Maryland men’s basketball is set to host 17th-ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday night to wrap up January as the program looks to inch closer toward the AP top 25. Head coach Kevin Willard met with the media ahead of Wednesday’s Big Ten home game:
On Julian Reese’s improved free-throw shooting
“[Julian] kind of knew it was a weakness and he really worked hard on it this summer. I mean, it hurt him. It was costing him almost four points a game. So it was just something he really concentrated on this summer.”
On Rodney Rice’s evolved role, improvements
“The best thing I can say about Rodney is he's really fun to coach. He's got a great love for the game. He loves working on his game. He's a great teammate. He's just been really fun to coach.”
On the starting backcourt
“I think the biggest thing with Rodney, again, is his plus-minus has been off the charts the last two weeks. The difference when he's on the court with the difference and when he's off the court has been, has been huge. And just again, trying to surround Derik [Queen] and Ju with guys that can really shoot the basketball.”
On Willard’s substitution methods
“It really varies tremendously, depending on our opponent.”
On Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s shooting touch
“When we went to the portal, obviously after Jahmir graduating, one of the biggest keys was bringing a guard in that the catch-and-shoot was above 40% from the three point line, and he was one of the highest ranked catch-and-shoot guys in college basketball last year. So how he's shooting, it's really not a big surprise because I think he's kind of done that his whole career.”
On how Maryland matches up vs. Wisconsin
“They have much bigger guards. [John] Tonje is obviously a sixth-year guy, big guard. [Max] Klesmit a senior, big, physical defender. [Steven] Crowl’s an older guy. I think we're going to need as balance of an attack as we've had all year because they really are balanced. Tonje at UCLA hits five threes in the first half. Crowl the other night against Ohio State dominated in the paint. They are really balanced. I think Greg did a great job in the portal. He also has guys that been in this program and they're as balanced and as good a shooting team as we'll see probably all year.”
On whether there’s any pressure alleviated picking up the first road win
“We were pretty confident.”
On what gives Willard the most confidence about where his team stands
“I really like their attitude, to be honest with you. I think they understand kind of where we are. They understood how tough January was going to be, as many games that we had to play in January. So they really kept a great attitude the whole time. With a couple of tough losses on the road, they kind of just – I think it was their attitude more than anything, that was really refreshing. They had that great attitudes going into the Nebraska game. And then obviously at Illinois, they understood the game playing really well. They had a good feeling. It's just been a good vibe all year with this group. They're fun to be around. They're fun to coach. They're a good group of guys.”
On what’s clicking with Ja’Kobi Gillespie through Big Ten play
“I just think he's getting used to the conference more than anything. I mean, his first time through it, seeing different defenses, seeing the size and physicality of the league. I think he's just getting much more comfortable with the type of defense that's played in the Big Ten.”
On Wisconsin guard John Tonje
“I think one of the things that really makes him tough is that he scores in transition more than he scores in the halfcourt. So I think he's really good. He's really good at, like, just understanding who's guarding him. You could tell he's an older guy. If he has a smaller guy on him, he's going to drive him hard right and use his physicality and his size to him. If he has a big guy on him, and the big guy tries to give him space, he's just going to shoot over him. He shoots the ball at such a high clip. Obviously, I don't coach him, but he just seems like he's a very smart basketball player. He doesn't seem – like he just understands who's guarding him. He reminds me of an old NBA vet that just doesn't get sped up, doesn't get frustrated, and it's just going to kind of take advantage of what the defense gives him. There's games where he doesn't shoot the ball for five or six minutes and the next thing you know he has 14 quick points. I mean, he's just, he's that talent of a player.”
On Maryland’s improved three-point shooting compared to 2023-24
“Just in the portal. I mean, [Selton Miguel] shot 40% on catch and shoot threes. We knew how good a shooter Rodney [Rice] was just because of watching them in high school and even as limited play at Virginia Tech, and then obviously [Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s] numbers. So just that alone, adding those three guys, it was just really the focus to help protect Julian and Derik.”
On Tafara Gapare’s development and instilling confidence
“I think Tafara has been very patient with understanding sometimes his minutes haven't been where he probably wants him, but he knows through practice and all, the way we work and the way we are individual improvement, how much confidence we have. And I think Tafara has been, he's added 25 pounds since he's gotten here. You know, he's worked really hard on his game. I think his confidence comes from the fact of how hard he works.”
On why Willard was adamant about adding Gapare
“He's a great young man first off. You know, it in the in the portal era, you really got to be careful who you bring in and add to people, and Tafara is one of those [people] you love being around him. He always has a good attitude. He always has a smile on his face. Those guys didn't get in the game and they were just as happy as anybody after the game. And I think he's a pro. I don't think he's there yet but I think he has the ability. He can shoot the basketball he can put the ball on the floor. I just think he has unbelievable potential and I think and his character really helps him.”
On Derik Queen’s ups-and-downs through his freshman season
“Derik kind of understands – he's a smart kid. So he kind of, he understood that he's going to struggle a little bit. I think that just him understanding that, us talking about it, us showing him his struggles. He's so smart, he just picked up on and understood where he had to really change his motor a little bit at times. And I think again, this league will challenge you, especially still since we're in the COVID year seniors. I mean, he's going to go up against two of them tomorrow night. So I just from that standpoint, he also has a lot of confidence in himself so we never really had to worry about him losing his confidence.”
On the $10 million commitment Maryland men’s basketball announced on Monday
“One of the biggest draws about this program is everyone talks about the DMV and the recruiting stuff, but we have 400,000 unbelievable alumni. And the person that gave this gift is a monster, monster fan of the program and has been for a long, long time. I call – he's my dinner buddy on the road, so to speak, but we have so many great alumni at this university. And we have a ton of very passionate alumni about the basketball program and this particular person just wanted to give a legacy for the program. I mean, I think it shows just the history of the program. It really has nothing to do with me. He doesn't like me that much. I think it has more to do with how great this program has been.”
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