The Route 1 Rundown

Close, but no cigar for the Terps. Maryland was a finalist for five-star big man Obinna Ekezie Jr., but ultimately Ekezie chose Louisville over his father’s alma mater. What did this recruitment indicate about Maryland as a program, what questions does it raise and where does Buzz Williams go from here to fill out the roster? Steve Gorgei discusses all of that and more!He also dives into where Maryland stands in Bart Torvik’s early 2026-2027 ratings and weighs in on the expected expansion of both the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.Chapters(00:00) Ekezie Jr. Chooses Louisville(26:21) Early Torvik Rankings(32:29) NCAA Tournament ExpansionX: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

The transfer portal has officially closed and Steve Gorgei is back for another episode of The Route 1 Rundown! He breaks down what Maryland is getting in DJ Wagner, Michael McNair and Maban Jabriel and why he thinks Maryland's season will go as Wagner’s goes.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Matt Modderno joins Steve Gorgei to break down Maryland’s three transfer portal additions: Tomislav Bujan, Bishop Boswell & Robert Jennings. They also discuss Darius Adams’ decision to enter the portal, what the Terps still need to add to this roster, the best long-term strategy for building Maryland into a contender and more!X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Portal season is here and Steve Gorgei is back for another episode of The Route 1 Rundown! Steve dives into which Terps have entered the transfer portal, who will return for another season and how hard Maryland should push to retain Darius Adams. He also gets into Maryland’s biggest portal needs, the importance of a strong “front office” in this era of college basketball and why he thinks the Terps need to find their version of Wade Taylor IV to have success under Buzz Williams.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back for another episode of The Route 1 Rundown! Mike Krzyzewski isn’t Duke’s coach, the Blue Devils haven’t won a national title since 2015 and Maryland hasn’t played them since 2014, but there’s still something exhilarating about Duke losing in heartbreaking fashion. Do you still hate them like you once did?Braylon Mullins’ game-winning shot for UConn got Steve thinking about some of the great moments from Maryland’s 2002 title run. What was the defining moment from Maryland’s championship season? His answer may surprise you. Chapters00:00 Do You Still Hate Duke?15:03 Memorable Moments in '02X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

InsideMDSports is reporting that Maryland big man Pharrel Payne is expected to return to College Park for another season, pending a medical redshirt. Steve Gorgei is back to break down what it means for the Terps.He also dives into the NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten has nine teams in the Sweet 16, is this the year the league finally breaks its title drought? He also discusses Hubert Davis’ exit from North Carolina and the lessons Maryland can take from the shakeup in Chapel Hill. X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Maryland’s basketball season is finally over and Steve Gorgei is back to dive deep into everything that went wrong during the Terps’ 12-21 year. From staff construction, to roster construction to the offensive and defensive approaches, Steve lays out what he believes were the major missteps that led to tying the single-season program record for losses and what needs to change this summer for Maryland to avoid the same results in Year 2 under Buzz Williams.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back to react to Maryland’s loss to Illinois to end the regular season. The Terps fought the Illini until the end, but ultimately fell short. What was the difference in Maryland's 20th loss of the season?Then Steve discusses the overarching issues with this Maryland team and what led to the Terps’ worst conference winning percentage since the 1992-1993 season.He wraps up the show by looking ahead to the offseason and the keys to turning things around in Buzz Williams’ second season.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back to react to Maryland’s win over Washington, the Terps’ third victory in their last five games. What’s changed over these last five games? Who’s been the unsung hero of this stretch? Is this truly something to get excited about or just a blip on the radar? He discusses all of that and more!Then, he dives into how many players from this year’s team will be on next year’s roster, the importance of allocating funds wisely in this era of college basketball and how a player like Guillermo Del Pino would’ve been viewed in a previous era.He wraps up the show by discussing the Maryland Basketball Coalition’s alumni weekend, what he realized while this group was being honored and why this group’s existence is a good thing for Maryland basketball. X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back to react to Rutgers snapping Maryland’s two-game win streak. Why couldn’t Maryland win the second-chance points battle despite collecting twice as many offensive rebounds as Rutgers? Where can Andre Mills and Darius Adams continue to grow? What did Buzz Williams say after the game that made Steve raise his eyebrows? He dives into all that and more from the loss to the Scarlet Knights.Then, he discusses why he believes the possible battle to get Pharrell Payne another year of eligibility could be a litmus test for the Maryland basketball program following Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss winning an injunction against the NCAA that will allow him to play next season. He wraps up the show by discussing some of the top storylines around college basketball, including Michigan grabbing the top spot in both the AP and Coaches polls, Kylan Boswell returning for Illinois and Kansas State firing Jerome Tang.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Maryland takes down Iowa 77-70 and Steve Gorgei is here to react to the Terps’ second straight victory. What felt different about this performance for Maryland? What opened up the offense? And what stood out about Andre Mills’ 24-point night? Steve discusses all that and more on the latest edition of The Route 1 Rundown!X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei reacts to Maryland’s latest humbling loss as the Terps fall to 1-9 in conference play. What were the most glaring differences between Maryland and Purdue? Were there any bright spots in the 30-point loss? He wraps up the show by diving into whether this is the year the Big Ten finally breaks its title drought and discussing which team is most likely to do it.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei reacts to Maryland’s 43-point loss to Michigan State, one of the biggest blowout losses in the history of the program. Steve also dives into his top takeaway from a big Saturday of college basketball around the country.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei reacts to Diggy Coit leading Maryland to its first Big Ten win of the season with an Xfinity Center record 43 points. What did Coit’s performance mean in an otherwise disappointing season? What made his 43 points so special? What else did Maryland do well in the 23-point win? Steve discusses all of that, plus one thing he would like to see the Terps do more of the rest of the way.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei reacts to Maryland’s 67-55 loss to UCLA as the Terps fall to 0-5 in the Big Ten. Where was the game lost? Could Elijah Saunders be finding his groove? What position should Maryland prioritize in the portal this offseason? How close is this team to being Maryland’s worst of the Kenpom era? Steve discusses all that and more on the latest episode of The Route 1 Rundown.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back to break down Maryland’s loss to Indiana as the Terps fall to 0-4 in the Big Ten.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back to break down Maryland’s loss to Oregon as the Terps fall to 0-3 in the Big Ten. What disappointed him most about the loss? What did he see as the one bright spot? Is there any reason to be optimistic about 2027 as this historically bad season rolls on? He discusses all that and more. Then, he previews Maryland’s next game vs Indiana to wrap up the show.X: https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei starts the show by breaking down Maryland’s final non-conference game of the season and what piqued his interest in that 73-58 win over ODU. Then, he previews Friday’s game against Oregon and dives into James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA Draft pick, being ruled eligible to play immediately for Baylor.Chapters(00:00) Maryland Beats ODU(13:39) Maryland vs Oregon(26:04) The James Nnaji SituationX (Twitter): https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve Gorgei is back to break down Maryland’s 80-72 loss to Virginia, the Terps fifth loss in their last six games. He dives into what went wrong and what he sees as the overarching issue with this team. Then he gets into the historically bad stretch of Maryland basketball over the last five seasons and what would constitute success for the rest of the 2025-2026 campaign.X (Twitter): https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Matt Modderno joins Steve Gorgei to talk all things Maryland basketball! They discuss what is most to blame for Maryland’s disappointing 6-4 start, compare Maryland to some other teams with first-year coaches, dive into which players have been bright spots so far this season, preview Saturday’s game vs undefeated Michigan and look ahead to the 2027 season and which players on the current roster could fit alongside five-star prospect Baba Oladotun. 

