The Maryland basketball team will usher in the 2022-23 season with a nonconference matchup against Niagara at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.
The Niagara game will also be the beginning of the Kevin Willard era after a decade of Mark Turgeon at the helm. Turgeon went 226-116 as the head coach of the Terrapins but did not reach the Elite Eight during his tenure.
Maryland’s 2021-22 season marked its first losing campaign since 1992-93. The Terps will look to begin this season on the right foot.
Here are three things to look for during Maryland’s season:
1. Kevin Willard enters his first season as Maryland’s head coach.
Willard joined the Maryland basketball program in March after Turgeon and the school parted ways during the season. Previously, Willard was at Seton Hall for 12 years, posting a 225-161 record.
“I am excited. It’s been a long seven months to get to this point,” Willard said. “I’m proud of the staff for working as hard as they did to put together a great roster. A little nervous, but more excited to get this journey started.”
Willard would look to push the pace on the court and also try to fast-track the return of a fan base that has experienced some promising seasons in recent years, only to be left with nothing to show for them.
“We’re trying to play so much faster than they have all played, that is probably one of the toughest habits to break,” Willard said. “When you’re used to walking up the court and not pressing that is a really hard [habit to break].”
“I think winning cures all,” Willard said of energizing the fan base. “I think once the fan base sees how hard these kids have worked and the way they play, I think they will be energized just by how these guys are playing.”
2. How will the new transfers contribute?
Maryland returns eight players from last season, including program veterans Donta Scott and Hakim Hart. The roster also features two hometown transfers Don Carey and Jahmir Young, who are coming from Georgetown and Charlotte, respectively.
“Making sure we didn’t bring guys in that were repetitive that will come in and play the same position and have the same skill set,” Willard said about what he learned with transfers. “So I think the transfer guys have fit in well with the older guys because they have complemented their games.”
Along with Carey and Young, the Terps also transferred in junior guard Jahari Long (Seton Hall) and graduate forward Patrick Emilien (St. Francis).
Young, Carey and Emilien will look to provide scoring for a team that ranked ninth in the Big Ten in points per game (70.9). Young (19.6), Carey (13.5) and Emilien (12.5) all averaged double-digit points during the 2021-22 season. Young and Carey averaged more points than Scott and Hart.
However, Willard believes as of now the defense is slightly ahead of the offense.
“I think our defense is just a little bit more ahead of our offense, just from the two scrimmages and looking at how we played and how we shot, but it’s not far off,” Willard said. “I think we spent a lot of time on defense because I have 13 guys that play six different styles of defense.”
“It’s been a little bit more of a difficult process,” Willard added. “But at the same time, these guys have made it easy because they have an unbelievable work ethic and a great attitude. My defense isn’t easy to learn, but it’s more or less trying to learn a whole new system in technically four weeks.”
3. Donta Scott returns as the team’s leader.
Scott, now in his senior year, will be a key leader of the team and has quickly become someone his coach can rely on to be vocal. Scott, the top rebounder for last year’s team, will look to help lead the team to a winning season in his final year.
“Donta has been terrific,” Willard said. “He’s brought it every day and he’s matured dramatically in seven months from what I’m asking him to do. They’ve all kind of had different leadership times, but Donta has been the best vocal guy by far and to be honest, he’s come in and outworked everyone from Day One.”
“Don’t take the opportunity for granted,” Carey said on what he’s learned from Scott. “This is his last go-around as well, so every day just getting better in practice and taking the time we have with each other.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics