The Maryland Terrapins began their 2024-2025 men’s basketball season with a 3-0 record, and have an early season test tonight against the 15th ranked Marquette Golden Eagles from the Big East. The Golden Eagles and Terps will meet for the second time in their history. When the teams met in the championship game of the Orlando Invitational in 2019, Maryland won by a final score of 84-63 on Dec. 1, 2019.
For the third game in a row, the Terps had a different high-scorer over 20-points with freshman Derik Queen doing it in the opening game followed by Rodney Rice against Mount St. Mary’s, and Julian Reese dropped 21 points on Florida A&M this week.
Head coach Kevin Willard is getting to see many looks to his newly configured team, and certainly is getting a lot from Rice off the bench as his 50-points lead all reserves in the Big-Ten. Maryland won its 12th straight home non-conference game, and 18th consecutive against un-ranked non-conference foes. Tonight, it is the ranked Marquette team at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
In the first game of the season, Queen’s 22 points were the most by a Maryland freshman in his debut game since Joe Smith had 26 vs. Georgetown in 1993. He also posted the most rebounds by a freshman in their debut for Maryland and the most by any Big Ten freshman in a debut since at least 1996-97.
In the offseason, Willard and his staff revamped the roster with several key transfers and two talented freshmen with Derik Queen and Malachi Palmer. Queen entered as the second-highest ranked recruit in program history.
On the transfer side, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Selton Miguel, and Rodney Rice will all veteran leadership, instant scoring, and consistent shooting from deep.
Returning for his fourth season, Julian Reese is a key piece of the front court with his experience and talent. Regarded as one of the top front court players in the conference, Reese reached 1,000 career points last season and could hit 1,000 rebounds for his career this year.
Along with Reese, the development of DeShawn Harris-Smith, one of the top Power 5 true freshmen last year, and with Jordan Geronimo returning, they will provide key experience for the Terps. The return from injury of Chance Stephens adds another perimeter threat, while transfers Tafara Gapare and Jay Young provide athletic depth and dynamic defense to the line-up.
“Defensively I like where we’re at, and I think we can get much better defensively. Playing a lot of guys you sometimes get some bad matchups. But for the most part, I’m happy.”
— head coach Kevin Willard said this week
The Terps were the top defensive unit in the Big Ten last season allowing 65.9 points per game which ranked 23rd nationally. That marked the first time since 1973-74 for the Terps to lead their conference scoring defense.
Maryland’s record: 3-0; Big Ten 0-0
Maquette’s record: 3-0
All-time series: Maryland leads 1-0
BetUS Sportsbook : Maryland are favorites at -2.5, O/U 146.5
Tip-Off: Friday, Nov. 15, 2024; 8:00 pm
Arena: Xfinity Center • College Park, Maryland
TV: FSI — Brandon Gaudin (pxp), Bill Raftery (analyst)
Streaming TV: FOX
Radio: Audacy Radio App / SiriusXM 136; 105.7 FM (Balt.) / 980 AM (D.C.) — Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Chris Knoche (analyst), Walt Williams (analyst), Tom Marchitto (engineer)
