Here's the shocking truth: Maryland basketball just received one of its lowest preseason rankings in recent memory—and honestly, can anyone really blame the voters?
When it comes to predicting how the Maryland Terrapins will perform this season, even the most seasoned college basketball analysts are scratching their heads. We're talking about a program that has undergone a complete transformation—every single one of the 15 roster spots is filled with a new face, and the entire coaching staff has been replaced from top to bottom. It's essentially a brand-new basketball program wearing the same uniform.
As the college basketball season draws near, the Big Ten media members cast their votes for the preseason conference rankings, and the Terps found themselves positioned in the lower tier of the standings. Specifically, Maryland secured the No. 13 spot in the poll—marking one of their most underwhelming preseason projections in quite some time. This placement is a direct reflection of the massive uncertainty surrounding how all these unfamiliar pieces will mesh together on the court.
But here's where it gets controversial... Should a program with Maryland's history and resources really be ranked this low? Or are the media voters underestimating what a fresh start can bring?
The poll results showed that not a single Maryland player earned a spot on either the first or second All-Big Ten teams selected by the media. However, there were some bright spots worth noting. Freshman Darius Adams (https://247sports.com/Player/darius-adams-46127781/) managed to collect three votes for the Freshman of the Year award, showing that at least some observers believe he has star potential. Additionally, Pharrel Payne garnered some recognition with votes for the all-conference teams, indicating that his performance hasn't gone completely unnoticed.
First-year head coach Buzz Williams (https://247sports.com/Coach/buzz-williams-2344/) has been refreshingly honest about the situation his team faces. During a candid conversation with the Baltimore Sun over the summer, Williams didn't sugarcoat the reality: "I don't know. Are we good? I don't know. Are we bad?" he admitted. "I think we'll adapt our style of play relative to who's on our team. I think we've always done that. And we're trying to figure some of that out, literally, when you leave."
This level of transparency from a head coach is rare, and it speaks volumes about the genuine uncertainty surrounding this squad. Williams is essentially building from scratch, which means there's no established identity or proven system to fall back on.
When you examine Williams' inaugural roster at College Park, you won't find an obvious superstar who can single-handedly carry the team. That said, there are several intriguing pieces that could develop into something special. Pharrel Payne is an up-and-coming big man who showed flashes of brilliance by dropping 51 points across just two NCAA Tournament games last March—that's the kind of performance that turns heads and builds confidence.
Then there's point guard Myles Rice (https://247sports.com/college/rice/), who earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors a couple of seasons ago while playing for Washington. Unfortunately, his most recent campaign at Indiana was one he'd probably like to forget, as he struggled on a team that was falling apart. The question now is: which version of Rice will show up in a Maryland uniform?
Darius Adams represents one of the highest-rated recruiting acquisitions the program has secured in recent years, bringing with him significant expectations and potential. Beyond Adams, the roster includes other proven contributors like Isaiah Watts (https://247sports.com/Player/isaiah-watts-46136435/), a transfer from Washington State (https://247sports.com/college/washington-state/), and Diggy Coit, who comes over from Kansas (https://247sports.com/college/kansas/). Both players have demonstrated their ability to produce at the college level, which should provide some stability.
During an extensive interview with Jon Rothstein (https://247sports.com/college/maryland/contentgallery/buzz-williams-on-how-good-his-maryland-basketball-team-looks-nil-and-running-out-of-underwear-251507719/) over the summer, Williams elaborated on the challenges his staff faces: "We're trying to discover this month what is best for our brand new roster, what is the best way for us to play? Is some of what we would learn from studying the Big Ten—would that make adjustments on how we want to play? And so we're probably behind, to be honest, John, on that understanding, just because of the transition, but over the next six weeks, we're going to have to give an inordinate amount of time just to catch up and kind of have a base foundational level of what that is."
This admission reveals that Maryland is playing catch-up compared to other Big Ten programs that have had more continuity and preparation time. The coaching staff is still in the discovery phase, trying to determine the optimal playing style and rotations that will maximize their roster's strengths.
