Maryland men’s basketball’s loss to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament semifinals was heartbreaking.
But not just because of how it ended. Maryland’s last-second loss was just as heartbreaking because it meant there wouldn’t be another Maryland game to watch on Sunday.
That’s how much I’ve enjoyed watching Maryland basketball this season. After a busy week, I had been so looking forward to spending my Sunday afternoon hanging out with my sons and watching Maryland play for a Big Ten title, a championship they genuinely had a chance to win. It actually broke my heart to realize I wouldn’t have that opportunity.
This has been a spectacularly fun season of Maryland basketball. The “Crab Five” starting lineup has been a joy to watch. Head coach Kevin Willard has proven his value beyond just putting the roster together, as the Terrapins have regularly been their sharpest with the ball out of timeouts.
Yes, there has been an unbelievable amount of heartbreak. But part of that comes along with how good this team is. Maryland hasn’t lost a single game all season by more than two possessions. (I painstakingly did the research. They haven’t gone into an NCAA Tournament without a three-possession loss since the 1974-1975 season, when they ultimately lost to Louisville, 96-82.) When you play this many close games, you might lose some.
That doesn’t make buzzer-beating losses okay. It’s hard to be angry at a team whose only losses since mid-January have come in excruciating if not miraculous fashion. Going into the NCAA Tournament, I’m just as encouraged by the fact that they rallied from down 15 in the second half against Michigan despite Julian Reese’s foul trouble and being completely dominated on the glass.
Still, if what happened against Michigan … or Michigan State … or Ohio State … or Northwestern … happens in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, Maryland will be going home early. And as wonderful as this season has been, that would be an issue.
There’s a subtext to this joyous season that has largely been avoided. Willard dodged much judgment for a miserable second season by landing solid additions in the transfer portal and a massive recruiting victory by bringing Baltimore native Derik Queen back to his home state. With those additions panning out remarkably well and Willard himself proving his value as an in-game coach, public opinion is very much back on his side.
So much so that rumors began to swirl in recent days that Villanova might be interested in his services as a replacement for Kyle Neptune. And when a school that isn’t far removed from winning a pair of national championships is (apparently) trying to poach your coach, there is further proof that you’ve got the right guy.
Therefore it made sense that CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported March 16 that Maryland is being proactive. While Willard more or less dodged the topic during his press conference after the Selection Show (for different reasons than the last time he avoided a reporter), the reporting of this appears to be solid. Maryland intends to up Willard’s salary as they move forward into the new revenue-sharing era of the sport, which they also believe they can be competitive in. It is an encouraging combination that should make fans feel as though there is a real chance to sustain success.
So this wouldn’t be a great time to discourage that belief.
For all of the promising feelings surrounding the season and the program, they’re a first weekend buzzer-beating loss away from falling right back into the reputation of being the program that doesn’t win big games. One particularly obsessed long-time reader, listener and fan of mine always enjoys when I refer to the “is there a there there” concept surrounding the program. As the facts indicate, there is definitely a there there when it comes to this program. But spiritually that will be determined this week.
As we were reminded nearly every year of the Mark Turgeon era of Maryland basketball, programs are measured by what they accomplish in March. And with the annual near-overhauls of rosters, an early exit from the NCAA Tournament doesn’t bode well for what could happen next season. Barring a dramatic turn of events with Queen, Maryland will be without at least their entire front-court and Selton Miguel next season. Guards Rodney Rice and Ja’Kobi Gillespie are expected to return, but in this era, there is always the possibility for bigger paydays.
This is the moment. Next year’s roster construction might not be as strong. Bad injury luck might prevent even a well-constructed roster from making a run.
As a top four seed, it is fair to say that Maryland carries Sweet 16 expectations with them to Seattle. Falling short would be a disappointment not only for this team, but for a fanbase that would like definitive proof that the Kevin Willard era will be different than the last. Getting past the Sweet 16 would be ideal but the conversation starts there.
Should they falter ahead of then, it won’t take long for more and more fans to question why a coach who hasn’t accomplished anything of significance is set to become one of the ten highest paid college basketball coaches in the country.
It’s time to change narratives. It’s time to set a new standard for modern Maryland basketball.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox