Maryland picked up its 17th consecutive home win after defeating Alcorn State, 105-65, on Tuesday night. Six Terps finished in double figures, the first time that Maryland has done so since 2018, as Maryland scored 100-plus points for the second game this season, the first time since 2010-11 that Maryland has done so. Maryland’s 40-point margin of victory also marked the highest in nearly two years as Jahmir Young recorded his 115th career double-double, Julian Reese recording his seventh consecutive double-figure performance while both Jamie Kaiser Jr. and Jahnathn Lamothe finished in double figures.
Everything that head coach Kevin Willard, DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jahmir Young said following the win:
Willard on the win vs. Alcorn State
Again, being at home, we’ve been able to get in the rhythm. We’ve been able to put a lot of work in. We’ve been able to have some time off. We’ve put a lot of individual work in over the last two weeks. So being at home and getting into a rhythm, I knew is only a matter of time until we’d start shooting ball better. The way the season started, it just wasn’t a good start for young guys to get into a rhythm. I think being at home, having five straight days of practice just gives these guys a little better chance to kind of find their rhythm.”
Willard on Maryland’s 20 assists, eight turnovers vs. Alcorn St
“I think the 20 assists on the 30 made field goals is great. I thought the ball movement was really good. I didn’t think anyone tried to be selfish. They run and trap and they do a lot of things defensively sometimes I can keep you off balance, but I really thought we popped the ball nice.”
Young on Maryland’s ball movement
“Definitely one of the best games. We shared the ball. Just trying to get the best shot possible. We knew we could get anything we want. We don’t really have any selfish guys on the team. So everybody just moving the ball side to side until one of us is free and one of us is open. We all can boogie. We all can hoop so we believe that any of us are gonna make a shot. So it’s not really like we’re targeting two guys to get the ball. We feel like everybody, if we move the ball, the better we’ll be.”
Young on Maryland’s assist/turnover ratio over one, improving ball security
“A lot of work. I mean, a lot of it starts in practice, having great practices. That’s something that coach preaches on. Just having good practices is going to translate to the game. So if we do that, keep pushing ourselves and practice, keep pushing each other, I feel like we’re going to have good games.”
Willard on health status after collision with DeShawn Harris-Smith
“Everything’s good.”
Willard on the chippy game atmosphere through the second half
“No, I mean, they’re playing hard. We’re playing hard. You got to give them credit. If you look at their schedule, they’ve played I think this is their seventh high major game. So we knew they weren’t going to back down to anybody and they were playing hard and we were playing hard.”
Young on the emotions during the game
“Just trying to stay poised, stick together, be smart and just play basketball. We came here to play basketball, so we’re not going to let anybody mess with our mental, try to junk the game up or anything like that. We’re going to play the right way and we’re going to stick together through that.”
Willard on what led to Alcorn State’s success on the boards
“I just think sometimes you have to let your guys kind of get into the game a little bit. And I think, they’re small, so I thought it took [Julian Reese] a little time just to kind of adjust to their to their size. And I think, sometimes, I mean, they were only down eight with seven minutes ago at VCU. They were only down 12 with six minutes ago at TCU. This team’s battle-tested. So, I mean, you gotta give him credit. They came out and played hard.”
Young on how Maryland fared on the boards vs. Alcorn State
“I would say we struggled on the glass. Coming in we wanted to dominate. First possession we probably gave up three to four so we started off on the wrong foot. But we was able to switch it around. Really just trying to, they had more energy to start. Just for us to have a better start is something that we need to focus on. But, like we was only up by one. That’s unacceptable. So next game, we definitely want to make an emphasis on that.”
Willard on Maryland’s bench production in the win
“That’s kind of, again, I know I’m beating a dead horse by saying the schedule was absolutely horrific and it’s that’s my fault. But you know that if this was the second or third game of the season, I think this is what we would have been seeing all along from the young guys, from the guys coming off the bench. Just to give them a chance to grow a little bit and get used to each other is huge. So I think that’s what, I was really excited about this homestand just for the fact [that] we’re getting done with finals, we can concentrate on basketball We can get in a little bit of a rhythm and every time we’ve been at home for a long stretch, we’ve ended up playing really well. Those guys have been working hard, so it’s good to see them getting rewarded.”
Harris-Smith on Maryland’s balance offensively in the win
“As a team, we’ve been talking about trying to take the load off [Jahmir Young] and Julian so much like we got a lot of good guys that can put the ball in the hoop. I mean, we’re playing fast. Everybody touching the ball. We got enough guys that could score and I feel like we did that today.”
Young on Maryland’s bench production
“They put a lot of work in. Young guys, just ready to make an impact. They’ve been working on the game. So for them to be able to see their shots falling and for us to be on the sideline cheering for them was great. It was a great team win so couldn’t ask for anything better than that.”
Harris-Smith on how Maryland’s bench has fared during recent home games
“For me, it’s a good moment because I know the guys work just as hard as me and [Jahmir Young] every day, like, especially [Caelum Swanton-Rodger]. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team so for him to go in there and catch a lob, just having great minutes. Same thing with Jahn, Ben, they all pushes every single day. So just going out there, be able to play with them for them to actually get a chance to shine was so great.”
Harris-Smith on Maryland’s improved shooting vs. Alcorn State
“I mean, definitely it’s contagious because everybody’s just positive energy. You see your teammate make a shot, just give you positive energy to step into the next one, knock it down. I feel like we just being great teammates out there, just playing for each other. And I mean, when you do that, the ball’s going to go in the hoop.”
Young on Maryland’s three-point success
“Eventually I knew it was going to fall so I’m not surprised. Like I said earlier, guys put a lot of work in. Guys get up a lot of reps from behind the arc. It’s no shock that shots are starting to fall. Just making sure we’re taking the open ones, making sure that we’re stepping into the line and just building off this game, building on confidence from three is something that we’re going to do.”
Harris-Smith on three made three-pointers vs. Alcorn State
“Me and Coach Willard have been working out, 8:30 every morning, just me and him. He’s been helping me work on my shot. So, he told me he’s not going to work out [with] me not to shoot in the game. So, just come out today. I had to play with confidence, shoot it with confidence.”
Harris-Smith on Maryland’s ball movement
“It’s definitely a fun brand of basketball. It’s a huge reason why I came to Maryland just because they play fast. Everybody gets to touch the basketball. And today I feel like it was the first time we actually, really got in the groove and everybody was just swinging the ball and getting a lot of one mores.”
Harris-Smith on seeing Jahnathan Lamothe’s performance on his birthday
“It’s his birthday. He’s my closest friend on the team. So seeing that was amazing. I was more hype when he was scoring than I was scoring. So, I mean, I feel like everybody felt like that. And then Ben got the score today. It’s his birthday too. So, I mean, it was just a great team win. Great vibes.”
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