13. Maryland
A fantastic season for Maryland saw a trip to the Sweet Sixteen, the first such trip for the Terrapins in nearly a decade. Unfortunately the season ended with a foul taste as head coach Kevin Willard bolted for Villanova shortly after their Tourney loss. There’s no panic however in College Park as former Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams jumped into the opening and is looking to make waves in the Big Ten.
Half of the eight additions for the Terrapins are very familiar to Williams as they’re following him from Texas A&M. The Aggies didn’t see Andre Mills or George Turkson on court as freshmen last season but the Terrapins welcome them to town. However, Pharrel Payne was a big part of the Aggies’ season while Solomon Washington did great work as a frontcourt reserve and could earn a nice role as a senior.
That’s far from all the good news in College Park. Indiana guard Myles Rice put up double figures as a sophomore and Isaiah Watts did the same at Washington State. Some veteran experiences come in the way of David Coit fresh off some reserve run out at Kansas. The Terrapins added a nearby name in Elijah Saunders, who put up nearly 11 points a game at Virginia last season.
Frankly, it was a bit of a bare cupboard left behind so it’s not surprising to see such an extensive transfer class for Maryland already. This ranking isn’t just about numbers; it’s about what these players have shown us in recent years. Maryland doesn’t have the next Derik Queen and might not have the same exact talent level as this Sweet Sixteen team, but there are pieces that can make noise in a Big Ten race.