Maryland basketball is only midway through its first season under head coach Kevin Willard, but the staff is already looking ahead as one non-conference tournament has already been penciled into next year’s schedule.
Maryland, Clemson, Davidson and UAB are expected to headline the 2023 Asheville Championship, per Jon Rothstein. Official dates and matchups remain to be determined, but it’s the latest move as Maryland makes a concentrated effort to bolster its non-conference slate under Willard. Maryland will complete the home-and-home with UCLA with a road game already scheduled for December 22, 2023 while Willard hinted that the Terps could return to Madison Square Garden next season.
“I’m gonna be honest, you know, we have a chance to play in The Garden next year, which I think we’re probably going to do so, against a very good team,” Willard said last month. “There’s nothing that touches Madison Square Garden. And I hate to say it, I know I’m in the conference anymore, but there’s nothing that beats the Big East tournament that week in the Garden. It’s the one thing I’ll miss.”
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Maryland will look to find its new identity in year two under Willard with its core likely disrupted. With Donta Scott, Hakim Hart, Julian Reese and Jahmir Young all candidates for the 2023 NBA Draft, Maryland returns Ian Martinez, Jahari Long and Ike Cornish and also welcomes a trio of four-star guards with Jamie Kaiser Jr., DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jahnathan Lamothe headed to College Park. Maryland’s frontcourt remains the biggest mystery with all eyes on Reese, but if this week proved anything, it’s that the Terps have another option with Caelum Swanton-Rodger making the most of his seven minutes against Michigan which included a thundering dunk over Hunter Dickinson.
“I think Cal’s seven minutes were probably the most important seven minutes we’ve had all season,” Willard said following Thursday’s win. “He came in, had a blocked shot, caught it and dunked it. He was just being big and physical in there, making it as tough for Hunter as possible. He’s progressing nicely.”
Maryland will return to action on Sunday against third-ranked Purdue for a 1 PM tipoff.
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