Steve dives into Maryland’s bounce-back win over Wagner, Solomon Washington’s Maryland debut and the Terps’ conference opener against Iowa.X (Twitter): https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve reacts to Maryland’s tough week at the Players Era Championship, the good, the bad and the ugly from the event and how his expectations for this Terps team have changed for the rest of this season.

Steve reacts to Pharrel Payne’s gruesome looking injury against Marquette, what his absence could mean for Maryland and the Terps’ resilient comeback victory against the Golden Eagles. X (Twitter): https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve previews Maryland's road trip to Marquette, discusses what landing 5-star prospect Baba Oladotun would mean for the Terps and dives into how his trip to Tuscaloosa relates to Maryland athletics.(00:00) Maryland at Marquette Preview(15:38) Baba Oladotun Sets Decision Date(19:45) My Trip to TuscaloosaX (Twitter): https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Steve dives into Maryland's season-opening 83-61 win over Coppin State by discussing what impressed him in the win and what needs to be improved as the competition heats up. He wraps up the show by looking ahead to Friday’s matchup with Georgetown and talking about the importance of this series and why it should be played annually.

Steve dives into Maryland's 82-81 victory in its exhibition opener against UMBC, why you shouldn't panic quite yet about the close win, key takeaways from the game and the importance of first impressions for new coaches.

Steve dives into what Buzz Williams said at Big Ten Media Day, the Terps' position in the Big Ten preseason poll and the Kenpom numbers that were released this weekend.

Steve dives into the news that Rakease Passmore will miss the 2025-2026 season with a torn Achilles tendon, discusses the latest from the recruiting trail, breaks down Maryland's Big Ten schedule and wraps up the show by discussing the football team's devastating loss to Washington.

Steve dives into his top five “what if” questions in Maryland basketball history and discusses how the answer to each of these questions changed Maryland basketball for better or worse.

On the eve of the first full Saturday of college football, Steve dives into whether Maryland basketball and football can both be good at the same time.

Steve starts the show by discussing five-star prospect Baba Oladotun's decision to reclassify to the class of 2026 and his upcoming official visit to Maryland. He also discusses Maryland's recruitment of 2026 shooting guard Junior County and what these recruitments will tell us about Buzz Williams and Maryland. Then he dives into his five most iconic Maryland basketball moments that occurred with more than five minutes left to play.Chapters00:00 Baba Oladotun reclassifies, will visit Maryland09:55 Iconic Maryland moments

Steve starts the show by discussing 6’7 SF Austin Brown committing to Maryland. Then he dives into the possibility of NCAA Tournament expansion and why he’s opposed to the idea. He runs through his top five most hated Big Ten basketball rivals and wraps up the show by discussing Michigan's offseason and what to expect from the Wolverines in 2025-2026.

