The Maryland Terrapins began their 2024-2025 men’s basketball season with a 3-0 record, before dropping a nailbiter against 15th ranked Marquette in a game that Maryland led for so much of the game. Now, Maryland is 3-1 and taking on Canisius in a game that Maryland is favored by 31.5 point.
For the first time dating back through 1980-81, Maryland has had four different 20-point scorers through the first four games of the year. For the 2024-25 season, only five Division I teams have accomplished this: Maryland, Northeastern, Prairie View A&M, UIW, and Tennessee State. In the Big Ten, this is the sixth time it has happened over the last decade (back to 2014-15): Maryland, Michigan (2023-24), Illinois (2022-23), Purdue (2021-22, 2017-18), and Northwestern (2015-16). For the Terps, Derik Queen opened the year with 22 points against Manhattan before adding his second 20-point effort with 24 against No. 15 Marquette. Rodney Rice had 28 against Mount St. Mary’s, while Julian Reese had 21 points against Florida A&M. Ja’Kobi Gillespie became the fourth player to hit the mark with 24 points (matching Queen) against No. 15 Marquette. The last time this happened for Maryland was 1980-81: Buck Williams (27 vs Navy), Ernie Graham (21 vs. American), Greg Manning Sr. (29 vs. Wagner), Albert King/Williams/Manning (21/20/21 vs. Syracuse)
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 has won 18 consecutive against un-ranked non-conference foes.
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.
“I don’t know if any of you ever played basketball, but if you’ve ever played in a really loud building your first time — and you’ve ever been pumped up and juiced up, there’s things that you do that you’re usually not used to doing, and that’s a little bit of the learning curve. That’s why I’m excited about this team. They kind of battled and did some really good things in an environment that was phenomenal and an environment that they’re just not used to playing in.”
— 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: 3-1; Big Ten 0-0
Canisius’s record: 0-5
All-time series: Maryland leads 7-0
BetUS Sportsbook : Maryland are favorites at -31.5
Tip-Off: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024; 7:00 pm
Arena: Xfinity Center • College Park, Maryland
TV: N/A
Streaming TV: www.bigtenplus.com
Tyler Lochte, Jack Susanin, Alexa Wootten
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)
