Friday night saw No. 22 Maryland men’s basketball play in its first high-stakes matchup, hosting No. 16 Illinois for the first Big Ten matchup. A gutsy 71-66 victory, sealed by guard Jahmir Young’s clutch three-pointer, effectively put the rest of the conference on notice as Maryland improved to 8-0.
Playing in their annual Gold Rush game in front of their first sold-out crowd of the season, the Terps answered the call. Young’s pull-up on-the-move three with 14 seconds left to create the pivotal four-point lead closed the door on Maryland’s first upset, as they topped the Fighting Illini in dramatic fashion. Maryland is now one of six remaining D-1 programs with eight wins and only one of three without a loss.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” said first-year Maryland coach Kevin Willard on his team’s nuclear start. “I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t think we’d get off to an 8-0 start.”
Illinois was easily the toughest opponent the Terps have gone up against, and Maryland gave plenty of signs that they are one of the elite squads in college basketball. The Fighting Illini are the reigning Big Ten champions and came off a 29-point trouncing of Syracuse.
The two teams shared similar statistics entering the marquee outing. Illinois led the rebounding (41-39) and assist (17.1-12.6) categories, but Maryland had barely shot better from the field (49.9-48.5). Both teams scored between 82 and 83 points per contest, and the Terps were favored by -1.5 as of an hour before tip-off.
Maryland has survived off of adjustments to their offense to adapt to what the opposing defense gives them, and this game was no different. Donta Scott and Julian Reese, two of its best players, both had quiet nights for their standards. Scott scored six points in both halves, bullying his way to the rack with his shots from distance not falling, and Reese’s only field goal in the game arrived in the form of a clutch rebound and putback with under two minutes left.
Jahmir Young, the graduate transfer from Charlotte, had no problem taking on scoring responsibility. The 6’1 guard dropped 24 points on 9-20 shooting and drained four threes, including the game-winner. Hakim Hart was the only other Terp to hit any threes, going 5-6 from deep in increasingly big moments.
But above all, it was the Terps’ lauded defense that kept their superior-ranked opponent at bay. Maryland’s bench unit, which has raised some concerns due to a relative lack of scoring, saw only three players come off the bench, meshed perfectly with the starters. Ian Martinez contributed eight helpful points, Jahari Long added even more on-ball defense while providing ball-handling on the other end, and Patrick Emilien helped lock down the paint with Reese struggling.
Maryland’s energetic rotations mixed with their versatile switchability forced twelve turnovers out of their opponent, one more than they themselves gave up. Terrence Shannon Jr. still scored his 21 points, just around his season average, but not without shooting a few airballs on some tight coverages. The Terps also made a point to hone in on Coleman Hawkins, the 6’10 point-forward, who started off with seven points in the first six minutes but ultimately finished with 16 points on 17 shots.
The Terps, however, did not play a seamless game. They showed an ability to get to the line after a few calls to start the game (2-3 from the line in the first half compared to 12-15 in the second), but the offense took a turn for the worse when players not named Young or Hart were forced to make threes. Their turnovers racked up, which allowed the Fighting Illini to swing the momentum after being down 41-34 in the half.
Julian Reese and Emilien both racked up four fouls, combining for two shots on the night. Coach Willard still refers to Reese as a freshman due to Maryland’s tumultuous prior season, saying he’ll “adjust to the size of opponents as the season goes on.” They have until Tuesday they face off against Wisconsin (5-2) on the road, where they’re 3-0 this season.
For now, Maryland achieved the kind of national relevance they hoped they’d reclaim when they installed an accomplished collegiate coach like Kevin Willard in their head coaching role. With only one total Big Ten matchup in the books, Maryland sits at first in the conference, with Illinois in dead last, having been the only squad to lose a conference matchup. At the rate they’re going, these guys are here to stay.
Maryland hits the road to take on Wisconsin tonight in another Big Ten showdown.