Steve starts the show by praising Maryland’s 2025-2026 non-conference schedule and discussing what his ideal non-conference schedule would look like. Then he dives into how he feels about the Big Ten now that Maryland has played 11 full seasons in the league. He wraps up the show with this summer's first edition of the Big Ten offseason check-in series. He discusses Purdue’s offseason and what to expect from the Boilermakers in 2025-2026.Chapters00:00 Building the Ideal Non-Conference Schedule for Maryland22:38 How Do You Feel About the Big Ten After 11 Seasons?33:35 Big Ten Offseason Check-In: PurdueSocial HandlesX (Twitter): https://x.com/GorgOnSportsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorgonsports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgonsports/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorgonsports

Isaac Trotter, national college basketball writer for 247 & CBS Sports, joins Steve to talk about where Maryland stands in the national college basketball landscape, Buzz Williams’ first offseason in College Park, which Terps could have a major impact in 2026 and which first-year Big Ten coach is most likely to achieve immediate success.

Steve starts the show by talking about Northeastern transfer Collin Metcalf, new Maryland AD Jim Smith and the Maryland vs Duke battle for four-star prospect Sebastian Wilkins. Then he dives into his proposed criteria for honoring Maryland basketball players and the players who aren’t currently honored at Xfinity Center, but should be.(00:00) - Collin Metcalf commits, Maryland announces new AD & a Maryland/Duke recruiting battle(11:30) - Maryland players who aren’t honored, but should be

Steve dives into Maryland landing McDonald’s All-American and former UConn commit Darius Adams as well as Spanish point guard Guillermo Del Pino to start the show. Then he discusses the four coaches Buzz Williams officially added to his staff and the Terps’ 2026 Big Ten opponents.00:00-21:36 Maryland lands Darius Adams & Guillermo Del Pino21:37-24:46 Buzz Williams announces four staff additions24:47-36:22 Maryland's 2025-2026 Big Ten opponents

Steve dives into Rodney Rice’s commitment to USC, what we’ve learned about Buzz Williams’ approach to the job as he nears the end of his first month as Maryland’s head coach and why Julian Reese has entered the transfer portal despite having already exhausted his college eligibility.

Steve is joined by Southeastern 16’s Blake Lovell to talk about Buzz Williams, the four former Aggies who are following Williams to College Park, Williams’ style of play and more. Steve also dives into some of Maryland’s other transfer portal additions, why he believes the Terps need to add more three-point shooting if they want to make the NCAA Tournament in 2026 and he discusses a potential addition who could give Maryland some momentum locally.

Steve dives into Maryland hiring Buzz Williams to be its next men's basketball coach, what the hire represents for Maryland, the Terps' three transfer additions and why he thinks Derik Queen's jersey should hang in the rafters.

Steve reacts to Maryland's 87-71 loss to Florida in the Sweet 16 and dives into the Kevin Willard situation.

Steve starts the show by sharing some leftover thoughts on Maryland’s win over Colorado State. Then he dives into Maryland's Sweet 16 matchup with Florida. He discusses Florida's style of play, how the Terps match up with the Gators and the keys to the game. He wraps up the show by discussing the latest on whether Kevin Willard will leave Maryland for Villanova or stay in College Park.

Steve reacts to Derik Queen's game-winning buzzer-beater in Maryland's second-round NCAA Tournament game vs Colorado State.

Steve reacts to Maryland's 81-49 NCAA Tournament win over Grand Canyon and looks ahead to the Terps' second-round game vs Colorado State.

Steve dives deep into Maryland's first round NCAA Tournament matchup with Grand Canyon. He discusses Grand Canyon's style of play, how the Terps match up with the Antelopes and the keys to the game.

It's Selection Sunday and Steve dives into Maryland being seeded fourth in the West Region, the Terps' first round matchup with Grand Canyon and why they ended being sent to Seattle for the first and second rounds. Then he reacts to Maryland's Big Ten Tournament loss to Michigan and discusses whether Maryland has a close game problem. He wraps up the show by talking about the reports that Villanova is interested in Kevin Willard and that Maryland is working on a new contract with Willard.

Steve is joined by special guests Brian Kaufman and Shane Connolly to discuss the end of the regular season, react to Maryland’s representation on the All-Big Ten teams and look ahead to the Big Ten Tournament.

Steve reacts to Maryland's 71-65 road victory over Michigan by discussing the Terps' rapidly improving defense, what concerns him most about this Maryland team as the postseason approaches and his criteria for postseason success.

Steve Reacts to Maryland's win over Penn State, dives into some postseason scenarios and previews the Terps' next game against #17 Michigan.

Steve dives deep into Maryland's heartbreaking loss to Michigan State, the emotional impact of Tre Holloman's halfcourt buzzer-beater and what went wrong for the Terps against the Spartans. He wraps up the show by looking ahead to Saturday's matchup with Penn State in Happy Valley.

Steve previews Maryland's showdown with Michigan State, dives into where the Terps stand in the latest mock brackets and ranks the top five most anticipated home games of the post-Gary Williams era.