{"id":94165,"date":"2025-07-26T13:20:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T13:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/94165\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T13:20:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T13:20:09","slug":"maryland-basketball-2025-26-preview-can-you-feel-the-buzz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/94165\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Basketball 2025-26 Preview: Can You Feel the Buzz?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Maryland Terrapins enter yet another new era with their fourth different coach in the last four seasons. Despite all the turnover, the Terps are coming off their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2016. It\u2019s too bad that Kevin Willard<\/a> left for green pastures, and Derik Queen<\/a> has gone to the NBA. The new head man, Buzz Williams, has plenty of hype surrounding his arrival in College Park. It\u2019s a whole new team, but they come with experience, as does Coach Williams. So what can be expected of Maryland basketball in 2025-26? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Maryland Basketball 2025-26 Preview: Can You Feel the Buzz?
\nRoster Management Overload<\/p>\n

Sure, Maryland basketball might have gotten further in last season\u2019s NCAA tournament had it pulled off the upset of eventual champion Florida in the Sweet 16. But the previous coach, Willard, was one foot out the door far before that game. It ended up being a complete roster overhaul for Coach Williams, but he certainly appears to have built quite an impressive roster for 2025-26. He brought four players from Texas A&M, headlined by Pharrel Payne<\/a> and Andre Mills<\/a>. Payne knows what it takes to play in the Big Ten during his two seasons at Minnesota.<\/p>\n

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Did not see this one coming, but it checks out!<\/p>\n

Full convo with Pharrel \u2013 https:\/\/t.co\/YLY4Ngoqn4<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bCbgMoB6es<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maryland Men\u2019s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) July 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The transfer additions didn\u2019t stop with players from Buzz\u2019s previous job, as Maryland grabbed experienced players in Myles Rice<\/a> (Indiana) and Elijah Saunders<\/a> (Virginia).<\/p>\n

The incoming freshman class cannot be overlooked, as it added some high-caliber and sought-after players from the high school ranks. The group is headlined by Aleks Alston<\/a>, the No. 1-ranked player from the State of Illinois. They also added Darius Adams<\/a>. He was well on his way to UConn before a late change found him a home with the Terps. Adams is the gem of the class after being a Top 25-ranked player in the country. Like many other teams, Maryland\u2019s recruiting search expanded internationally, as they added Spain\u2019s Guillermo Del Pino<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rest of the Roster:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transfers: David Coit<\/a> (Kansas), Collin Metcalf<\/a> (Northeastern), Rakease Passmore<\/a> (Kansas), George Turkson Jr<\/a> (Texas A&M), Solomon Washington<\/a> (Texas A&M), and Isaiah Watts<\/a> (Washington State)<\/p>\n

Freshman: Nick Blake,<\/a> Jaziah Harper\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Schedule Outlook<\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be hard to replicate a 27-9 season under a new regime, but don\u2019t count out Buzz Williams<\/a>. He\u2019s been successful pretty much everywhere he has been the head coach. The Terps have plenty of games on their non-conference schedule to prove themselves. Home games confirmed are against Georgetown and a date with Old Dominion in late December. The big match-ups on their schedule come at a neutral site. They kick off the season in Baltimore on November 3rd when they face Coppin State.<\/p>\n

During the Thanksgiving holidays, Maryland will partake in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Terps drew UNLV and Gonzaga as their first two foes during that event. Those should both be interesting match-ups. They also have road games at Marquette and Virginia.<\/p>\n

Once Maryland gets into conference play, perhaps we will see what they are made of, with most of the top projected teams in the Big Ten having to travel to College Park. The Terps get Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, and Washington all on their home floor. The road is going to be tough. Road trips to East Lansing, Madison, and Los Angeles to play both USC and UCLA are what await the Terrapins.<\/p>\n

They get two games against Illinois, which could be highly entertaining at both venues, plus Iowa and Rutgers as well.<\/p>\n

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The schedule is starting to take shape!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf0 \u2013 https:\/\/t.co\/vUIORNQNDc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zGr8mK5vOS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maryland Men\u2019s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) April 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What to Expect for the Terrapins<\/p>\n

The Terrapins might not be Championship contenders this year, but they have some talent that could put them near the top dozen of the Big Ten. Then again, they have a Blake on the team. Yes, that\u2019s right, Nick Blake is the son of famed Maryland guard Steve Blake<\/a>, who was a key part of the 2002 National Championship team. It\u2019s going to be tough to top what the Terps accomplished in 2024-25, but with plenty of talent ready to show off this season, Coach Williams might have himself a conference darkhorse team this year.<\/p>\n

Of the four teams with new coaches and completely rebuilt rosters, to me, Maryland basketball is in the best shape to make some real noise.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Eakin Howard-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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