How Maryland Men’s Basketball’s Early-Season Schedule has the Terps feeling like its 2002.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
11/4/2026
The calendar says 2026, but it’s feeling old school in College Park.
Maryland men’s basketball donned its throwback threads in its 96-67 win over Bucknell in its season opener. The videoboard, the uniforms, the music — everything was retro.
I like the jerseys a lot. There’s definitely a lot of history and culture here. There was a national championship run in these, so whenever we wear them, we get to be a part of something bigger than us.Andre Mills
Gallery: Maryland Reveals 02 Throwback Uniform
But the trip down memory lane didn't end when the final buzzer sounded. There's a renewed connection to Maryland's past taking shape early this season.
“Everyone’s aware of the outcomes we want,” head coach Buzz Williams said at Media Day. “We want to be the 2001-02 Maryland Terps. So it comes down to how in the process can we diagnose what’s happening to lead to the outcome we want.”
The Terps will add chapters to two historic rivalries in their next two games as they battle both Georgetown and Virginia in their strong non-conference schedule.
“Those are two very different rivalries,” Walt Williams said. “Georgetown and Maryland just have the immediate vicinity. We pass those guys a lot in the offseason. We’re probably playing in the same gyms, so that rivalry is a bit more personal. Then, when you talk about the history of the UVA rivalry and the ACC, it’s good to rekindle those.”
Maryland is set for a trip to the nation’s capital to face Georgetown for the 68th time in a rich rivalry series that dates back to 1910. Maryland owns a 39-28 all-time record over the Hoyas, including a 76-66 win in 2001 at the peak of the Terps’ historic era.
“Sadly, neighborhood rivalries have kind of gone away in this world of college sports, and college basketball in particular,” Chris Knoche said. “We used to play these all the time, and you miss it. I think Georgetown/Maryland should be played annually. If you look at some of the games that have been played in the past, there have been some really great games.”
After a clash at Capital One Arena, Maryland will return to College Park to battle Virginia, adding a 186th chapter to another historic rivalry that got started in 1913. The Terps own a 108-77 record over the Cavaliers and have celebrated many hard-fought victories in a rivalry that’s always brought out the best.
“Playing against Virginia was always some great matchups with tough competition,” Walt Williams said. “It was always great playing in those games because you knew there was going to be 110% effort out there. You had to be in them, physically and mentally. You had to be sharp. I didn’t really enjoy too many tune-up games. I wanted to play against the stiff and tough competition right out of the gate.”
The Terps’ path to the 2002 National Championship featured a 91-87 win over the Virginia Cavaliers — who were also a top-10 team at the time.
This year, Maryland will host Virginia at XFINITY Center on November 13th, giving the Terrapin faithful an early-season opportunity to be a game-changer.
The fact that Virginia is coming in here is huge. It’s well ahead of exams and Thanksgiving break, so there shouldn’t be any problem with people getting to the game at all. It’s a big-time local game, and you get the nostalgia of having Virginia come back into the building.Chris Knoche
Between the colorful uniforms, memories of championship seasons and the return of basketball, there's a familiar excitement building around the program.
For a Maryland team full of new players, the timing couldn’t be better as the Terps search for their identity, jell as a unit and find some crucial momentum in a challenging preseason slate.
“In the context of this season, rivalry wins early in the season would be invaluable,” Chris Knoche said. “It would springboard us into having a really good season this year. It would be a phenomenal start to the year with some wins that would really resonate for the entire season. There are 100 reasons why a win would be fantastic.”
For a team with plenty of new faces, that balance will be important. The Terps are still working to establish chemistry and define their identity, making each early-season test an opportunity to learn more about themselves. At the same time, facing quality opponents gives Maryland a chance to see where it stands against some of the nation's best.
“I think mixing up tune-up games and early opportunities to challenge your team is very beneficial,” Walt Williams said. “You’re able to give the time to jell, and also get a gauge of where you’re at early in the season. I think that's an advantage not only to your team, but to the fanbase .They want to see good competition, so when you can play games like this close to home — especially when there’s a rivalry element to it — I think it’s a good thing.”
The early 2000s may be in the rearview mirror, but the standard set during that era still resonates in College Park. Now, this group has a chance to turn a season filled with reminders of the past into one that gives Maryland fans something new to remember.
