In College Park, Maryland, the local college basketball scene is buzzing with the rise of the Maryland Terrapins’ starting lineup, affectionately dubbed the “Crab Five.” This catchy nickname, inspired by a local seafood delicacy and a clever rhyme with Michigan’s historic Fab Five, now represents one of the top-performing groups in college basketball. Head coach Kevin Willard, originally from Long Island and previously coaching at Seton Hall, admits he initially didn’t grasp the reference but soon embraced its Maryland-centric connotation.
The Crab Five—consisting of Derik Queen, Julian Reese, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice, and Selton Miguel—has become a powerhouse on the court, averaging 69.2 points per game. This stellar performance from the starters accounts for the majority of their scoring, overshadowing their bench, which has tallied only 36 points over the past nine games. Nevertheless, the Terps have been victorious in eight of those matchups. For instance, Maryland’s reserves didn’t score at all in their game against Nebraska on February 13, yet the Terps emerged with an 83-75 win.
Wednesday night presents a significant challenge for the Crab Five as they prepare to host the formidable No. 8 Michigan State, while Maryland holds the No. 16 spot in rankings. Under Willard’s leadership in his third year at Maryland, the team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2023 but stumbled to a losing season thereafter. Now, with a reenergized team, the Terrapins have their sights set on the Big Ten crown, trailing behind Michigan and Michigan State by two games with four left to play.
Maryland’s offensive efforts have heavily relied on their starters, who contribute 91.1% of the team’s points in conference games. The only team with a higher percentage from its starting five is Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference, at 91.3%. Despite their significant contributions, members of the Crab Five remain humble and credit the full team for their success. Ja’Kobi Gillespie emphasizes, “It’s cool to have that nickname, but we do have a whole team. It isn’t just us out there.”
This camaraderie has fostered impressive synergy within the group, with each member posting between 11.9 and 15.9 points. Freshman standout Derik Queen is the top scorer at 6-foot-10, while Gillespie, Rice, and Miguel—new additions via transfer—excel on the perimeter. Julian Reese, the only returning starter from the previous season and the brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, is averaging 14.0 points with a 59% field goal rate.
Coach Willard, addressing last season’s struggle with three-point shooting, prioritized recruiting players adept at shooting. He stated, “I needed to have guys that could shoot the basketball. It was a non-negotiable.” This focus has paid off, as evidenced by the trio of Gillespie, Rice, and Miguel, who collectively boast a 40.9% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc and have sunk 182 three-pointers this season, leading the Big Ten.
In addition to their scoring prowess, Reese and Queen form the conference’s top rebounding partnership, averaging a combined 18.4 rebounds per game. Willard praises the positivity and work ethic of his players, noting, “They all have an unbelievably great attitude. They walk into the gym always smiling, always laughing, and have not had a bad day of practice.”
As the season unfolds, the Crab Five and the rest of the Terps continue to captivate fans and critics alike, exemplifying team spirit and talent both on and off the court. Through their performances and the approaching contests, they aim to cement their position as a dominant force in college basketball.
