Maryland's Dismal Season Continues with Blowout Losses

Buzz Williams' first year as head coach has been marked by historic lows for the Terrapins basketball program.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Buzz Williams' first season as head coach of the Maryland Terrapins basketball team has been a struggle, with the team suffering a series of blowout losses, including a 93-63 defeat to Purdue that was the program's worst home loss since 2002. The Terrapins have already matched their total number of 30-point losses from the previous 20 seasons combined, raising questions about the team's talent and competitiveness.

Why it matters

Maryland has been a historically strong basketball program, winning a national title in 2002 under Gary Williams. However, the team has lacked consistent success in recent years, with coaching changes and roster turnover contributing to instability. Buzz Williams' arrival was meant to provide stability, but the team's poor performance this season has dashed hopes for an immediate turnaround.

The details

In addition to the lopsided loss to Purdue, Maryland has also suffered blowout defeats to Michigan State (91-48), Gonzaga (by 39 points), and Alabama (by 33 points). Head coach Buzz Williams has tried to stop the bleeding by calling timeouts quickly, but the team's struggles have continued. The Terrapins do have some talented players, such as graduate transfer Diggy Coit, who has scored over 40 points twice, and senior Pharrel Payne, but Payne has been sidelined with an injury since mid-December.

  • On February 4, 2026, Maryland lost to Purdue 93-63, the program's worst home defeat since 2002.
  • On January 28, 2026, Maryland lost to Michigan State 91-48, the program's most lopsided defeat anywhere since 1944.

The players

Buzz Williams

The head coach of the Maryland Terrapins basketball team, hired in 2022 to provide stability after a period of coaching turnover.

Diggy Coit

A graduate transfer from Kansas who has scored over 40 points twice for Maryland this season.

Pharrel Payne

A senior who was Maryland's leading scorer before suffering a leg injury in mid-December.

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What they’re saying

“We were not competitive from start to finish at Michigan State, in my opinion, on either side of the ball. I felt that way more after Michigan State, from start to finish, than I had any other game that we had played.”

— Buzz Williams, Head Coach (wbal.com)

“We're calling this month Foundational February. We're just sticking to the foundation, getting back to the way we want to play and how hard we want to play every possession.”

— Andre Mills, Redshirt Freshman (wbal.com)

“I think that we're not really focused on the outcome. We're focused on us getting better every single day. That's going to make the outcome different. Obviously there's frustration, just because we're losing.”

— Darius Adams, Freshman (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Terrapins will look to regroup and build a foundation for the future, with a focus on player development during the remainder of this difficult season. The team's highly-ranked recruiting class for next season provides hope for a turnaround, but the immediate priority is to avoid further blowout losses.

The takeaway

Maryland's struggles this season under new head coach Buzz Williams highlight the challenges of rebuilding a once-proud basketball program. While the team has talent, the lack of consistent competitiveness and the historic nature of some of the losses raise concerns about the program's direction. Restoring the Terrapins to their former glory will require patience and a renewed commitment to building a strong foundation.