And this is the part most people miss... Maryland is also dealing with significant injury concerns that could impact their early-season performance. Darius Adams underwent hand surgery and may not return to action until around the start of the regular season, potentially missing crucial practice time and early games. Even more devastating, Kansas transfer Rakease Passmore (https://247sports.com/Player/rakease-passmore-46127481/) will be sidelined for the entire season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, as the program announced last week. Losing a player for an entire year before the season even begins is a tough blow for any team, especially one already dealing with so much uncertainty.
Big Ten Media Poll Projected Standings
- 1. Purdue (25 first-place votes)
- 2. Michigan (3)
- 3. UCLA
- 4. Illinois
- 5. Oregon
- 6. Michigan State
- 7. Wisconsin
- 8. Iowa
- 9. Ohio State
- 10. Indiana
- 11. Washington
- 12. USC
- 13. Maryland
- 14. Nebraska
- 15. Northwestern
- 16. Minnesota
- 17. Rutgers
- 18. Penn State
Player of the Year: Braden Smith (https://247sports.com/Player/Braden-Smith-46099843), Purdue (https://247sports.com/college/purdue/)
- Also receiving votes: Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue (3); Donovan Dent, UCLA (1); Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan (1)
Freshman of the Year: Kayden Mingo (https://247sports.com/Player/kayden-mingo-46141952/), Penn State (https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/) (6)
- Also receiving votes: Trey McKenney, Michigan (5); Hannes Steinbach, Washington (5); Darius Adams, Maryland (3); Omer Mayer, Purdue (3); Cam Ward, Michigan State (3); Alijah Arenas, USC (1); Amare Bynum, Ohio State (1); Mihailo Petrovic, Illinois (1)
Transfer of the Year: Yaxel Lendeborg (https://247sports.com/Player/yaxel-lendeborg-46137128/), Michigan (https://247sports.com/college/michigan/)
- Also receiving votes: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa (9); Donovan Dent, UCLA (8)
First Team All-Big Ten (unanimous selections in ALL CAPS)
- BRADEN SMITH, Purdue
- Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
- Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
- Donovan Dent, UCLA
- Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Second Team All-Big Ten
- Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
- Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
- Nate Bittle, Oregon
- John Blackwell, Wisconsin
- Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Also receiving votes: Tomislav Ivisic (https://247sports.com/Player/tomislav-ivisic-46149394/) (Illinois (https://247sports.com/college/illinois/)), Andrej Stojakovic (https://247sports.com/Player/andrej-stojakovic-46117544/) (Illinois), Tyler Bilodeau (https://247sports.com/Player/tyler-bilodeau-46125442/) (UCLA (https://247sports.com/college/ucla/)), Tucker DeVries (https://247sports.com/Player/tucker-devries-46086079/) (Indiana (https://247sports.com/college/indiana/)), Coen Carr (https://247sports.com/Player/coen-carr-46115688/) (Michigan State (https://247sports.com/college/michigan-state/)), Oscar Cluff (https://247sports.com/Player/oscar-cluff-46137491/) (Purdue), Riek Mast (Nebraska (https://247sports.com/college/nebraska/)), Quimari Peterson (https://247sports.com/Player/quimari-peterson-46085475/) (Washington (https://247sports.com/college/washington/)), Desmond Claude (https://247sports.com/Player/desmond-claude-46102817/) (Washington), Morez Johnson Jr. (https://247sports.com/Player/morez-johnson-jr-46115307/) (Michigan), Jaxon Kohler (https://247sports.com/Player/jaxon-kohler-46058592/) (Michigan State), Fletcher Loyer (https://247sports.com/Player/fletcher-loyer-46102254/) (Purdue), Pharrel Payne (https://247sports.com/Player/pharrel-payne-46115861/) (Maryland (https://247sports.com/college/maryland/)), Devin Royal (https://247sports.com/Player/devin-royal-46118229/) (Ohio State (https://247sports.com/college/ohio-state/)), Lamar Wilkerson (https://247sports.com/Player/lamar-wilkerson-46148106/) (Indiana), Wesley Yates (Washington)
So here's the million-dollar question: Is Maryland being unfairly underestimated, or is this ranking actually generous given all the unknowns? Could a team with zero continuity and a completely new system actually surprise everyone and exceed expectations? Or will the lack of chemistry and established roles doom them to struggle in one of college basketball's toughest conferences?
What do you think—are the media voters spot-on with this prediction, or is Maryland being disrespected? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let's debate whether this team will prove the doubters wrong or validate their concerns!
