Maryland Heads to East Lansing for Tall Task Against No. 10 Michigan State
The grind of Big Ten play doesn’t let up, and for Maryland, the road only gets tougher. After a tough loss at Illinois, the Terps (8-11, 1-7 B1G) now shift their focus to a Saturday showdown with No.
10 Michigan State (17-2, 7-1 B1G) in East Lansing. Tip-off is set for noon on CBS, and it’ll be the third game in seven days for Maryland-each one against a ranked opponent.
A Brutal Stretch, A Bright Light
Maryland’s recent 89-70 loss at No. 11 Illinois was the latest chapter in a grueling stretch that’s seen the Terps play three of five games on the road and face three straight AP Top 20 teams.
It’s the kind of stretch that tests a team’s depth, resilience, and leadership. And while the team’s record reflects the uphill battle, one player continues to shine through the adversity.
Diggy Coit: The Hot Hand That Won’t Cool Off
If there’s one reason Maryland’s still must-watch basketball, it’s Diggy Coit. The senior guard is putting up video game numbers, and the accolades are starting to pile up. This week alone, Coit was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, AP National Player of the Week, and one of five USBWA National Player of the Week honorees.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Coit averaged 36.5 points over two games last week, including a jaw-dropping 43-point performance against Penn State. That outing set a new XFINITY Center scoring record and came within a single point of tying Ernie Graham’s program record of 44, set way back in 1978. His nine three-pointers tied the school’s single-game mark, and Maryland as a team knocked down 18 triples-another new high.
That game followed a 30-point showing at USC, making Coit the first Terp in two decades to post back-to-back 30-point games. The last to do it?
Nik Caner-Medley in 2006. Coit now leads all active Division I players with 10 career 30-point games.
He’s also joined some rare company. Only two other active NCAA players-Treysen Eaglestaff (North Dakota) and Dior Johnson (Tarleton State)-have multiple 40-point games this season. Coit is the only Big Ten player to reach that mark more than once this year, and the first in the conference to do so since Purdue’s Carsen Edwards had three in 2018-19.
Series Snapshot: Spartans Have the Edge
Maryland has its work cut out for them against a Michigan State team that’s won 17 of the 25 all-time meetings. The Spartans claimed a dramatic 58-55 win in College Park last season, thanks to a buzzer-beating heave from three-quarter court. That one still stings.
The Terps haven’t won at the Breslin Center since February 15, 2020, when they pulled off a gritty 67-60 victory. All told, Maryland is just 2-6 in true road games against Michigan State.
Solomon Washington: Steadying the Frontcourt
While Coit has stolen the headlines, Solomon Washington has been quietly making a big impact since returning from injury. The senior forward missed the first eight games of the season, but since debuting on Dec. 2 against Wagner, he’s brought a veteran presence to the lineup.
In 11 games, Washington is averaging 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds-a near double-double pace. He’s posted three double-doubles so far, including a 17-point, 12-rebound outing against Oregon and a 13-point, 10-rebound performance on the road at Illinois. His 13-point, 13-rebound effort against Old Dominion marked his first double-double as a Terp and showed just how valuable his physicality and rebounding have become for this team.
If he can maintain his current production, Washington could become just the 23rd player in Maryland history to average a double-double for an entire season.
Buzz Williams Era Taking Shape
Buzz Williams took the reins at Maryland in April 2025, and while the record isn’t where he’d like it yet, his track record suggests better days are ahead. Williams is aiming to join an elite group-only Lefty Driesell and Steve Alford have posted 100 career wins at four different Division I programs.
He’s already won NCAA Tournament games at three different schools, and his 12 tournament victories rank among the top 25 among active coaches. In November 2024, he notched his 100th win at Texas A&M, becoming just the second coach (alongside Tennessee’s Rick Barnes) to reach the century mark at three different Power Five schools.
Looking Ahead
Saturday’s matchup is another major test for a Maryland squad still trying to find its footing in a loaded Big Ten. But with Coit playing at an elite level and Washington providing interior stability, the Terps have the kind of pieces that can make noise-even in hostile territory like East Lansing.
It won’t be easy. But with a player like Coit capable of catching fire at any moment, and a coach like Williams building toward something bigger, Maryland remains a team worth watching-no matter the record.