Maryland men’s basketball will look for its first win in three tries in 2024 with Michigan heading to College Park on Thursday night. While year one of the Kevin Willard era provided fans with optimism for the future, AD Damon Evans didn’t shy away from the disappointment of the first half of the season during Thursday’s weekly segment on 105.7.
“Every game we play going forward is a big game. We need a win,” Evans said. “Let’s just cut to the chase guys. Our team has not performed like we all have hoped right now, but there’s plenty of basketball remaining. I have a strong faith in Kevin Willard and our guys. They’re working hard, so that makes me feel good. But I know this is there [are] some challenges before us. We got to play hard tonight. We’ve got to make sure that we take care of this home-court advantage that we have and get back on the right side of the column. That losing column is not fun to be in. I want to win and I know Willard wants to win and our young men want to, and tonight presents another great opportunity.”
While Evans and Mike Locksley meet weekly, Evans noted that he and Willard meet “usually every two weeks” as both sides find ways to get back on track in the NIL era of college athletics.
“We do have a standing meeting every two weeks just to catch up with one another, talk about things, share what I see. He shares with me what he sees and I’m so excited about the future of this program. And I want to remind people, we’ll never make up an excuse here because this is a school that should compete at a high level in basketball and we will and Willard will do that.”
While Evans also gave Locksley a shoutout for being named among the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year, he also reemphasized the importance of NIL days after the athletic department announced Chris Weiner among the new hires to One Maryland Collective.
“I hear a lot about whether or not Maryland has the resources to compete in this new landscape and what other schools have and what we don’t have and can we do what we need to do? I’m here to tell you, we’re going to make sure that we find the resources at the University of Maryland to compete at the highest level. That’s my job. But also I know this, we need the help of all of our people and I want to thank everyone out there who’s stepped up to help us, but I’m not going to make any excuses. I’m going to work my tail off to make sure that we provide the necessary resources for our coaches and student-athletes to be successful. And I’m going to embrace all the change that’s out there, whether it’s NIL, transfer portal. And I’m going to turn that into an advantage for us. That’s what we have to do here at the University of Maryland. And I want to thank our fans, our alums, our supporters for standing by us and helping us out through these changing times.”
More from Damon Evans:
On Nick Saban’s retirement
“It was a little bit of a surprise. We all knew this day was coming and it was closer than probably a lot of people, especially those Alabama fans had wanted, but surprised. He’s one of the greatest that, you know, I don’t know how we can say he’s not the greatest. He’s done what he’s done with the number national championships. And when I look at it from a standpoint of staying on top, once you get to the mountain top, he was able to find a way to stay on top. He was able to find a way to constantly adjust and adapt, and I like business models and how companies adjust and adapt to the changing times. He was at one point in time, they were a defensive team and they were beating people 9-7 and things of that nature, then all of a sudden the spread offense comes along and he goes that route. He brought in so many different personalities, like Lane Kiffin and others, that he was able to manage and provide leadership and our guy, coach [Mike] Locksley went there and learned a lot from him and he made Locks a better coach. So this individual in Nick Saban has done so much for the game of college football. So much for coaches, Kirby Smart, who’s leading my Alma mater right now, comes off of his tree. And as I said, Locksley here and you’d think about [Steve] Sarkisian at Texas and the list goes on and on. He will be missed, but I’m sure he’ll be around. He deserves every bit of credit and all the accolades that are coming his way.”
On having to replace Nick Saban
“You gotta be yourself. Greg Byrne, I know Greg Byrne, the [athletic director] there. I’ve known him for a number of years. One of the beauties about Alabama, they got the money, they got the resources and they got their tradition. So they’re going to get a good football coach. Money’s not going to be an issue for them. But I always caution people, don’t expect someone to come in and do what Nick Saban has done. That’s difficult. What you want someone is to take the reins, lead your program and have you competing in that national championship space. But if you think that you’re going to go out and get someone who’s going to replace or replicate what Nick Saban did at the University of Alabama, then you’re just fooling yourself.”
On mentions that Maryland should make top-15 appearances each season
“I agree. And we need to be a top program year in and year out, and that’s what we’re going to build for. And that’s where I’ve got to make sure I’m doing the right things to support this program and get it to where we all want it to be.”
On Mike Locksley being honored among 2023 Washingtonian People of the Year
“I got to give a shoutout to Mike Locksley for the prestigious Washingtonians of the Year. Award that he received. Locks is just someone who represents us so well. They’ve been providing this award, the Washingtonian magazine has put out this list for 52 years and for our coach to be recognized, I’m excited for Locks.”
On the latest around College Park
“We’ve got a lot of things happening here in College Park with our wrestling team ranked number 21, hosting number 13, Michigan on Friday in The Pavilion. I’m excited about that. Gymnastics is about to start as well, track and field competes at Penn State this weekend and then our women’s basketball team will be making up a game that we had to postpone against Purdue and we’re going to be making up that the game this weekend on Sunday at noon.”
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