---
title: 5 Things to Know as Men’s Basketball Dances Into the Sweet 16
date: 2025-03-26T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/5-things-to-know-as-mens-basketball-dances-into-the-sweet-16"
section: Articles
---
# 5 Things to Know as Men’s Basketball Dances Into the Sweet 16

*March 26, 2025* — by [Annie Krakower](/author/annie-krakower)


> From the ‘Crab Five’ to That Luck-Changing Buzzer-Beater, Get the Game Notes Before Tipoff vs. Florida

*250323 mlm mbb ncaa round2 coloradost 1638 1920x1080 — Selton Miguel, Julian Reese and Rodney Rice celebrate with Derik Queen after his buzzer-beater vs. Colorado State on Sunday punched Maryland’s ticket to the Sweet 16.*

Terp Nation held its collective breath on Sunday night as star freshman Derik Queen lofted a shot with 3.6 seconds on the clock vs. Colorado State in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. The buzzer-beater simultaneously sent the No. 4 seed Maryland men’s basketball team into a frenzy, into its first [Sweet 16](https://today.umd.edu/maryland-men-rally-against-colorado-state-to-reach-sweet-16) since 2016 and more visibly into the national spotlight.

Now, whether diehard fans or March Madness newbies, those tuning into Thursday night’s contest vs. No. 1 seed Florida can count on hearing the announcers discuss not just Queen and his already legendary shot, but also the rest of the “Crab Five.”

Who makes up this scrappy squad, and how did they get here? Prep for watch parties at Looney’s, in living rooms and beyond with this pregame primer:


*Selton Miguel shoots basketball — Selton Miguel shoots vs. Grand Canyon in the NCAA Tournament’s first round last Friday.*


*Derik Queen hugs coach Kevin Willard — Derik Queen hugs head coach Kevin Willard after nailing the buzzer-beater to defeat Colorado State on Sunday.*


**Queen is Baltimore born and bred.** In the game’s last timeout, Queen implored his team to get him the ball for the final play. When asked postgame why he was so confident, he simply replied, “I’m from Baltimore, that’s why.”

The quip has already inspired [merchandise](https://breakingt.com/products/maryland-basketball-derik-queen-im-from-baltimore?srsltid=AfmBOoqlQnFFqEUXTlXQVosvZde4I7cuHhZpkg01mVeoWZJ4WiJ0BC_x) for the big man, who had been named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year at Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy. He briefly overlapped there with another Charm City Terp, Reese, who Queen said has “been basically taking me under his wing” since they reunited this year at UMD.


*Julian Reese shoots basketball vs. Grand Canyon — Julian Reese shoots vs. Grand Canyon.*


*Rodney Rice passes during basketball game vs. Illinois — Rodney Rice passes to Ja’Kobi Gillespie during the Big Ten quarterfinal game against Illinois on March 14.*



**Sidebar note:**

The No. 4 seed Maryland men’s basketball team will play No. 1 seed Florida at 7:39 p.m. Thursday in San Francisco. The game will be televised on TBS/TruTV and broadcast on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

The No. 4 seed women’s team [also reached the Sweet 16](https://today.umd.edu/from-down-17-to-sweet-16)—marking the first time both squads have done so together—and will play No. 1 seed South Carolina at 5 p.m. Friday in Birmingham, Ala. The game will be streamed on ESPN.





**Topics:** [Athletics](https://today.umd.edu/tags/athletics)


**Tags:** [Men's Basketball](https://today.umd.edu/topic/mens-basketball)


**Units:** [Department of Intercollegiate Athletics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/department-intercollegiate-athletics)