Maryland Basketball Returns to NCAA Tournament as No. 4 Seed

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – March 17, 2025 – The University of Maryland men’s basketball team is heading back to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed after a one-year absence. The Terrapins, who finished second in the Big Ten, will face Grand Canyon University in the first round on Friday, March 21, from Seattle.

Maryland’s selection comes after a strong season where they narrowly lost to the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten tournament semifinals. Despite the defeat, the team’s overall performance secured them the highest seed since 2015. In that year, they also entered the tournament as a No. 4 seed but were eliminated in the second round.

This season, the Terps are optimistic about advancing far into the tournament. Coach Kevin Willard has highlighted their balanced offensive attack, boasting the highest-scoring starting five in the nation, alongside a top-ten defensive efficiency rating.

Freshman forward Derik Queen has been a standout player, earning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten First Team honors. Queen leads the Terps in both scoring and rebounding, providing a significant contribution to the team’s success.

Maryland’s first-round opponent, Grand Canyon University, emerged as the Western Athletic Conference champions. GCU has participated in the NCAA tournament three of the last four seasons, giving them valuable experience that could challenge Maryland’s hopes.

The Terps are aiming to make a deep run in this year’s championship, with aspirations of reaching the Sweet Sixteen or even further, depending on their performance on the court.

In additional news from Maryland basketball, the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers have earned a No. 16 seed in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament and are set to face American University for a chance to play against No. 1 seed Duke University.