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Thanks to dramatic second-round NCAA Tournament wins, both Maryland men’s and women’s basketball advanced to the Sweet 16. It’s the first time the two proud programs have accomplished the feat in the same season.
The men’s side beat No. 12 seed Colorado State on Sunday with a buzzer-beater from five-star freshman Derik Queen. The women’s team took down No. 5 seed Alabama on Monday in a double-overtime thriller.
“Look how both teams won,” women’s coach Brenda Frese said Monday. “That’s the pride of who we are to represent our athletic department, our university, our state on the biggest stage nationally.”
Queen’s off-balance shot Sunday banked perfectly off the backboard and through the hoop, giving the program a 72-71 victory over the Rams. Maryland’s win over Colorado State after the Terps had lost each of their three previous one-possession games, including a heartbreaking loss on a half-court buzzer-beater from Michigan State on Feb. 26 in College Park.
“You were just hoping it was going to break last night for them, some of the buzzer-beater shots that have gone on with them,” Frese said. “And they’ve stayed the course and stayed resilient.”
The women’s team faced its own adversity, especially with injuries. Star guard Shyanne Sellers missed several games this year with a knee sprain and has played through the ailment over the past few weeks. She scored 28 points in 41 minutes in Monday’s 111-108 win over Alabama, wearing a knee brace as she flirted with 30 points.
Maryland also lost key reserve guard Bri McDaniel earlier this season because of a torn ACL. She averaged 10.6 points per game on 50% shooting in 17 games before being sidelined for the year.
Despite injuries and a three-game losing streak to Texas, Ohio State and UCLA in late January, the Terps found enough health and form to reach the Sweet 16. Maryland has now reached the Sweet 16 in four of the past five seasons.
“Could’ve folded at any stretch … I think that’s what’s so special is the journey you get to have with this team,” Frese said.
The Terps needed their own heroics Monday, with Sarah Te-Biasu hitting a 3-pointer in the final 15 seconds to force the first of two overtime periods. Maryland joins Duke, Ole Miss and Tennessee as schools with men’s and women’s teams both making this year’s Sweet 16.
“Survive and advance is great — but the men and women might give us all a heart attack in the process,” ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, a Maryland alumnus, wrote on X. “Incredible effort on both sides in both games.”
What’s next?
The road for both of Maryland’s teams gets harder from here, as each group faces national title contenders in the Sweet 16.
Maryland’s men’s team plays No. 1 seed Florida on Thursday at 7:39 p.m. in San Francisco. The Gators are 6 1/2-point betting favorites on FanDuel.
The women’s team also faces a No. 1 seed from the SEC, with the Terps playing South Carolina on Friday at 5 p.m. in Birmingham, Alabama. The Gamecocks are a 17 1/2-point favorite over the Terps.
Both teams are notable underdogs, but regardless of this week’s results, they’ve already made history.
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin.
