NFL
By: Om Maryankandy
Maryland Terrapins Basketball 2025-26 Season Preview: Who’s Gone, Who’s Back, and
What’s Next
As the 2025-26 college basketball season tips off, Maryland finds itself at the crossroads of a
new era. The Terps are coming off a strong 2024-25 campaign where they finished 27-9 overall
and 14-6 in Big Ten play, tying for second in the conference and securing a top-10 national
ranking. But that squad is in the rearview mirror now, and the program looks nearly
unrecognizable heading into this season.
Who’s Gone
The offseason brought an unexpected shakeup: almost the entire 2024-25 roster has turned over.
Nearly every key contributor from last year either graduated, transferred out, or declared for the
draft. And it wasn’t just the players. Head coach Kevin Willard made headlines by leaving the
program for Villanova, creating a massive leadership vacuum.
The exodus left Maryland fans stunned. Rather than a roster turnover it was more of a full-scale
reset. The so-called “Crab Five” and other cornerstone pieces from last year have all taken their
talents elsewhere through the transfer portal or draft.
Who’s Back and New Faces
With the cupboard nearly bare, Maryland hit the transfer portal and recruiting trail hard. Buzz
Williams, the new head coach, has constructed an entirely new roster almost from scratch.
Among the most notable additions are:
Rakease Passmore (transfer from Kansas): A versatile and athletic guard expected to be a key piece.
Collin Metcalf (transfer from Northeastern): A big-bodied center who brings size and rebounding.
Myles Rice (transfer from Indiana): A crafty guard with scoring ability and leadership skills.
Aleks Alston (Freshman, 6’10” forward): A promising long-term piece with raw upside.
Nick Blake and Jaziah Harper: Talented freshmen who are expected to play rotational roles early on.
Buzz Williams and his staff have pulled in one of the top transfer classes in the country, creating
immediate optimism about the team’s competitive potential despite the wholesale changes.
Goals and Expectations for 2025-26With a brand-new roster and coaching staff, expectations are a mix of cautious optimism and curiosity.
The top priority for the Terps this season is to build a cohesive identity under Coach Williams. This team needs to find chemistry fast, given the challenging Big Ten schedule and the
lack of returning continuity. From a competitive standpoint, Maryland is aiming higher than a typical rebuild. With the transfer talent on hand, the goal is to finish in the upper half of the Big Ten and make a return
trip to the NCAA Tournament. Early projections suggest a potential bubble team, but if the pieces mesh, they could surprise and climb the rankings. This year is also about laying the foundation for the future. Developing young talent, establishing a winning culture, and setting the tone for the Buzz Williams era are all crucial steps. While fans shouldn’t expect a Final Four run just yet, there’s enough firepower and intrigue to make this one of the more interesting seasons in recent Maryland history.
In short, 2025-26 is a reboot, a challenge, and an opportunity all wrapped into one. Maryland
may have hit the reset button, but the program is far from starting over. With a new cast and fresh
leadership, the Terrapins are ready to make noise once again.
