Manhattan vs. Maryland
When: Monday, Nov. 4 | 7:00 PM
Where: Xfinity Center, College Park, MD
Watch: B1G+ | Tyler Lochte (pxp), Ben Strober (analyst)
Listen: 105.7 FM (Balt) | 980 AM (DC) | Johnny Holliday, Chris Knoche, Walt Williams
Betting: Maryland -25.5 | O/U: 134.5
Maryland men’s basketball will officially kick off year three of the Kevin Willard era on Monday as they welcome Manhattan to College Park for the first matchup since 2006. While head coach Kevin Willard is 5-2 all-time vs. Manhattan, it was the Jaspers who pulled out the 87-84 win in the first round of the NIT back in 2006 as the two teams have split the two all-time matchups.
Manhattan, who was picked to finish tenth in the MAAC after finishing 7-23 (4-16) in 2023-24, is led by a pair of preseason All-MAAC selections in senior guard Shaquil Bender and sophomore point guard Jaden Winston. Bender led the team with 13.8 points per game last season in his first season with the program, including four games posting 20 or more points, after previously suiting up at Fullerton College and Mt. San Antonio College. Winston, a Laurel native, closed out last season averaging 11.4 points and 5.5 assists over the final 15 games.
Maryland, who was also picked to finish tenth in the preseason Big Ten poll, will kick off its first of five consecutive home games on Monday as they look to secure their 48th consecutive home opening win, which ranks third nationally and began in 1977. Maryland also enters Monday winning nine consecutive home non-conference games and 15 consecutive games against unranked non-conference opponents. We take a look at three things to watch for:
Three things to watch
Will Maryland showcase improved shooting from last season?
The biggest question of them all, Kevin Willard was consistent all offseason about the need to add complementary pieces from the portal to pair alongside Julian Reese and Derik Queen – but there was a premium on scoring ability. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Selton Miguel and Rodney Rice are a big part of that equation as they officially kick off their Maryland careers on Monday looking to stabilize a backcourt that was once dominated by Jahmir Young.
Monday will mark the first time that fans will see what a post-Jahmir Willard team looks like as Gillespie takes reign of the offense, looking to capitalize on the pick-and-roll game thanks the frontcourt starpower. Selton Miguel, who has drawn buzz as an alpha dog for the team, can create offense for himself while proving a capable three-point shooter at USF. Rice, meanwhile, will look to add versatility in the backcourt where he can play both on and off the ball, giving Gillespie a chance to move back to the two where he played at Belmont. Chance Stephens, who Willard has cautioned patience for, is another who will look to showcase his three-point shooting after missing the 2023-24 season as he looks to make his debut.
First look at the new faces
With 18th-ranked Marquette headed to College Park next Friday, the next three games will give Willard and the staff a chance to get more comfortable with the roster with ample time before the rotation gets trimmed. But in game one of the post-Jahmir Young era, how comfortable will the Terps look?
He’s only part of the solution, but a big piece of that is around Ja’Kobi Gillespie as he takes over Young’s shoes as the new point guard. The do-it-all guard begins his Maryland career after becoming the first coveted portal target by Willard, coming off an All-MVC Most Improved selection. Gillespie will lead the way in what’s expected to be a balanced attack on offense with Miguel, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Derik Queen and Julian Reese rounding the expected starting five.
Rodney Rice is also expected to become a key piece in the backcourt rotation while veteran portal addition Jay Young has been credited as the defensive stopper the backcourt needs.
Of course, th biggest piece of them all is five-star freshman Derik Queen who will be a close watch for fans on Monday night. Tafara Gapare, meanwhile, will look to
Selton Miguel, the cousin of Bruno Fernando, will look to showcase his outside shooting touch with the chance for the physical gu . Rodney Rice, the first portal addition, marks arguably the most intriguing piece in the rotation.
If Maryland can showcase improved shooting from one season ago, that’ll give the defense a chance to get back to its Willard ways with chances for the Terps to test out their early season full and half-court trap.
It’ll also give Maryland a chance to test the full rotation with Tafara Gapare’s athleticism looking to complement Jordan Geronimo’s physicality in the frontcourt, while Braden Pierce is expected to be available to make his debut after redshirting the 2023-24 season.
Derik Queen & Julian Reese
The long overdue debut of Derik Queen will come on Monday night as the Baltimore native has been as advertised since arriving in College Park in early June. He’ll pair back up with former high school teammate, Julian Reese, to give the Terps what could be one of their most star-studded frontcourts since the Gary Williams days.
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