“I imply, I couldn’t do it with out my staff. Like, we had been down, however we didn’t need it to be the final sport for Ju (Julian Reese), Jordan (Geronimo), Selton (Miguel), and all the seniors rallied. So we stored preventing and preventing, and coach and my teammates trusted me to take that final shot…(on the place his confidence comes from) I’m from Baltimore, that’s why. After which I sort of had it going all sport, and my teammates had it going, and so they trusted me to take that final shot.”
The Terrapins’ famous person has been the face of this program’s revival
Whereas Maryland basketball has been slowly rising beneath head coach Kevin Willard, this system has actually taken a step up in yr three beneath him. The Terrapins have gone 27-8 total and are into the second weekend of The Massive Dance. And this group needed to earn it. The “Crab 5” had been pushed to the restrict on Sunday thanks largely to a terrific effort from Rams star guard Nique Clifford. Twelfth-seeded Colorado State, contemporary off an upset of Memphis, seemed prefer it was going to drag one other shocker when Jalen Lake knocked down a deep three to present his staff the 71-70 lead with 6.1 seconds left.
But it surely ended up being an excessive amount of time, and now the remaining is historical past because the Terrapins’ story continues. And that subsequent opponent would be the No. 1 seed within the West Area, Florida. The Gators, likewise, are coming off an epic second-round victory over two-time defending champion UConn. The Candy 16 conflict is sure to be epic, with many bracket makers having Florida both lose to the Terrapins on this spherical or win all of it. However, if Maryland basketball had been to win, it will advance to its first Elite Eight because the 2002 nationwide championship run.
Total, no matter what occurs going ahead, this program has had a terrific third yr beneath Kevin Willard and is trending in the precise route. That being mentioned, this group is a uncommon mixture of phenomenal expertise, expertise, and upside. And it is led by a freshman who will certainly be a lottery choose within the 2025 NBA Draft. This staff has the power to have extra in them. And followers can begin dreaming huge if the Terrapins pull the upset towards one of many nationwide championship favorites.