Before the season started, head coach Kevin Willard said forward Julian Reese was the player that impressed him the most.
“I’ve challenged Julian tremendously on and off the court,” Willard said. “He’s been phenomenal in practice. He doesn’t come out of practice. He’s here early every day. The player I saw last year compared to the player I think people are going to see this year it’s going to be night and day.”
Reese only scored seven points in the season opener and did not attempt a shot until the second half. Reese finished with seven rebounds in the season opener.
Reese’s big game led Maryland men’s basketball (2-0) to a 71-51 victory a Western Carolina (0-2).
Reese exceeded his points total from Monday in just nine minutes. Reese scored 10 of Maryland’s first 14 points and threw down two dunks. Reese also added four first-half rebounds.
“He accepted the challenge, one to be dominant; I think you’re just seeing a small sliver of how good Juju can be,” Willard said.
It took Reese a while to get going in the second half but he picked up any slack, scoring five straight points.
Midway through the second half, Reese set a screen on guard Russell Jones Jr. sending him to the floor. Reese got the ball and drove through traffic, laying in the layup and earning the three-point-play opportunity.
Reese hit his free throw, finishing 5-5 from the free throw line.
“He’s a pesky little guard,” Reese said. “I set a screen to free him up a bit…and it opened stuff up for me with the recognition of the pass and finish.”
With his dominant showing, Reese set a new career high in points and rebounds with 19 points and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double.
“It’s just heart and determination that’s inspirational,” Reese said. “Just going to do extra things like run the floor, just make the effort.”
In the season opener, the Terps did not allow a three-pointer, the only division one school to do so as of Monday. That script flipped on Thursday.
After shooting 45% from beyond the arc in the season opener, the Terps struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, shooting 0-8. Six different players attempted three-pointers in the first half as the Terps could not get their shots to fall.
“I feel that we have to get better at rhythm threes, whether that is driving into the lane,” guard Jahmir Young said. “I feel like we kicked it out too early…which is why we struggled.”
The Terps missed two more three-pointers before guard Hakim Hart hit a three from the top of the key with 15:51 left in the second half. Willard pumped his fist in the air, and the crowd let out a big roar.
The Terps’ three-point struggles would continue until forward Noah Batchelor hit his second career bucket with 3:28 left in the game. The Terps finished 2-19 from beyond the arc.
“We really played hard and executed well on the defensive end,” Willard said. “I just don’t think they’re quite where they want to be, that they got to play that hard on the defensive end and then when we transition to the offense to have our game laid for us.”
