By Zach Sturgill

While this men’s basketball season has not gone particularly well for the Terrapins, two of their youngest players are beginning to break out. Freshmen guards Darius Adams and Andre Mills are producing more and more as the season goes on, thanks to an increasing work ethic.

Adams and Mills are proving to be promising future pieces for first-year head coach Buzz Williams. In a year where Williams has shaken up the lineup multiple times, Adams and Mills have had to endure a lot. 

“They’re miscast in some ways because of our roster situation,” Williams said in his postgame press conference Feb. 11.

Due to the roster situation, the freshmen pair have been thrust into roles that typically go to more experienced players in this era of college basketball.

“Those guys have played 24 games in their life at this level,” Williams said. “So much of what they have been through has been out of their control relative to our roster.”

Adams and Mills have continued to improve throughout the season despite this. Such was evident in Feb. 11’s win against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The two combined for 35 points and eight rebounds in a crucial win for the Terps. 

This is in large part due to the work that the two have put in during practice to become more physical and better downhill, something that is crucial in Williams’ system.

“We do the same drills after practice every day,” Mills said in his postgame press conference following the win. “Repetition, getting better each day and doing the little things just came to life.”

These drills involve attacking the rim and being more physical overall. The two will take countless two-footed layups from several different angles, and it is starting to pay off.

“Both of those guys are playing off of two feet better than they ever have,” Williams said. “Both of those guys are understanding movement off of penetration. Both of those guys are getting fouled at a much higher rate.”

Adams and Mills’ increasing work ethic does not just apply to skills on the court. They are also improving their habits off of it.

“Their work ethic has continued to become more consistent,” Williams said. “They realize how physical it has to be. I think their diet is improving. I think their screen time is decreasing. I think their sleep time is increasing.”

Throughout their progression this season, Adams and Mills have been together each step of the way, developing a unique chemistry on the court.

“We’re together every day after practice,” Adams said after the Iowa win. “Seeing him in attack mode makes me want to be in attack mode.”

The two are able to feed off of each other during games as well.

“If he’s getting downhill one time, then I’m gonna get downhill the next time,” Adams said. “We’re just playing off of each other.”

Mills is especially starting to cement himself as a cornerstone of the Terps’ roster. After setting his career high against Iowa with 24 points, he broke it a week later against Northwestern with 39 points.

While this season may not end with an NCAA Tournament appearance for the Terps, Adams and Mills have proven to be bright spots for the future.

“I think they’re coming around,” Williams said. “I think they’ll end up being alright.”

Featured Image: The Testudo statue outside of Xfinity Center at night on Feb. 20, 2026. Photo by Anika Stikeleather.