Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 18 programs after adding Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington
By Joey Loose
6. Maryland
Gary Williams won a national championship in 2002. Mark Turgeon led this program into the Big Ten in 2014 and had some great season and some underwhelming ones. Kevin Willard greatly exceeded expectations after he was hired last season by the Terrapins and has things looking up in College Park.
Most of Maryland’s success came in the ACC but they’ve been far from a pushover in their almost decade in the Big Ten. The Terrapins made the Big Dance in their first three seasons in the league, though 2016’s trip is their most recent run to the Sweet Sixteen. They’ve had talented teams with potential in recent years, but haven’t had the same level of elite play as in the early 2000’s under Williams.
The first season for Willard ended with 22 wins and renewed hope in College Park after things had gotten pretty stale under Turgeon. Having a great and experienced coach like Willard is a fantastic first step for the Terrapins, but where does it lead them? This program has a ton of potential and a very high ceiling in the years to come, even with distant foes like USC or Oregon trying to steal some of their glory.
Moving forward, Maryland has plenty of potential to stand out in the new-look Big Ten. Willard is a great recruiter and in-game coach and the Terrapins have a history of success. There really isn’t a lot to say here, because we’re leaning on Willard’s potential to make deep runs in the coming years with the talent he brings to Maryland like he did at Seton Hall.