COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland men's and women's basketball programs celebrated Super B1G Maryland Madness Friday night at the XFINITY Center.
Both squads were introduced with a backdrop of smoke, lights and lasers. Staying true to the Super B1G theme, head coach Mark Turgeon stepped out of a telephone booth, tossed his glasses and ripped open his shirt to reveal the Superman-esque Maryland Madness logo.
“We're ready, I really like my team,” Turgeon said of this year's squad. “I don't say things just to say it. My guys have worked really hard for me and it's a good group of guys. They are very coachable, very talented, so it should be a good season.”
Brenda Frese, who joined Turgeon for an epic end of the program's annual dance, ended her speech to the crowd by noting the Big Ten needs to be ready for what Maryland brings to the table.
“It's no different from playing in the postseason for the NCAA tournament,” Frese said. “They're going to be great games, great competition and something that might take us a season to get used to but it's something that we will be ready for.”
To cap the night, Rae Sremmurd performed, with players dancing along onstage. The duo finished their set with the hit song “No Flex Zone.”
Richaud Pack, who is one of six newcomers to the men's team, reveled in his first Maryland Madness.
“It was great to finally get to interact with the fans and feel the atmosphere here,” Pack said. “I'm looking forward to playing here. This is the best team I've ever practiced with.”
Redshirt senior Laurin Mincy enjoyed her final Madness Friday and how it highlighted the camaraderie between the two programs.
"Tonight was very exciting,” Mincy said. “It was good that the men and the women got to collaborate. It was really fun to see everybody out here supporting us."