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Maryland WBB: Brenda Frese optimistic about their basketball season

By Jasmine Brown

COLLEGE PARK, MD - JANUARY 29: Head coach Brenda Frese of the Maryland Terrapins watches the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Xfinity Center on January 29, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - JANUARY 29: Head coach Brenda Frese of the Maryland Terrapins watches the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Xfinity Center on January 29, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD—As one of the heralded programs in women’s basketball, Maryland has established a culture of success and the ability to continue with it. Their coach is certainly one of the reasons why.

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With eight sweet-sixteen appearances, six elite eight appearances, and five Final Fours under her belt, head coach Brenda Frese has built a resume few can match. Reaching the Final Four in back-to-back seasons and the postseason 14 times in a row helped convince voters of both major national polls to rank Maryland, despite enormous losses from last year.

Consider: WBCA national freshman of the year, Destiny Slocum, transferred. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brionna Jones moved onto the WNBA draft.  Jenna Stati and Kiara Leslie transferred as well.

Losing three students to transfer, two to the draft, and coming into the season ranked anyway speaks volumes about Frese. To her mind, the losses are secondary to the task ahead. They have one of the toughest schedules in the country, but Frese is certain that her team is competition-ready.

COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 15: Maryland Terrapins guard Kaila Charles (3) defends against Wisconsin Badgers guard Roichelle Marble (5) during a Big 10 women’s basketball game on February 15, 2017 at Xfinity Center, in College Park, Maryland. Maryland defeated Wisconsin 89-40.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 15: Maryland Terrapins guard Kaila Charles (3) defends against Wisconsin Badgers guard Roichelle Marble (5) during a Big 10 women’s basketball game on February 15, 2017 at Xfinity Center, in College Park, Maryland. Maryland defeated Wisconsin 89-40.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

“It’s valuable for us and for our program the extra practices extra practices, now its time to be able to actually gauge that against actual Division 1 competition but I think the preparation has put them in this position to be ready,” Frese told reporters during a media availability Thursday afternoon.

Maryland’s season tips off against Albany Friday night. For Brenda, that means facing her former assistant coach Joanna Bernable-McNamee. She doesn’t see this game as any different for her as any other game. “I don’t think its any different obviously, I’m excited for her,” Frese said. “I think these are the kind if relationships that kind of make that bond and the game more special.”

Beyond this season, the future looks even brighter in College Park. Maryland signed a class ranked fourth in the country by ESPN for 2018 and Frese explained how they prepare for recruiting.

“We spend a lot of time with ‘are you the right fit?'”, Frese said.  If were going to commit four to five years and beyond you obviously have to have the talent. But we spend a lot of time with the chemistry piece as a really important element that we gauge. We really addressed our needs in terms of Taylor Mikesall and the ability to play the 1-3. We definitely pose well for our future.”

Maryland will play national champions South Carolina and Uconn this season. With Ohio State also on their slate , it will pose a challenge for the Terps. Brenda Frese however somehow, someway always has her team ready to go and she proves it every single year.

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