The Maryland men's basketball team has been on an exhilarating journey this season. With a current record of 8-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, they have shown remarkable prowess on the court. After a dominant 83-59 victory over Ohio State in College Park on Wednesday, they unfortunately suffered a close defeat at then-No. 8 Purdue, with a score of 83-78 on Sunday.

Climbing the Ranks

Despite not cracking the official rankings yet, Maryland has been receiving votes in the AP poll throughout the season. In Monday's Week 6 poll, they received 39 points and were ranked as the unofficial No. 37 team in the country. The Big Ten teams in the rankings are No. 11 Purdue, No. 14 Michigan, No. 20 Wisconsin, No. 21 Michigan State, and No. 24 UCLA. Maryland also received 13 points in the Dec. 2 poll, tied with UCLA as the unofficial No. 44 team. They have received four points in the Nov. 25 poll, one point in the Nov. 18 poll, three points in the Nov. 11 poll, and one point in the preseason poll. This indicates their consistent performance and their potential to make a significant impact in the rankings.

Superstar Freshman - Derik Queen

In the third year of the Kevin Willard era, superstar freshman big Derik Queen has been leading the team. The Baltimore native arrived at College Park as a five-star prospect and has lived up to the hype. Queen is averaging an impressive 17.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting an astonishing 60.9% from the field. His latest performance against Purdue was a standout, with 26 points and 12 rebounds. He also made his first two threes of the season, showcasing his all-around game.Willard praised Queen after the game on Sunday, saying, "We needed someone - again, they were really dropping and zoning out on some guys. And I thought his aggressiveness when, you know, he’s got to be more aggressive at times. Not just rely on the jump shot. And part of being a freshman is, he made the jump shot, but then he settled for two when we didn’t need jump shots. So I thought he played great, but it’s a good learning experience."

Point Guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Ja'Kobi Gillespie has also been a star at the point guard position. The Belmont transfer is averaging 14.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 51% from the field and 41.8% from three. Against Purdue, he had 18 points, demonstrating his scoring ability. Alongside Gillespie, Maryland's other impact transfer guards, Rodney Rice and Selton Miguel, have joined the starting five. Rice and Miguel each had 13 points against Purdue.

Julian Reese and the Frontcourt

Julian Reese is averaging 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. However, against Purdue, he fouled out and played just 23 minutes. Despite this, his presence in the frontcourt has been crucial for the team. He provides valuable rebounding and interior defense, adding another dimension to Maryland's game.Before you go...- Save $20 on your SeatGeek purchase of tickets to Maryland games or any major events with code “IMS” at checkout!- Get the latest Terps news delivered to your inbox FREE! Sign up for our email newsletter here and stay informed on Maryland basketball, football, recruiting and every other Terps storyline.- Support Maryland basketball’s recruiting and player-retention efforts by joining TurtleNIL!- Follow IMS on Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok and Instagram.- Don’t miss any of our new video Terps content: Subscribe to InsideMDSports on YouTube and hit the notification bell so you know when new videos drop.- Need a go-to Terps podcast? Listen to IMS Radio here, watch earlier episodes here and don’t forget to subscribe to IMS Radio on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon Music | TuneIn | Apple Podcasts