Maryland men’s basketball is about to take its first public step into year two of the Buzz Williams era, and the stage is set for day two of Big Ten Media Day in Illinois.
Buzz Williams will be joined by point guard DJ Wagner and forward Robert Jennings II as the Terps preview the upcoming 2026-27 regular season. Wagner and Jennings are scheduled to be on the BTN set at 3:15 PM, and both players will also appear on SiriusXM radio at 2:45 PM. Buzz Williams follows at 3:30 PM ET, giving Maryland its first offseason comments from the head coach after what the source describes as a disaster first season in College Park.
The two players represent part of a group of impact additions to the roster, and the big question hanging over Maryland is whether that group is enough to get the Terps back to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time since the 2022-23 season.
Williams now gets a chance to set the tone in front of the cameras and answer the pressure that comes with a prove-it season after a letdown 2025-26 regular season. Maryland is expected to hold its local media day at the end of the month as the program continues building toward the new year.
The school has already started lining up the season’s promotional dates, too. Maryland announced Gary Williams Bobblehead Night for Jan. 16 against Illinois, and the ’02 national championship team will be back alongside former head coach Gary Williams for a ceremony during the Feb. 13 game against Indiana, the team that lost to the Terps in the title game.
Before any of that, Maryland has two exhibitions on deck. The Terps open with Georgia Tech on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Md., then close out the preseason schedule against West Virginia in College Park on Sunday, Oct. 18.
In Other News...
Maryland Faces A Brutal Mike Locksley Test In Columbus
Maryland heads into Columbus with the kind of challenge that tells you exactly where a program stands. Mike Locksleys team, sitting at 2-3, is trying to find some offensive rhythm behind quarterback Malik Washington and receiver Chris Durr Jr. while also leaning on a pass rush that has been one of the more encouraging parts of the roster. Facing No. 5 Ohio State is a demanding assignment on its own, but it also brings a familiar edge for a Terps program that has spent this season searching for a steadier identity.
The Buckeyes bring their own issues into the matchup, even with Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith giving them plenty of firepower. Maryland has enough disruption up front to make this interesting if it can keep the game from getting away early, and that makes Locksleys group worth watching beyond the records on paper. It is the sort of Big Ten test that can expose flaws quickly, but it can also reveal whether the Terps have enough backbone to make a top-ranked opponent work for every clean snap. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands Buzz Williams Debut Puts Two Big Terps Questions On Display
Marylands new season begins with a first look at what Buzz Williams is trying to build, and the exhibition against Georgia Tech should tell the Terps plenty about where the roster stands in late October. The opener is less about the scoreboard than the feel of the group, with a handful of players set to reveal how quickly they can settle into Williams system and what kind of rotation this team might have once the real games start.
Pharrel Paynes return from last Decembers leg injury is one of the biggest things worth watching, since Maryland needs to know whether he looks ready to handle a regular workload again. On the perimeter, freshman Baba Oladotun and point guard D.J. Wagner also loom large as early signs of whether the Terps have enough shot creation and balance to improve on last seasons assist issues, making this first exhibition more revealing than most. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Could Make This Ugly Fast For A Wounded Maryland Team
Maryland heads into a Week 6 trip to Ohio State with little margin for error and even less comfort in the matchup. The Terrapins are 2-3, heading into The Shoe against a Buckeyes team that has never lost to Maryland, and the setting alone would be enough to make life difficult before the injuries are factored in. The Terps have been trying to steady themselves on both sides of the ball, but this is the kind of road game where every weakness tends to get magnified quickly.
The concern starts in the secondary, where Marylands depth is being tested at exactly the wrong time. Jamare Glasker and Jayden Shipps are doubtful, while Amari Jackson is questionable, leaving the Terps to sort through their options against an Ohio State offense that rarely gives opponents much breathing room. Marylands defensive rotation could also look different with Dontay Joyner in line for a season debut, adding another layer of uncertainty as the Terps try to keep the game manageable long enough to have a chance late. [Read more 🡒]