Maryland basketball lost its first four road games of the season. After the Terps’ struggles away from home last season, it became a big topic of discussion. But with their 71-65 win at Michigan on Wednesday night, they finished with five wins in the remaining seven road trips, with both of the losses coming on last-second shots.

The Terps (23-7 overall, 13-6 Big Ten) have spent the winter transitioning from one of the Big Ten’s worst road teams to one of its best.

“There was so much talk earlier in the year. We lost a close one to Purdue, lost two tough ones out West, lost a buzzer beater. And then the negativity. I’m really proud of these guys, because they blocked out all that negativity so they could start over after four in a row. To stay positive, to stay with everything and ended up five and five [on the road] in this conference,” Kevin Willard said.

“More than anything. I’m just so proud of that group of guys, because it could have been easy to let all that negativity, let all that talk deter them. And I think they showed the grit from the Michigan State half-court shot, to go on the road at Penn Stat eand win a tough game and then come here and win a tough game.”

He’ll never be one of Maryland’s leading scorers, but Jordan Geronimo has become a vital piece of offensively limited bench. He ended a bench bscoring drought lasting more than three whole games with a monstrous dunk that ignited the team.

Defend Jordan Geronimo at the rim at your own expense!

?: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/hAT7fycixe

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) March 6, 2025

 “Jordan’s energy, I think Jordan’s energy over the last three games has been great. He’s a senior. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity. And it was, it’s funny, because Jordan got hurt and Tafara took over and was really playing well,” Willard said. “And then Tafara gets sick and misses 12 days, and Jordan has stepped up. So, Jordan’s energy was terrific. Defensively, he was all over the place. And again, there’s just not a lot of shots for the bench guys because we have five stars that need shots. So for them to come in and play with that energy was great.

On his second-half strategy: “Well, it’s kind of simple. If you’re going to switch on Derik Queen, you’re probably going to put a guard on him. Then you should not overcomplicate it. And pretty much what we did, we ran some things for Rodney to get Rodney the ball. And I thought Rodney really had a great second half. Ja’Kobi was struggling a little bit, but I love the fact that he had five assists. Was really passing the basketball. But if you’re going to switch your guard on Derik Queen, you really shouldn’t do anything else besides just post him up at the elbow and try to let him go to work and get fouled.”

On finishing the game at the free throw line: “A little bit like what happened at Ohio State. We missed six free throws at Ohio State. So, for us to sit there and again, this is, it’s kind of funny. It’s March, whatever it is, 19th conference game, it’s going to be a grind. And for these guys to go through, again, so many of these guys are going through this for the first time. Of the pressure, the ranking, people talking about double byes and NCAA Tournaments. These guys mentally have really stayed strong.”

On Senior Day this weekend at Xfinity: “For all these seniors. I look at, Jordan’s been with me two years. You look at a guy like Selton [Miguel] and [Jay Young], who’ve given up their last year to come play for you, it’s very special. And obviously for Julian, I think our fans need to get to the arena early. It’s a three o’clock Saturday game. There’s no reason why everybody can’t be in early. Julian, he went through a coaching change. He goes through a really tough year last year. Most people bail. He stayed true to the University of Maryland. He stayed true to the Terps. He deserves an unbelievable ovation because he showed what loyalty is all about. He showed what character is all about. And not only that, but he’s been a hell of a player.

On players building their legacies: “That’s the funny thing about it, it’s probably the one thing I hate about the transfer rule more than anything. I don’t think kids understand, in the future, what are you going to call home? Where are you going to go back and get love and call home. Obviously, Ju’s Baltimore. But Ju’s the University of Maryland, through and through.”