The Maryland Terrapins have had a chaotic week. Five players hit the transfer portal on Monday, shaking up the roster. Then, on Tuesday, the program named Buzz Williams as its new head coach. Now, an unlikely voice is sparking hope in this wave of changes, freshman star Derik Queen.
Derik Queen Has the Back of the New Coach Buzz Williams
Buzz Williams steps into College Park with a solid track record. He’s coached for 18 years across Marquette, Virginia Tech, and Texas A&M. At A&M, he guided the Aggies to three straight NCAA Tournament berths over the past three seasons. Maryland fans are eager for that kind of stability after a rough stretch.
Williams inherits a roster in flux, though. He’ll need to rebuild fast. But one key player is already on board. Derik Queen, the Terps’ standout freshman, posted on Twitter/X Tuesday, saying, “Starting to Like Him Already.” That’s a big deal for a fanbase craving good news.
Starting to like him already https://t.co/kHPewCurry
— derik queen (@derikqueen1) April 1, 2025
Queen’s freshman year was impressive. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches. He also snagged Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Leading the team with 16.5 points per game, he dropped a season-high 31 against Michigan in the tournament. His 15 double-doubles topped the squad, too.
Naturally, NBA scouts took notice. Mock drafts peg him as a lottery pick. Some even slot him at No. 6 to the Philadelphia 76ers. Most assume he’s gone after this season. Yet, his shoutout to Williams has fans hyped.
The Reddit threads flood with new fan opinions after Queen’s post. Terps fans are a mix of skeptical and sentimental. One user pointed to Melo Trimble, a former Maryland star who stayed too long and faded from NBA radars. “Kid was a lottery pick after his freshman year,” they wrote. “Played himself out of the league after four years.”
Another fan agreed, placing Queen among Maryland’s greats like Trimble, Greivis Vasquez, Steve Blake, and Juan Dixon. But they added a twist: “I’ll be mad if he returns and skips the NBA. Go get that bag.”
Not everyone’s cynical, though. Queen’s positivity wins people over. One fan said they can’t hate him for his upbeat vibe. They even floated him as a future assistant coach, boosting recruiting post-NBA.
Another praised his “true Terp” spirit, rare for a likely one-and-done. Then there’s the Williams factor. A longtime Maryland admirer chimed in: “I’ve always liked Maryland, going back to Gary Williams fighting Duke in the ACC. Buzz seems like a good guy and a good coach. I hope it works out.”
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Another fan added praise for the coach, saying, “Buzz is a good coach and an even better person. He will install a culture of hard working, blue collar basketball.”
Queen’s nod to Williams doesn’t guarantee anything. He’s still a projected top draft pick. The smart bet is he’ll declare soon. But his words matter. They’ve rallied a fanbase desperate for optimism. Williams has a tough job ahead. Restocking a depleted roster isn’t easy.
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