So, if you're a Maryland fan, you probably spent most of last March screaming at your TV. First, there was that wild Sweet Sixteen run under Kevin Willard—the one where Derik Queen basically looked like a lottery pick in real-time. Then, the hammer dropped. Willard bails for Villanova. Queen goes to the NBA. Suddenly, the XFINITY Center felt a lot quieter.
Now we’re deep into the 2025-26 season, and the university of maryland men's basketball schedule is entering the "meat grinder" phase. It’s that January and February stretch where the Big Ten turns into a backyard brawl. Honestly, if you haven't been keeping track of the dates, you've missed a rollercoaster. We’re talking about a team that’s rebuilding on the fly with a brand new coaching staff and a roster that looks like a "Who’s Who" of the transfer portal.
The Brutal Big Ten Stretch: Upcoming Games
We are officially in the heart of winter, and the schedule is relentless. The Terps aren't just playing games; they're fighting for a spot in an expanded 18-team Big Ten Tournament. Remember, the tournament is at the United Center in Chicago this year (March 10-15), and nobody wants to be playing on Tuesday's opening night.
Here is what the immediate future looks like on the calendar. Mark your calendars, or don't—just don't complain when you miss a tip-off.
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- January 18 (Sunday): Penn State comes to College Park. 12:00 PM on BTN. This is one of those "must-win" home games.
- January 21 (Wednesday): A tough road trip to Champaign to face Illinois. 7:00 PM on BTN.
- January 24 (Saturday): At Michigan State. Noon. CBS. The Breslin Center is never kind to visitors.
- February 1 (Sunday): Purdue at home. 1:00 PM on CBS. This is the big one. Wear red.
- February 5 (Thursday): Ohio State visits the XFINITY Center. 8:30 PM on FS1. Late night hoops.
The West Coast trip earlier this month—where the Terps had to fly to UCLA and USC—was a logistical nightmare. That’s the new reality of the Big Ten. You're playing a game in Piscataway one week and Los Angeles the next. It's weird. It's exhausting. But it’s the schedule we’ve got.
Why This Schedule Is Different This Year
Most people look at a schedule and just see wins and losses. That’s a mistake. This year, the university of maryland men's basketball schedule is more about "proof of concept." After Willard left, the program had to pivot. Fast.
The non-conference slate was actually pretty decent, even if it feels like a lifetime ago. Beating Marquette on the road back in November (89-82) was the high point. But then came the Players Era Championship in Vegas. Losses to Gonzaga and Alabama showed exactly how far this new-look roster still has to go. It’s one thing to beat Mount St. Mary’s in overtime; it’s another to trade buckets with the top five teams in the country.
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Home Court Advantage?
The XFINITY Center is still a fortress, but the schedule hasn't been kind with weekend slots. We’ve seen a lot of mid-week 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM starts. For students, that’s great. For everyone else driving from Baltimore or DC? It’s a grind. Still, the upcoming home stand against Purdue and Iowa (Feb 11) will likely define whether this team is "NIT-bound" or "Bubble-bursting."
The Roster Flip You Might Have Missed
You can't talk about the schedule without talking about who is actually playing. Since Derik Queen and Julian Reese moved on, the frontcourt is totally different. Elijah Saunders and Pharrel Payne are doing the heavy lifting now. They aren't the same type of "back-to-the-basket" threats as Queen, but they play with a different kind of motor.
And let’s be real about the backcourt. Myles Rice and Ja'Kobi Gillespie (before he moved on) were supposed to be the engines. Now, it's about the young guys and the transfers like Andre Mills and Isaiah Watts stepping up. Sometimes it works. Sometimes they look like they just met in the parking lot ten minutes before tip.
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What’s Left on the Horizon
As we move toward March, the schedule doesn't get easier.
- February 15: At Rutgers. The RAC is a house of horrors.
- February 21: Washington at home. A 3:00 PM Peacock game. Yes, we’re still doing the Peacock thing.
- March 1: Rutgers comes to College Park for the rematch.
- March 8: The regular season finale against Illinois.
Basically, the Terps have to find a way to win the games they're "supposed" to win. If they drop the home games against Penn State or Rutgers, the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago is going to be a very short trip.
Actionable Steps for Terps Fans
If you're planning on following the rest of the university of maryland men's basketball schedule, stop relying on old bookmarks.
- Check the TV networks: A huge chunk of the remaining games are on FS1 or Peacock. If you don't have the login ready, you're going to miss the first half of the Northwestern game (Feb 18) while resetting your password.
- Watch the NET Rankings: Since Maryland had some Quad 1 opportunities (Marquette, Michigan, Virginia), their NET is what matters now. A win over Purdue on Feb 1 would be a massive "Quad 1" boost.
- Chicago Travel: If you're thinking about the Big Ten Tournament, book the flights now. The United Center is the venue, and with 18 teams in the mix, tickets are going to be a headache.
The season isn't over. It just feels like it sometimes when the shots aren't falling. But that's Maryland basketball. It's stressful, it's loud, and it's never predictable. Stay tuned to the tip times, because in this league, a noon start on a Sunday can change everything.