The No. 22 Terrapins rewarded the house crowd with a riveting efficiency, profitable their Big Ten opener to maneuver to 8-0 and ship new coach Kevin Willard his first marquee victory.
With Maryland clinging to a one-point lead and 14 seconds remaining, senior guard Jahmir Young sprung himself for a three-pointer that swished by way of the online, pushing the result in 4 and permitting Maryland followers to lastly rejoice.
“This is what he signed up for,” Willard stated. “He wanted the big-time moment, the big-time crowd, and he’s a big-time player.”
The Upper Marlboro native capped his 24-point night by hitting the sport’s defining shot. Willard known as a timeout with 28 seconds to go, and he hoped his crew may get to the free throw line by drawing a foul. Young’s shot “wasn’t what I drew up,” Willard stated, however “it sure looked good.”
These are the moments the fan base has craved, and Willard and his Terps shined in entrance of an introduced crowd of 16,380.
“I want to get this program back to a championship level,” Willard stated. “To get it back to a championship level, you need a building like that every night.”
Maryland grabbed a lead lower than eight minutes into the sport and held on to that benefit till Illinois tied it with 7:36 remaining. Maryland had led by 11 factors within the second half, however the Terps went practically seven minutes with out a basket. After profitable their first seven video games by a median of twenty-two factors, the Terps needed to navigate a good contest.
In the ultimate 5 minutes, neither crew led by greater than three factors — till Young, a switch from Charlotte, made his largest shot of the season.
“That was an unbelievable feeling,” Young stated.
With former coach Gary Williams, ESPN persona Scott Van Pelt and tennis star Frances Tiafoe courtside, the Terps, certainly one of 15 undefeated groups in Division I, proved they will compete with the Big Ten’s finest.
The Illini entered this season as one of many prime groups within the Big Ten. The crew misplaced all 5 of its main starters from final season, together with star middle Kofi Cockburn, however Coach Brad Underwood retooled with gifted transfers and freshmen.
Maryland has given Illinois hassle prior to now and have received 9 of their previous 11 conferences. Illini Coach Brad Underwood, who additionally misplaced in College Park with Oklahoma State, known as Xfinity Center “the one building I haven’t cracked in the Big Ten yet.”
In the fast-paced recreation, each Maryland and Illinois made photographs at a excessive clip early on, with neither main by greater than three within the first 9 minutes. Then the Terps broke by way of. In a 20-second span, Hakim Hart hit a three-pointer, Patrick Emilien collected a rebound off a missed layup, and with Willard thrusting his arm by way of the air, urging his gamers to race down the courtroom, Young launched one other three. The crowd quieted because the ball took flight and then responded with a piercing roar because it fell by way of the online.
Illinois known as a timeout after that 11-0 Maryland run, which included eight factors from Hart, and a few minutes later the Terps had turned the tight contest right into a double-digit benefit. Hart, who had 17 factors and matched his career-high with 5 three-pointers, hit key photographs all through to assist Maryland keep its cushion. Illinois (6-2) climbed again within the second half, and the sport tightened into the ultimate moments. Then Young had the final phrase, and the gang had a final roar.
Here’s what else to learn about Maryland’s win:
Illinois has been powered by Terrence Shannon Jr., a standout guard who transferred from Texas Tech. He averages practically 20 factors per recreation, and Willard considers the senior a nationwide participant of the yr candidate.
“If I was an NBA general manager, I’d be drafting that dude,” Willard stated. “He can do it all.”
Maryland targeted on containing Shannon on the perimeter. Against the Terps, he scored 19 factors, a crew excessive, however went 0 for five from three-point vary. In the second half, Shannon air-balled a pair of photographs from deep.
When Illinois knocked off UCLA for its finest win of the season, Shannon made eight three-pointers. Against Syracuse this week, he hit 5.
Shannon scored seven factors within the remaining 10 minutes, however he couldn’t do sufficient to will his crew to a street win.
When Willard took over the Maryland program, he wanted some extent guard and added Young as a switch. The former DeMatha standout had been a prolific scorer at Charlotte, scoring 1,421 factors over three seasons. For the primary time Friday evening, Young proved he may also thrive within the Big Ten and in moments when his crew wants him most.
Young attacked the rim and was deadly from the perimeter. With the Terps capturing nicely from three-point vary, Young completed with a 4-for-9 mark from past the arc.
Just earlier than the halftime break, Julian Reese hustled for an offensive rebound that led to a three-pointer for Young, handing the Terps a 41-34 margin at intermission.
Young needed to modify to a brand new position in College Park. He not feels as if he must be the first scorer and playmaker on each possession. But as Maryland’s regular level guard, he’s nonetheless racking up factors. Young has scored in double figures in all however one recreation this season and now has at the very least 15 in his previous three outings.
“That’s why Jahmir came here,” Willard stated. “He wanted to play at the highest level of basketball in a big-time program in a big-time area.”