking the most points scored without bench scoring in program history dating back to 1996-97.
And now, fans can buy into the social media craze while improving player retention efforts heading into an exciting March with Maryland now projected as a five-seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
The BTN analysts pointed to Maryland as “may be the best team in the Big Ten.”
“Maryland is the best team in this conference, talent-wise and on the floor,” Rapheal Davis said. “You put five guys on the floor, and what can you get? You get with Maryland, you get the best backcourt in the conference. You look Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice, Selton Miguel. 61 points combined against Iowa. They made 12 threes and had 16 assists. The backcourt is there. You need guards to win big in March. And in their front court, Julian Reese, Derik Queen may be the best front court in the country. Both of them go for double-doubles against Iowa. They can score different ways – on the block, in the mid-range, get to the free throw line. And then they guard you. They guard their yard. All three guards can guard every possession on the perimeter. Derik Queen could be a freshman [who] can rise to the All-Big Ten defensive team, Julian Reese as well. They rebound. They push it. This Maryland squad. I don't care what seed they get, they can beat anyone in the country. This is the team that can 100% reach the Final Four and do some damage.”
Maryland is set to host USC on Thursday night for an 8:30 PM tipoff on FS1.
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