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2019-20 Big Ten Women’s Basketball preview and predictions

By Ben Rosof

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 10: Maryland Terrapins  Head Coach Brenda Frese talks with her team during a time out at the Women’s B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 10: Maryland Terrapins  Head Coach Brenda Frese talks with her team during a time out at the Women’s B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Maryland Terrapins

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 29-5 (15-3 B1G, 1st in standings)
  • Lost to Iowa in Big Ten Tournament championship game
  • Lost to UCLA in second round of NCAA Tournament

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Kaila Charles (17.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg) – returns as a senior
  • Taylor Mikesell (13.4 ppg, 3.3apg, 41.1% 3FG%) – returns as a sophomore

Key Additions:

  • #7 overall prospect, 5-star guard Ashley Owusu from Virginia
  • #17 overall prospect, 5-star guard Diamond Miller from New Jersey

Maryland is undoubtedly the team to beat in the Big Ten this year, coming off of a season when it lost just three regular season contests. Not only do the Terrapins — ranked fifth in the country in the preseason poll —  return AP All-American and two-time All-Big Ten honoree Kaila Charles, but all five starters from last year’s team as well. Look for sophomore Taylor Mikesell to take a considerable step forward, coming off a season where she ranked second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage. Shakira Austin is another player to keep an eye on, as last year’s leading rebounder — 9.5 per game — is poised to build on an impressive freshman season.

“[Austin] dedicated her summer, she wanted to be here all summer training in the weight room, getting in the gym and it definitely shows,” said Head Coach Brenda Frese during Maryland’s media day. “She’s stronger, she can finish through contact, she’s making plays in the low post.”

In addition, Maryland brought in the third-ranked recruiting class in the nation, highlighted by 5-star prospect Ashley Owusu. Owusu has impressed her coach with her poise, with Frese saying that she “looks like she’s a junior or senior at that point guard position.” The Terps also welcome Diamond Miller, a lengthy 6’3” guard, to College Park after she won gold at the FIBA World Championships this past summer as a member of the USA U19 Team.

Before beginning Big Ten play, Maryland faces a critical non-conference test early in the season against South Carolina, which recruited the nation’s best freshman class and ranked ninth in the aforementioned preseason poll. The November 10 contest should serve as a barometer for just how realistic the Terrapins’ national championship dreams can be.

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