Maryland basketball gets fitting win to finish its special regular-season and Julian Reese's home career
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The spotlight has shone on Julian Reese many times in the 129 games he's played for Maryland men's basketball. And on Saturday afternoon, all eyes were on the senior.
Reese capped his stellar Xfinity Center career enter with 19 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the Terps' 74-61 win over Northwestern in the regular-season finale's.
But the most memorable moment on the court happened before the action began. Reese was honored at senior day, getting a standing ovation from the home crowd. Coach Kevin Willard said he was a "wreck" on Saturday.
"I was happy that he was able to get the ovation that he got, and I was really happy he played the way he played, because if didn't play as physically as he played, we would've struggled to win this game," Willard said.
Reese is a rare breed in this era of college basketball. He stayed at Maryland through a coaching change, his sister transferring away from College Park and when a freshman overtook him in his final season.
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He scored five points in the game's first five minutes. Reese followed a block against Matthew Nicholson at the rim by dunking over two Northwestern defenders, a classic sequence for the forward. Reese willed Maryland through a sloppy offensive outing (18 turnovers) to finish the regular season with seven wins in its past eight games. The Terps are one of the hottest teams in the country
"It just means a lot going out like this," Reese said.
His career stats are solid but not spectacular. Donta Scott, Eric Ayala and Anthony Cowan all scored more in their career than Reese. Half of his career was spent on sub-.500 teams.
But Reese's career impact extends beyond his numbers. A Baltimore native who stuck at Maryland despite being surrounded by turmoil, Willard said that Reese will always be able to call College Park home.
"I really believe one day Julian's number will be hanging from the rafters," Willard said. "In an era where kids show no loyalty … [he's] stayed the course and been as true to the University of Maryland as any player probably ever has."
Maryland rewarded Reese's loyalty in his final season. Reese gave Willard three reasons for why he was returning after last season; loyalty, his degree and his hopes in returning to the NCAA tournament.
The Terps finished with 14 Big Ten wins, tied for the most in program history. They'll likely have their highest seed in the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
Saturday was expected to be a coronation for the Terps' seniors, but the Wildcats had other plans. Maryland turned it over a season-high 18 times and shot only 42 percent from the field. Northwestern even took the lead with 13 minutes remaining.
Reese got to the free-throw lines multiple times in the game's final stretch and a Ja'Kobi Gillespie three-pointer iced the game. All five starters finished in double figures.
Maryland clinched a double bye in the Big Ten tournament (seeding and game times) before they even tipped off against Northwestern. Penn State defeated Wisconsin in stunning fashion, securing a top four seed for the Terps.
If Michigan loses to Michigan State tomorrow, the Terps will be the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament. Reese has never made it to the conference tournament's semifinals. But in his final season, the senior is rewriting his legacy.
"You're probably looking at one of the last guys to ever spend four years at Maryland, so I think it was really special for him to get that moment," Willard said.
