As processions of fans traverse the mezzanine staircases, the scent of Ledo’s Pizza and popcorn dissipates and the tune of the Maryland Alma Mater band subsides, an Xfinity Center basketball game has just ended.

A wide assortment of individuals, from campus and beyond, attend the games. Everybody — coaches, players or facilities staff members — all have their own postgame routine.

Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese high-fives fans as soon as the final buzzer sounds.

After they leave the court, Frese and her coaching staff recap the game and prepare to recognize their “Tough Terp” awards in the Xfinity Center lounge. That includes the “Windex” award for the player with the most rebounds and the “helping hand” award for the team’s leader in assists. The staff also give players a “charge card,” which gets punched each time they take a charge.

“We always want to recognize the things that help you win a game … who went consistently above and beyond on both ends of the floor,” Frese said.

She said the coaching staff keeps postgame debriefs short, spending more time discussing the game in the days after to give them time to watch film. Through this, coaches can avoid saying anything regrettable in the heat of the moment or taking too much time before heading to the media press conference.

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After press conferences, Frese drives home and recaps the game with one of her biggest supporters.

“I call my mom every day,” Frese said. “I love that she watches.”

The pair discuss various game aspects, from standout players to nail-biting fourth quarters.

One nonnegotiable in Frese’s night after a game is reviewing film. Although Frese may prefer sleeping, especially after late-night games, she recognizes the value of watching film.

Film review is also a crucial part of junior men’s basketball guard Isaiah Watts’ postgame routine.

Watts first joins his team in the locker room to review the game with the Terps’ coaching staff. The team comes together in prayer, giving thanks for their ability to play and enjoy basketball together, before attending a media press conference.

Instead of heading home, Watts heads into the gym. His dad usually joins him for another workout and some shooting as they discuss the game.

“It’s really based off of what went well during the game and what didn’t go as well,” Watts said. “Recently, I haven’t been shooting as well from the [3-point line], so maybe I’m getting light touch shots to find the rhythm, find the bottom of the net and work from there.”

After a car ride spent listening to Jay-Z, Watts’ favorite artist, he decompresses in the shower. Watts will generally watch the full game over the next day.

Although Maryland coaches and players are the main draw for many fans who go to Xfinity Center, these games wouldn’t be possible without the behind-the-scenes work from the Facilities, Operations and Events staff.

Allie Hanlon is the assistant athletics director of FOE and oversees the department, acting as the game administrator for men’s basketball.

In November, the facilities staff most commonly switches the court from a men’s basketball layout to a women’s basketball layout and vice versa, shifting the courtside seat structure and scorers’ tables. Precision is essential, Hanlon said.

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“We have a lot of diagrams, a lot of manuals,” Hanlon said. “People notice if their seat isn’t at the exact sightline that it was the game before.”

In later months, such as December and January, full-court breakdowns become more customary.

Hanlon expects the staff to stay in Xfinity Center until 2 a.m. on Dec. 13, transforming the court from the men’s basketball game against Michigan for the annual Red vs. Black intrasquad gymnastics meet the next day. The staff has to remove cameras, unplug shot clocks and relocate basketball hoops before setting up the gymnastics equipment.

Despite these requirements, the longest task for the facilities staff is often waiting for fans, media, athletes and coaches to leave. Hanlon’s team of approximately six students moves from each task on a rolling basis, resetting the press conference and locker room areas as they become available.

“We always want it to look gameday ready,” Hanlon said.

Unexpected events can complicate the schedule for facilities staff. Hanlon recalled men’s basketball’s win over Purdue in 2023, when students rushed the court.

“When students rush the court, they tend to break chairs. Things get out of place,” Hanlon said. “We were doing damage control and inventory in addition to trying to get everything cleaned up and reset for the event the next day.”

The unforeseen incidents from athletic events are why Hanlon emphasizes the importance of attention to detail to her team. Xfinity Center events, from basketball games to commencement ceremonies, would be impossible without the hard work and dedication from facilities staff.