DefenseBB
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For most UConn fans and ardent BY posters, what I am about to write about Brenda is well known, but for those new forum members, welcome to the BY and in 'insight" pn how may posters view WCBB and why our forum is the best forum for WCBB.
In the Big Ten Coaching ranking that I did, I qualified Brenda Frese as a Very Good Basketball Coach in the 2nd tier of coaches and a certain Hall of Famer in Springfield, just not an Elite Basketball coach in the vein of Tara, Geno, Kim, Dawn. That is actually very high praise to say someone is VERY GOOD at their profession.
Brenda Frese has a GREAT resume- 1 NC, 2-Final Fours, 17-NCAA appearances, 1-WNIT, 5-Big 10 titles, 6-regular season titles, a 206-30 Big Ten record (.873 winning percent), 1 ACC title. But as you peel back the onion and see each layer up-close, the resume is very good, but not elite. To wit:
Notably 3 other P5 coaches in Jeff Walz, Joanna Bernabei-McNamee and Tina Langley.
Again, she's a VERY GOOD Coach but not on the Mount Rushmore of active Coaches.
What say you my fine BY breathren?
In the Big Ten Coaching ranking that I did, I qualified Brenda Frese as a Very Good Basketball Coach in the 2nd tier of coaches and a certain Hall of Famer in Springfield, just not an Elite Basketball coach in the vein of Tara, Geno, Kim, Dawn. That is actually very high praise to say someone is VERY GOOD at their profession.
Brenda Frese has a GREAT resume- 1 NC, 2-Final Fours, 17-NCAA appearances, 1-WNIT, 5-Big 10 titles, 6-regular season titles, a 206-30 Big Ten record (.873 winning percent), 1 ACC title. But as you peel back the onion and see each layer up-close, the resume is very good, but not elite. To wit:
- Her Ball State and Minnesota teams never won a conference title and she leveraged her 1 year at MN to get the Maryland job.
- 12 years in the ACC and she won 1 ACC title (tournament and regular season same year-2009)-not exactly dominant.
- In the 12 yrs in the ACC, Maryland was 2nd or tied for 2nd twice. She was 3rd-5 times, a 4th, a 5th and 2-9th place finishes. As I said, not dominant.
- When Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2015, it was ranked 5th in WCBB conferences so their dominance of Big Ten titles is not as impressive as one would think. In 96 Sweet 16 slots (16x6 tournaments since joining the Big Ten), the conference Ten has garnered 10 of those spots with 4 coming last year. Not exactly dominant and for comparison, PAC-12 has 23, ACC-21, SEC-16, Big12-11 (again, the Big 12 is in trouble).
- Maryland made 16 NCAAT in the last 17 years with 6 second round exits, 4 Sweet 16 departures, 3 Elite 8 demises and 2 Final Fours (2011/2012) to go with her 1 Title in 2006.
- Her last 5 post season have fizzled out at 2nd rd, Sweet 16, 2nd rd, 2nd rd, Sweet 16 despite an average win/loss of 30-4 and average ranking of 7th over those 5 years (3rd, 5th, 3rd, 16th, 9th, 8th). Maryland underachieved their seeding in all 5 seasons of NCAAT action during the Big Ten tenure.
- In the last 17 seasons of Rankings, Maryland made 16 NCAAT and over-achieved their ranking 3 times (2004-not ranked, made to 2nd Rd, 2006-Won Title, 2011-Ranked 18th made Sweet16), matched their ranking 6 times and underachieved their ranking 7 times (the last 5 years plus-2005. 2007). An "Elite" coach would certainly coach up their team at a crucial time.
Notably 3 other P5 coaches in Jeff Walz, Joanna Bernabei-McNamee and Tina Langley.
Again, she's a VERY GOOD Coach but not on the Mount Rushmore of active Coaches.
What say you my fine BY breathren?