There were distractions during Maryland’s run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2025 and that became very clear when the season ended. Head coach Kevin Willard bolted for Villanova and the Terrapins have been trying to rebuild that momentum under Buzz Williams. Unfortunately, his first year leading the charge in College Park didn’t exactly go according to plan.
A disappointing first season at the helm saw the Terrapins finish just 12-21 and in 17th place in the Big Ten standings. Williams and company certainly had their fair share of struggles, though it’s further upsetting seeing what other first-year head coaches can do right off the bat, especially league rival Iowa. Regardless, this Maryland staff is confident that year two will be a much better product.
Some changes in College Park
The names on the backs of the jerseys will largely be different, with Darius Adams, David Coit, Elijah Saunders and others not returning for the Terrapins this season. While Adams in particular is a tough loss, Maryland does return a few important pieces from last year and made a nice splash in the transfer portal. At first glance, this is a more talented roster that can hopefully make more noise in the Big Ten.
We’ll be taking a look at those important players, highlighting both the returners and the important new pieces for a Maryland team desperate to bounce back this season. The kinds of performances like last season cannot become a regular thing in College Park and Williams knows there are a lot of eyes on him and this new squad. Did they add enough in the offseason to compete in one of the nation’s toughest leagues?
Projected Starters
Guard – D. J. Wagner (Senior)
A former 5-star prospect form New Jersey, Wagner spent his first three years with John Calipari at Kentucky and Arkansas and is now hoping to carve out a successful senior year. After putting up 11.2 points and 3.6 assists as a sophomore, his role was less significant in year two with the Razorbacks with fewer minutes and just 7.4 points a game. He’s an athletic scorer and impressive game manager who should be a new focal point for this team.
Guard – Andre Mills (Sophomore)
The notable returner from last season, Mills is a 6-4 guard from Boston who was a starter in his first collegiate campaign with the Terrapins. He averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds while knocking down 35% of his 3-pointers. Expect even more out of his heading into year two with Maryland, especially with his strength, his playmaking ability, and the chance to become an even sharper shooter.
Forward – Baba Oladotun (Freshman)
The shining star of this recruiting class, Oladotun is a 5-star wing from Silver Springs, Maryland who’s staying close to home and should play a major role in his collegiate debut. There really is a ton to love about Oladotun’s game already, including his great footwork, his size and wingspan, and his comfort playing a versatile role on offense, though we’ll see how his physicality develops in what might be his only year of college ball before the NBA beckons.
Forward – Tomislav Buljan (Sophomore)
A 6-9 forward from Croatia, Buljan wasted zero time acclimating to college basketball with impressive play last season. As a freshman at New Mexico he put up 13.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, becoming the top rebounder in the Mountain West. Maryland expects productive and physicality, while Buljan can also hit outside shots and plays smart on the defensive end.
Forward/Center – Pharrel Payne (Senior)
A leg injury to Payne ten games into last season helped derail Maryland’s season and they’re glad he’ll be back and healthy this year. The former Minnesota and Texas A&M forward averaged 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in those first 10 games and expects to a play a major role in this frontcourt. Payne is athletic for his size and is a notable shot blocker who can clearly put the ball in the basket.
Key Reserves
Guard – Kaden House (Freshman)
Another prominent member of the incoming freshmen class, House is a 4-star shooting guard from Phoenix who figures to play a significant role off the bench. He’s an intelligent backcourt weapon who can score in bunches and is revered for his quickness as well. House could become one of the steals of this freshmen class if he realizes his potential with Maryland.
Forward – Maban Jabriel (Junior)
A 6-9 wing originally from Ontario, Jabriel spent his first two seasons playing the A-Sun at Queens and now hopes to find his footing in the Big Ten. A bench piece with the Royals, he averaged 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game but made 43% of his 3-point attempts. He’s a versatile athlete who becomes a very useful shooter off the bench with impressive size.
Guard/Forward – George Turkson Jr. (Sophomore)
After redshirting and playing briefly last year, we haven’t seen a ton out of Turkson but there’s always the chance for a bigger role this year. The 6-7 wing from Massachusetts started a few games but played limited minutes last season, averaging just 1.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. There’ll be a few names ahead of him on the depth chart but the staff likes his versatility and athleticism.
