We’re about a half hour from tip-off between the Terps and Wolverines in College Park.

Despite hinting he might not play tonight, Donta Scott is in the starting lineup.

Usual starters for the Terps:
Jahmir Young
Don Carey
Hakim Hart
Donta Scott
JuJu Reese

I'm old enough to remember when he was a candidate for the Terps a year ago.....
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Number 13.

Watch, Willard, Young, Hart, CSR and Juwan Howard at the end all react following the Terps' win over Michigan in the video linked below.

STORY

Terps flip the script in the paint, Swanton-Rodger has his coming out party and Young leads the way once again. More at the link.

STORY

just before noon. Hope they know what they're doing.

Michigan (10-7) vs. Maryland (11-6)

When: Thursday, Jan. 19 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Center (College Park, Md.)
Television: ESPN (Streaming on WatchESPN) - Watch Live
Broadcasters: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Donny Marshall (color)
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network | Listen Online

Line: Terps -2.5
Over/Under: 142.5

Series history: Michigan leads the all-time series 13-7, with the Wolverines winning the most recent meeting 81-46 on Jan. 1, 2023 in Ann Arbor.

Projected Starting Lineups

Michigan
Dug McDaniel (5-foot-11, Fr., G) - Paul VI (Va.) product averaging 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and a team-high 3.4 assists per game.
Kobe Bufkin (6-foot-4, Soph, G) - Averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Jett Howard (6-foot-8, Fr., G/F) - Averaging 15.5 points and 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Terrance Williams (6-foot-7, Junior, F) - Gonzaga (D.C.) product averaging 7.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Hunter Dickinson (7-foot-1, Senior, C) - DeMatha product averaging a team-high 17.8 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game.

Maryland
Jahmir Young (6-foot-1, Senior, PG) - Averaging a team-high 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and a team-high 2.8 assists per game.
Don Carey (6-foot-5, Senior, SG) - Averaging 7.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Hakim Hart (6-foot-8, Senior, G/F) - Averaging 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
Donta Scott (6-foot-8, Senior, F) - Averaging 12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Julian Reese (6-foot-9, Soph., F) - Averaging 10.0 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game.

The Terps enter Thursday night's game having lost three out of four, but the lone win took place at home versus then-No. 24 Ohio State, while the three losses all occurred on the road.

The big news for the Terps leading up to Thursday night's game is the status of backup big man Patrick Emilien. Head coach Kevin Willard said on Wednesday that he did not see Emilien playing versus Michigan due to an ankle injury (although Emilien took part in the early portion of Wednesday's practice in front of media). To make matters worse, Willard was also unsure of how many minutes starting forward Donta Scott might play Thursday as he's been sick the past few days.

"Other guys are going to have to step up, because I don't see Pat playing anytime soon," said Willard. "So we have to get some production and help JuJu at some point because, again, I think Ju is doing a really good job for being a sophomore and having to battle in this conference. And also coming off a shoulder injury, so Cal's got to step up Pav's got to get some minutes, because Donta's been sick the past three days, so I don't know how many minutes Donta will get tomorrow."

A lack of size and depth up front was already a concern for Maryland, but given the play of Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson in the first meeting, might be an even bigger concern on Thursday. Dickinson scored a career-high 32 points while adding 12 rebounds in the Wolverines' win over the Terps on New Year's Day.

Willard was asked about Dickinson's public feud with the previous Maryland staff.

"I don't know anything about it, to be honest with you," Willard said. "I have no idea, he's been there for three years. I just know he kicked our ass the last time we played him. So whether that was a question or not I just know he played really, really well against us."

Another local product, former Paul VI guard Dug McDaniel has continued to start for the Wolverines since Jaelin Llewellyn went down with a season-ending injury and has scored in double figures in three of Michigan's last four games. But it is his play on the other end of the court that Willard has been most impressed with.

