#6 Iowa vs #1 Maryland - 3/13/21

[sweetspot]

She’s the X-factor for Maryland in the tournament because she’s the player that might be able to get a bucket against anybody. You could say the same about Owusu, but Diamond’s height makes her incredibly tough to guard.

You know, for as much talent as UConn, SC, Stanford, and Oregon have stockpiled, it’s really difficult to imagine a 2022 Maryland team with a upperclassmen core of Owusu, Miller, Reese, and Collins not winning a title.

I’m sure a lot of people said another title was imminent after Maryland won in 2006 with a very young core (and Shay Doron, who was graduating). But the defense never caught up to the offense and they didn’t have the depth to win another 1.

Winning a title is d*mn hard. Makes what Geno’s done at UConn so impressive.

 

[bballnut90]

She’s the X-factor for Maryland in the tournament because she’s the player that might be able to get a bucket against anybody. You could say the same about Owusu, but Diamond’s height makes her incredibly tough to guard.

You know, for as much talent as UConn, SC, Stanford, and Oregon have stockpiled, it’s really difficult to imagine a 2022 Maryland team with a upperclassmen core of Owusu, Miller, Reese, and Collins not winning a title.

They'll likely have Benzan/Bibby back too next year since they're in grad programs. It's hard to mention Maryland though and acknowledge transfer risk. I think they'll be right there with SC/Stanford/UCONN though in 2022 if their core stays intact.

 

[bballnut90]

I’m sure a lot of people said another title was imminent after Maryland won in 2006 with a very young core (and Shay Doron, who was graduating). But the defense never caught up to the offense and they didn’t have the depth to win another 1.

Winning a title is d*mn hard. Makes what Geno’s done at UConn so impressive.

All major contributors were back including Doron in 2007, but that's a great point. It's very different playing as a defending champion and favorite to win it all vs. being an underdog, and Maryland struggled with that transition in 2007. Notre Dame struggled with it at times in 2019 as well.

 

[SECbbfan24]

I like to poke fun at Brenda but IMO she has done some of her better coaching jobs the last two years. I don't know if that will mean they will ever get over the hump again but definitely a fun team to watch and they have showed so much growth.

I don't blame Brenda for Austin transferring, I think she wanted to do her own thing. Mikesell loss was kinda concerning but tbh I think they replaced her with someone better in all honesty.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Maryland is Ranked #264 is Team Scoring Defense. Iowa is Ranked #336, last in Scoring Defense. I wonder how far each of these teams can go in the Tournament with such poor defense.

However, Maryland is Ranked #1 in Scoring Offense and Iowa is Ranked #2. They have the potential to go far, despite playing no defense if they get the right matchups.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

She’s the X-factor for Maryland in the tournament because she’s the player that might be able to get a bucket against anybody. You could say the same about Owusu, but Diamond’s height makes her incredibly tough to guard.

You know, for as much talent as UConn, SC, Stanford, and Oregon have stockpiled, it’s really difficult to imagine a 2022 Maryland team with a upperclassmen core of Owusu, Miller, Reese, and Collins not winning a title.

Maryland could be special but they are going to need shooters like Benzan and Bibby. They have 4 players in the pipeline who can shoot threes but not at Benzan's level (even though their least heralded recruit Ava Sciolla is a light out shooter)..

 

[baggerbob]

I agree it's rarer to have a big physical center like Boston who has good perimeter touch, but I don't see how that's advantageous to having an elite forward who can score down low and from the perimeter too while playing great interior defense like any of the players I listed. What's the advantage of having a center in that role vs. a forward?

I wouldn't consider CD/Allemand elite level point guards. Gray went pro in 2014....perhaps you're thinking of Carter? If so, Carter is a dynamic scorer but doesn't facilitate well. I wouldn't consider her an elite PG either. The only elite PG prospects who've entered the league this past decade IMO are Vandersloot, Diggins, Jefferson and Ionescu. Chelsea Gray worked her way up into that echelon but she sort of came out of nowhere after an injury plagued collegiate career. I think Jefferson would've been great but injuries have tarnished her pro career. Every year the All-WNBA teams are hyper competitive for forwards and center slots while guard spots usually have 1-2 players with much weaker stats than several forwards/centers who didn't make the cut. Or sometimes they'll label a SF (Moore/McCoughtry) as a guard for the All-WNBA spot to make room for more deserving forwards. Having an elite level facilitator who can also score has been an important factor for most title teams (4 for Whalen, 4 for Bird, 3 for Taurasi) and I think Clark can fill that role perfectly while also being a great bail out player.


And I wouldn't expect WNBA GMs to take international play into consideration when drafting for their respective team. Just my 2 cents.

Even in International play great mobile forwards are taking over, as evidence Stewie in 2018. The women just as the men with the emphasis on the three, no longer want centers who can't guard out to the three point line.

 

[Wilderness]

If Paige ran down the floor with 3-4 of her teammates not yet past halfcourt and dribbled into 1-on-1 fadeaways she'd be on the bench quicker than you can blink.

No, 3 or 4 of her teammates would be benched. But she'd never do that because it would show them up.