Freshman Stars Clash as Washington Visits Maryland

Hannes Steinbach and Andre Mills, two of the Big Ten's top first-year players, go head-to-head this weekend.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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As the struggling Washington Huskies visit the Maryland Terrapins, the matchup between freshman standouts Hannes Steinbach and Andre Mills will be the main attraction. Steinbach, a 6'11" big man, has been a consistent force for Washington, averaging a double-double. Meanwhile, Maryland's Mills has emerged as a blossoming star, recently scoring a career-high 39 points.

Why it matters

This game features two of the most promising young talents in the Big Ten, providing an intriguing preview of the conference's future stars. The outcome could also impact the postseason hopes of both teams, who are looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The details

Steinbach, who led Germany to a silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U-19 World Cup, has been a dominant presence for Washington, averaging 18.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Maryland's Mills has evolved into a scoring threat, averaging 18.8 points per game in February on 53.5% shooting from the field and 45.5% from 3-point range.

  • The game will be played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Steinbach is coming off a 26-point performance in Washington's win over Minnesota last Saturday.

The players

Hannes Steinbach

A 6'11" freshman forward for the Washington Huskies, Steinbach has been a consistent force for the team, averaging a double-double this season.

Andre Mills

A freshman guard for the Maryland Terrapins, Mills has emerged as a blossoming star, recently scoring a career-high 39 points in a loss to Northwestern.

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What they’re saying

“He's a creator because when he gets the ball, he's a willing passer. We need to do a better job getting him open and finding him when he is open. He is such a threat, teams are game planning for him.”

— Danny Sprinkle, Washington Huskies Head Coach

“We doubled them up on the offensive glass. That's the highest number of assists we've had all year. We're sharing the ball.”

— Buzz Williams, Maryland Terrapins Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will gain momentum and positioning in the Big Ten standings as the regular season winds down.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the Big Ten's top freshman talents provides an exciting preview of the future of the conference. The outcome could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.