"I'm a big fan of his," said Willard. "I know he's been playing well offensively and everyone looks at offensive numbers, but I tell you what, all year long he's been a really good catalyst for their defense. He gets after it, he puts pressure on the basketball, he's great off the ball getting steals. And I think you are seeing a really good progression of a very good young player who obviously went to a terrific high school, was well coached in high school and well coached in AAU. And you are just seeing someone that was well coached his whole high school and AAU career and now taking it to a level where he's getting used to college basketball. It's fun to see."

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This makes two staff members who are leaving the Terps for SEC's greener pastures. I guess such moves to poach our coaches and coordinators reflect a positive view of what is happening at MD from outside eyes. Any initial ideas who will be considered to fill the voids? BW worked out quite well as a relative unknown this year as a DC. Do we go with experience or take a chance on a young innovative mind?

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland Athletics programs continued their strong performances in the classroom in the Fall 2022 semester. Maryland’s student-athletes combined to record a 3.138 grade point average during the semester, the fourth semester in a row with a GPA of better than 3.0 and 11th time in 13 semesters with a better than 3.0 cumulative GPA.

The overall cumulative department GPA is now 3.180, the 11th consecutive semester that saw the overall cumulative GPA above a 3.0.

Maryland celebrated 25 student-athlete graduates this winter, following the fall semester and tied the department record Graduate Success Rate (GSR) with an 88 percent.
It was a standout semester as 24 student-athletes posted a perfect 4.0 GPA and 144 earned Dean’s List recognition. Overall, 313 student-athletes achieved Athletic Honor Roll status for posting a 3.0 or better GPA.

“I love seeing our student-athletes performing at such a high level in the classroom,” said Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director Athletics. “Our Terps continue to rise up and perform at exceptional levels. We continue to be inspired by their dedication to their studies while competing with their athletic programs. Our GSAC staff is to be commended and celebrated as well for their commitment to education and fostering the consummate student experience. This is a time to celebrate our student-athletes, we are so proud of them.”

"Congratulations to our student-athletes who not only compete at the highest level, but also excel academically,“ said Brady Rourke, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and GSAC Director. The University of Maryland is a top 20 public national university with phenomenal colleagues and academic programs of study. Terrapin student-athletes have an incredible opportunity to prepare themselves for life after sport by applying the focus, determination, and perseverance they learn within their teams to the classroom. Staff in the Gossett Student-Athlete Center for Academic and Personal Excellence (GSAC) are committed to providing the resources and mentorship necessary for student-athletes to maximize their potential in the classroom. On behalf of our GSAC team, congratulations to our student-athletes who remain committed to academic excellence.

There were 15 programs posting a semester GPA of greater than 3.0 led by the women’s lacrosse team with a 3.551 GPA. Fifteen programs now have a cumulative GPA of greater than 3.0, led by the gymnastics team with a 3.656 GPA.

The men’s lacrosse program had 36 members of the Honor Roll while the football team had 34 Honor Roll members. Women's lacrosse had a department-high 19 members of the Dean's List with 35 Honor Roll members and six team members posted a perfect 4.0.

Six programs had double-figure members of the Dean's List led by women's lacrosse along with women’s track & field (15), men’s lacrosse (15), women’s soccer (15), gymnastics (13) and football (11). Thirteen programs had at least 10 team members on the Honor Roll, led by men’s lacrosse along with football (34), women’s track & field (32), women’s lacrosse (27), women’s soccer (25), gymnastics (20), men’s track & field (19), baseball (18), field hockey (18), men’s soccer (15), wrestling (15), softball (12) and volleyball (11).

Scott
How bout an update? Any chance at a big? Queen, Freeman? Stuff on twitter but not from you. An update including how are commits are doing as well as the status of guys we are pursuing.
Thanks

Rivals has released an updated 2023 Rivals150 today and Deshawn Harris-Smith has jumped 41 spots up to No. 48 in the latest rankings. In a bit of a surprise to me, Jamie Kaiser actually dropped two spots, but that likely had more to do with others moving up versus moving him down, while Jahn Lamothe moved up two spots. The Terps have three really big, long, athletic guards/wings coming in next season. Kaiser easily the best shooter of the three while DHS the best motor and perhaps the most upside. The needs moving forward are bigs, bigs, bigs, another ball handler and a sniper. See the full rankings at the link below.

