B1G Preview: Maryland, and Michigan, and Minnesota…..oh my!
Predicted finish: 1st
Last year’s record: 25-7, 12-4 B1G
Key returners:
G-Kaila Charles 6’1 13.8 PPG 50% FG, 6.8 RPG
G-Blair Watson 6’0 (Before injury: 13.8 PPG, 40% FG, 38% 3PA)
F-Stephanie Jones 6’2 7.4 PPG, 60% FG, 4.3 RPG
Newcomers:
F- Shakira Austin- 6’5 (Fredericksburg, Virginia) Fr. (no. 4 on ESPN’s Hoopgurlz)
C-Olivia Owens 6’4 (Niskayuna, New York) Fr. (no. 34 on ESPN’s Hoopgurlz)
G-Taylor Mikesell 5’11 (Massillon, Ohio) Fr. (no. 33 on ESPN’s Hoopgurlz)
G-Sara Vujacic 5’11 (Maribor, Slovenia) Trns.
Key non-conference games:
11/18. @ South Carolina
11/24: Georgia
11/29: Georgia Tech
Head Coach: Brenda Frese 15th season
The last four seasons of B1G women’s basketball have belonged to Maryland and that is largely because of head coach Brenda Frese. Under Frese, Maryland has achieved 15 winning seasons, 14 straight 20-win seasons, and 14 trips to the NCAA Tournament. In their first B1G season, the Terps had a perfect 18-0 conference record and a 24-game win streak over three months. They were the first team to go undefeated in conference play since Purdue went 16-0 in 1998-99 and Ohio State went 18-0 in 1984-85. This led to Frese being named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2015 for the second time in her career—if anything, she’s deserved it even more other campaigns, such as 2017-18.
Outlook:
Maryland is the team that should be the standard bearer in the conference. Maryland has finished top four or five in almost all categories every season, with young players who succeed right away. That’s important, because Maryland has three incoming freshmen, all of whom are ranked on ESPN’s Hoopgurlz top 100 list, plus they add Sara Vujacic, who is the sister of former NBA player Sasha Vujacic. The Terrapins will have a new look this seasonand no senior on the roster, but with a Brenda Frese team, that seldom matters.
Best case scenario: The trio of Kaila Charles, Blair Watson, and Stephanie Jones continues to dominate the conference. Newcomers in Shakira Austin, Taylor Mikesell, and Olivia Owens, make it hard to stop a team with a lot of depth.
Worst case scenario: The lack of senior veteran presence catches up to the Terrapins, and for the first time in its Big Ten history, Maryland does not win at least a share of the regular season title or play in the B1G championship game.