COLLEGE PARK, MD — Since becoming Maryland’s head coach in 2022 there has been one constant with Kevin Willard’s approach to the game. It all starts on defense.
Willard’s Maryland teams have all been dominant defensively.
The Terps were top five in the Big Ten in opponents’ points per game in both seasons with Willard at the helm. Last season, they were first in the Big Ten, holding opponents under 66 points per game.
This season is no different.
Maryland is allowing 53.8 points per game to opponents this season only trailing UCLA — allowing 51.8 points per game — for the top spot in the conference. The team is averaging over nine steals a game and just under four blocks a game. Only one team — Marquette — shot over 41 percent from the floor against the Terps.
Maryland is 22nd in the country in turnovers forced per game averaging 18 over its five games played.
That dominant defense was on full display against Canisius, Tuesday, in a game Maryland won by the second largest margin in school history.
The Terps allowed the Golden Griffins to score 37 total points on 14 made shots. The Griffins ended the game shooting under 26 percent from the floor and 20 percent from three-point range. Their leading scorers — Tana Kopa and Paul McMillan IV — finished with ten points each.
The Terps were able to turn the lockdown defense into offense by forcing 23 turnovers and scoring 39 points as a result of those turnovers.
A big reason for Maryland’s early dominance is Willard’s use of the full court press.
Willard’s press requires two guards to initiate the pressure the moment the inbound pass is thrown. Two players sit around the half court line covering their matchup while also being aware for long passes. The backline of the press is usually occupied by the big on the court.
“I think the press is much more effective this year is because of the guys we have on it,” said head coach Kevin Willard after the win against Florida A&M.
Willard added in that press conference that sophomore guard DeShawn Harris-Smith operates better on the second line of the press rather than at the front where he played last season. Willard said having guys like Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Selton Miguel as well as increased depth has allowed him to move Harris-Smith to a more comfortable position in the press.
Against Canisius, that aggressive defense forced multiple turnovers that sparked a 15-0 scoring run.
“They make a prayer in the first possession, but it was as good a defensive possession you could have to start the half,” said Willard after the win versus Canisius. “I just thought we kind of got them on their heels right away.”
While the defense has dominated weaker opponents in the early season — all four of Maryland’s wins are against teams with KenPom rankings under 200 — it struggled against No. 15 Marquette.
Marquette finished the game shooting just under 45% from the field outscoring Maryland, 15-5, in points off of turnovers. Marquette senior Kam Jones was the game’s highest scorer notching 28 points on ten for 18 shooting — the most points Maryland has given up to one person this season.
The Golden Eagles are the only team this year to score over 60 points against the Terps.
“This is why you play these early season tests,” said Willard after the loss to Marquette. “You got to see where [you’re] at.”
Despite the hot start, the Terps’ defense needs to succeed against better competition to be taken seriously as one of the most dominant in the Big Ten.
They will get an opportunity to do so when they travel to the Prudential Center for a neutral court matchup against Villanova — ranked 61 on KenPom — on Sunday.
