Let’s be real for a second. Being a Maryland fan right now feels like being stuck in a recurring nightmare that only gets weirder. You wake up, check the scores, and see the same thing: another double-digit loss, another cold shooting night, and another "what if" scenario involving players who aren't even on the roster anymore.
Maryland men's basketball news has been, frankly, pretty bleak lately.
The Terrapins just wrapped up a miserable road trip to Los Angeles, capped off by an 88-71 loss to USC on January 13. They are currently sitting at 7-10 overall. Even worse? They are 0-6 in Big Ten play. That's dead last. For a program with a national championship banner and a fan base that expects—no, demands—competitiveness, this isn't just a slump. It’s a full-blown identity crisis.
The West Coast Trip From Hell
Maryland went to sunny California and found nothing but gloom. After losing to UCLA 67-55 on January 10, they headed to the Galen Center to face a USC team that was actually missing key pieces like Chad Baker-Mazara. It didn't matter.
USC basically lived in the paint. They outscored Maryland 44-14 in the restricted area. Think about that for a minute. That’s a 30-point swing just from layups and dunks.
David "Diggy" Coit was the only bright spot. He dropped 30 points and looked like the only guy on the floor who could consistently create his own shot. But here’s the problem: when one guy scores 30 and the team still loses by 17, it means the rest of the lineup is stuck in the mud.
- David Coit: 30 points (led all scorers)
- Darius Adams: 12.5 PPG on the season, but struggled with efficiency in LA
- Pharrel Payne: 17.5 PPG average, but couldn't stop the interior onslaught
The Terps are currently on a four-game losing streak. They haven't won a game since December 28 against Old Dominion. Before that, it was a string of losses to Virginia, Michigan, and Iowa. It feels like every time they take a step forward, they fall down a flight of stairs.
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Where Did Everyone Go?
If you're looking at this roster and wondering where the stars are, you aren't alone. This is the "aftermath" season.
Last year, the buzz was all about Derik Queen. He was the local savior, the Baltimore kid who was supposed to lead Maryland back to the promised land. But things moved fast. After a decent freshman run where he averaged 15.6 points and nearly 10 rebounds, Queen jumped to the NBA. He’s currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging around 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds as a rookie.
Then there’s Julian Reese. The second-leading rebounder in school history. He’s gone too. After some speculation about a fifth year, Reese ended up in the pro ranks, eventually signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors' G League affiliate, Raptors 905.
Basically, the "Crab Five" era ended before it ever really started. Kevin Willard, the man who brought those guys in, is gone too. He’s at Villanova now. The coaching change to Buzz Williams has brought a different energy, but the results just haven't followed yet.
Williams is known for being a "grinder," but right now, the Terps are just getting ground up.
The Brutal Big Ten Reality
The Big Ten is a different beast in 2026. With the addition of the West Coast schools, the travel is exhausting and the competition is deeper than ever.
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Nebraska is currently 17-0. Purdue is 16-1. Even Michigan, under their new regime, is 15-1. Maryland is looking up at everyone.
The stats tell a pretty damning story. Maryland’s offensive rating is 103.7, which ranks 295th out of 365 teams in Division I. Their defensive rating isn't much better at 110.5 (301st). You can’t win games when you’re in the bottom 20% of the country on both ends of the floor.
Why is it so bad?
Honestly, it’s shooting. The Terps are shooting about 28.6% from three-point range as a team. In modern basketball, that’s essentially a death sentence. Teams are sagging off everyone except Coit, dares them to shoot, and the Terps are hitting the front of the rim.
Is There Any Hope Left?
It’s easy to be cynical. Most of the fans at Xfinity Center are. But there are a couple of things to keep an eye on if you're looking for Maryland men's basketball news that isn't totally depressing.
Darius Adams is a legit talent. As a freshman, he’s shown flashes of being a high-level Big Ten guard. He has the size at 6'5" and the pedigree (a top 30 recruit). He just needs time. Pharrel Payne, the senior transfer, is also doing everything he can. He’s a physical force, but he can’t guard three people at once.
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The schedule doesn't get easier. They play Penn State on January 18. Then it’s a road game at #13 Illinois. Then #12 Michigan State. If they don't beat Penn State at home, we might be looking at an 0-10 start in the conference.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Team
A lot of people want to blame Buzz Williams. It’s easy to point at the new guy. But this roster was decimated by the portal and the draft.
Williams inherited a cupboard that wasn't just bare—it was basically a condemned building. He’s trying to build a culture of "toughness," but toughness doesn't make three-pointers go in. Skill does.
The lack of a true secondary playmaker behind David Coit is the real killer. When Coit gets trapped or forced into a tough shot, the offense resets and ends up in a panicked heave at the end of the shot clock. It’s ugly basketball.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning on following the Terps through the rest of the winter, here is how to handle it without losing your mind:
- Watch the development of Darius Adams: Forget the final score for a second. Watch how Adams navigates ball screens. If he turns into a star by February, the 2026-27 season looks a lot better.
- Lower the expectations for the Big Ten Tournament: At 0-6, the goal isn't a double-bye anymore. The goal is just to avoid the Wednesday night "Pillow Fight" game.
- Monitor the 2026 recruiting class: Buzz Williams lives and dies by his ability to find "his" guys. Keep an eye on the local DMV circuit to see if he can keep the high-end talent home.
- Attend the Penn State game: If the Terps are going to get a conference win, it has to be on January 18. The atmosphere at Xfinity needs to be hostile for the Nittany Lions, even if the home team is struggling.
Maryland basketball is in a dark place, but the Xfinity Center has a way of turning things around when people least expect it. The talent gap is real, but in the Big Ten, sometimes just playing harder than the other guy for 40 minutes is enough to steal a win. Whether this group has that in them remains to be seen.