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2 weeks ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
Maryland men’s basketball freshman Derik Queen is declaring for the 2025 NBA draft, he announced Saturday on ESPN’s SportsCenter. The big man told his decision to Maryland alum Scott Van Pelt while sporting a shirt that read “I’m From Baltimore.” Queen was unable to contain his wide grin as he thanked God, his mom, former coaches and inner circle for helping him reach this point.
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3 weeks ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
For the first time in a few weeks, a Maryland men’s basketball press conference ended without commotion. Newly-hired coach Buzz Williams held his introductory press conference Wednesday at Xfinity Center and spoke along with University of Maryland president Darryll Pines and interim athletic director Colleen Sorem, who expressed their belief in Williams and the program.
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3 weeks ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
Maryland athletics has hired Buzz Williams as the next Maryland men’s basketball head coach, the university announced in a release Tuesday. ESPN reported the contract is a six-year deal. The news comes just two days after former head coach Kevin Willard officially departed for Villanova. “It is an honor and privilege to be named the head coach of the University of Maryland men’s basketball team,” Williams said in the release.
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3 weeks ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
Kevin Willard is leaving Maryland men’s basketball to become the head coach at Villanova, according to a Villanova athletics release. Willard was hired in March 2022 and led the Terps for three seasons, compiling a 63-38 record with a 32-28 mark in Big Ten play. He guided them to the NCAA tournament twice, with their best run ending with a loss to Florida in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.
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1 month ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
SEATTLE — It was always going to be Derik Queen. The star freshman sat in Maryland men’s basketball’s huddle ahead of the last possession against Colorado State on Sunday. Kevin Willard drew up the same play he’s run for game-winners since 2016 — one Queen had attempted twice earlier this season. Then the coach asked who wanted the shot. Of course, Rodney Rice said, every player wanted it. But it was obvious who was going to get it. “I want the motherfucking ball,” Queen said. “He screamed.
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1 month ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
Maryland men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard made on-record comments Thursday that shook the college basketball world, sharing that his athletic director was leaving for another school before an official announcement while airing out his program’s most “fundamental” issues. Willard, who’s been floated as a candidate for Villanova’s job opening, quickly changed his tune after the Terps’ win over Grand Canyon on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
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1 month ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
Beyond the occasional fist pump or sly grin, Ja’Kobi Gillespie rarely expresses emotion on the basketball court. Maryland’s point guard admitted he sometimes catches himself playing too relaxed. But make no mistake, Gillespie has an unwavering drive — perhaps even a “killer instinct,” as director of player personnel Ricky Harris put it — beneath the surface. It’s why Gillespie woke his mom up at 5 a.m. every morning in sixth grade so she could drive him to the nearby YMCA in Greeneville, Tennessee.
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1 month ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
INDIANAPOLIS — It looked like Maryland men’s basketball was going to bow out of the Big Ten tournament with a low-effort performance Saturday. It trailed by as many as 15 early in the second half as Michigan dominated on the glass and in the paint. The Terps clawed back — largely thanks to a 12-0 run spurred by freshman big man Derik Queen — but Michigan denied Maryland’s chance at its first-ever Big Ten tournament finals appearance with a last-second Tre Donaldson layup.
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1 month ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
Despite playing just 31 games, Derik Queen’s name already litters the Maryland men’s basketball record book. That recognition only grew on Tuesday, when he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Queen joins Buck Williams and Joe Smith as the only Terps to win the conference rookie of the year award. The 6-foot-10 Baltimore native was also named to the coaches’ All-Big Ten first team, becoming the first Maryland freshman to make a first team since Melo Trimble in 2014-15.
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1 month ago | 
dbknews.com | Harrison Rich
When it was time for Julian Reese to walk off the Xfinity Center court for the last time as a Terp, he put his hands up to the crowd and Selton Miguel placed an imaginary crown on his head. The senior big man walked to Maryland men’s basketball’s bench and gave each coach a bear hug, none longer than his extended embrace with Kevin Willard. Reese, who Willard has called his “safety blanket” throughout the season, once again earned that label in the Terps’ 74-61 win over Northwestern on Saturday.