LINK

Definitely some key guys not mentioned for Maryland (Avantae Williams, Donnel Brown), but here's a rundown of how Big Ten teams have fared in the portal as the first transfer window gets set to close tomorrow.

As I mentioned in another thread, look for the Frostburg OL to announce today or tomorrow and we'll see if they can add another DB before Thursday after Young announced for Cinci.

STORY

Mention for Deshawn Harris-Smith, who outplayed a top-10 Duke commit over the weekend up in Springfield. Khani Rooths also gets a mention. And forget those schools listed for Rooths, Maryland is at or right near the top of his recruitment and is actively recruiting him hard. Also worth noting, Maryland signee Jamie Kaiser dominated yesterday vs. Compass Prep, finishing with a team-high 17 points. I know I sound like a broken record here, but I think he's going to come in and make a huge impact right from the jump. More at the link below.

STORY

Number 1 Jersey.

The Terps will also host recent Cincinnati OL commit Corey Bullock. He played at NC Central this past season and earned 1st team All-MEAC honors. It seems the Cinci staff told him he had to commit on the spot if he wanted to be guaranteed a scholarship for the upcoming semester but even after committing, he can take other visits and still enroll as long as it is before the last day to add classes. Given that he committed to Cinci but is still following through with his Maryland visit now means he's likely going to be a Terp. He's originally from the area, having played at Gwynn Park in southern PG County and I expect him to stay home now that he's following through with a visit.

Of the remaining visitors, I best like Maryland's chances with the kid from Frostburg. The Jackson State kid, Willis Patrick, is going to be a tough pull, I think.

So as it stands, I see Maryland getting commits from Bullock and Gottlieb Ayedze with the Bowling Green kid Jalen Grant the wild card. Grant picked up another Big Ten offer yesterday from Purdue. IF Locksley is only taking two OL, I see Grant as the odd man out. I see Bullock as an interior guy and Ayedze possibly at tackle. Grant would likely compete for the starting center spot if he were to commit and has experience at both guard and center.

Thought I would start a tread of mock drafts and TERP players

Athletic has Banks to Minn at 23 in 1st round. Duncan going 54th to Cahrgers in 2nd round.

Perfect timing for this link to show up in my inbox as I was just about to do a post about the Harris twins. Maryland staff was in to see the twins down in Florida on Friday. After holding off on signing at the deadline, Arkansas appeared to be a player with Travis Williams taking the DC job. But Maryland is still pushing hard for the twins and I'm still not hearing that Arkansas has done anything to put them ahead of the Terps. That said, they are still supposed to visit Fayetteville at some point this month. The real question is whether or not Arkansas has an actual need for multiple linebackers, especially freshmen. So still sweating it out a bit here, but for now, I still like Maryland.

STORY

Per Matt Zenitz, Wes Neighbors is off to join Lane Kiffin's staff at Ole Miss. So that is now two coaching vacancies along with the TE position. Haven't confirmed yet, but if Matt is reporting it, it's happening.

STORY

Florida transfer CB Jordan Young committed to Cincinnati today. Definitely did not see that one coming.

They do have backup options in place. We’ll see how quickly they move on those now.

He is in very serious trouble at Alabama.

Here's postgame audio of Willard for anyone who is interested.

Maryland offered a new 2023 big man today and after asking around a bit, it seems folks think he has a super high ceiling and could be really good in a couple years.

His name is Braden Pierce and he plays on the IMG postgrad team. He’s originally from Atlanta and played for the Atlanta Xpress on the Under Armour circuit.

Some of the HM programs showing interest of late include Mizzou, Pitt, Seton Hall and Utah with offers from NC State and Rutgers. He’s also just starting to scratch the surface of how good he can be as he just recently began focusing on hoops.

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