Guard – Bishop Boswell (Junior)
An underrated transfer addition who should get starting minutes, Boswell is a former Top 100 prospect from Charlotte who comes fresh from two years with Tennessee. He was part of two Elite Eight squads, including 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists as a full-time starter last year. His role with Maryland should be significant even if he’s the third option at guard, especially with what he brings on defense as well.
Forward – Adama Tambedou (Freshman)
Tambedou is a 6-8 power forward prospect who figures to carve out a decent role at some point in the near future. While not as highly-touted as those two other freshmen additions, the Senegal native plays hard and is a dominant interior player. He doesn’t have the size of a lockdown center, but he’s still an impressive athlete with plenty of power and physicality.
Guard – Michael McNair (Senior)
A 6-5 guard originally out of California, McNair comes via Boston University where he spent the first three seasons of his college career. A backcourt starter for the last two years, McNair just averaged 16.9 points and 5.1 rebounds a game while knocking down 44% of his 3-pointers to lead the Patriot League. Maryland adds another natural shooter and impressive scorer off the bench with experience, even if it wasn’t at the power conference level.
Center – Alex K’Medehouto (Junior)
A 7-footer originally from Togo, K’Medehouto spent his first two seasons of college ball playing at the JUCO level and really shined as a shot blocker. He scored with ease around the rim at both of those junior college schools and tallied a ton of blocks and rebounds as well. The physical gifts are all there, though we’ll see how much development is needed before he’s playing important minutes here.
Forward – Robert Jennings (Senior)
He’s another injured player getting another chance, but Jennings is looking to make this season matter. He previously spent two years apiece in the Big 12 at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, though a hip injury limited him to just 3 games last year. He’s a sturdy athlete known for his work inside the arc and adds strength and another veteran into a frontcourt that suddenly feels pretty deep.
Schedule Outlook
The season opens at home against Bucknell but there’s an early rivalry tilt, playing at Georgetown on November 7th. Less than a week later Maryland welcomes a very strong Virginia team to town, followed by a few more games at home before the real challenge begins.
The Terrapins head to Las Vegas at the end of November for the Players Era Championship. Their first matchup is Tennessee, giving Boswell a look at his former team, with either Iowa State or San Diego State next up and then a third matchup right after Thanksgiving. That event clearly represents a chance for the Terrapins to put last year’s struggles in the rearview and prove they can be real contenders.
There isn’t too much left in the nonconference slate, especially with that early December sneak peak into Big Ten play. After those notable clashes against Ohio State and Michigan State, the last game that standouts before New Year’s is a December 19th clash in Baltimore against South Carolina. Big Ten then begins in earnest on January 2nd as the Terrapins host the Los Angeles schools.
They won’t be traveled to LA but plenty of tough road matchups beckon. Maryland’s only looks at Iowa and Purdue come in January sandwiching a rough home game against Illinois. The road is a bit simpler in February, though many will circle their March 4th trip to Ann Arbor to see defending champion Michigan before ending the season at home against Northwestern.
Season Outlook
Obviously we need to see games being played and how this team fits together on the court but Maryland has made some important moves and has brought significant talent to town. There’s no question that Payne’s injury was part of last year’s struggle but that wasn’t the only issue plaguing the Terrapins. Williams hopes to avoid those pitfalls in year two.
The three-headed monster of Wagner, Mills, and Boswell gives Maryland an even better backcourt than last season. The staff knows exactly what they’ll be getting from each of those players and is really excited to see if Wagner can take that big step forward as a senior. Boswell brings great defense and let’s not ignore what someone like House or McNair can do off the bench when you give them the ball.
As promising as the guard play might be, there should be even more excitement about the talent in the frontcourt. Oladotun is a potential lottery pick who’s going to shine in the post for the Terrapins this year. We can’t ignore a healthy Payne and what he means as both a scorer and defender as well. Don’t forget to throw in one of the best rebounders from last season in Buljan and some other young talent vying for action.
Things look great on paper but it’s all about how Maryland comes together as one unit. They have to stay healthy, they have to play smart, and they have to figure things out quickly with the Players Era Championship early in the season. The Terrapins absolutely have the pieces to be a contender in the Big Ten once again and almost certainly have done enough to escape a repeat of last year’s 17th place finish.
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