Maryland article from 538

[HuskyNan]

Maryland’s Offense Is On Another Level

Maryland's offense finds many ways to beat you.

fivethirtyeight.com

 

[sweetspot]

"But let’s start with the basics. Maryland is the most efficient offense, per 100 possessions, in the nation, at 121.8 points scored. That ranks this team fifth since HerHoopStats began tracking the stat in 2015-16, behind a trio of UConn teams and last season’s Sabrina Ionescu-led Oregon Ducks."

Impressive to do so without Reese most of the season...

 

[Vowelguy]

Oh boy. Comments coming on this one.

 

[Go/huskies]

Maryland is a sleeper team and fun to watch, I mean who doesn’t love a team that is deadly from deep? I thought early on they would be a sleeper team, with Miller and Reese on the wings, I wonder how Mikesell feels, I thought she transferred because Owusu and Reese would be doing most of the ball handling and she wanted to showcase her point guard skills, but now she’s still sharing point guard duties with Paopao.

 

[bballnut90]

Great article, thanks for sharing. Maryland is my favorite team to watch this season--crazy good offensive and a lot of transition basketball. They were exceptional last year too until the tournament was canceled. Worth noting, Diamond Miller is probably the best least spoken about player in the country...6-3 guard with tremendous handles and athleticism, she's put up a spectacular season with little recognition. I could see her being a potential #1 overall pick in the 2023 draft if she continues to improve. Barring transfers Maryland is going to be exceptionally good the next few years too as everyone likely returns next year and they have Reese/Owusu/Robinson/Collins back for at least 2 more years.

A potential Sweet 16 match up that would be incredibly intriguing is Maryland vs Arizona. Maryland is exceptional offensively but not strong defensively, and Arizona is pretty bad offensively but very strong defensively.

 

[UConnCat]

At the end of last season I thought Maryland was playing as well as any team in the country and their defense was outstanding. This season is a much different Maryland team, scoring more points while allowing opponents to score more too. As I posted elsewhere, Maryland this season seems to be daring teams to try and outscore them. Arkansas couldn't do it!

Really, the Big 10 has become quite an offensive conference with Maryland (91.3 ppg) and Iowa (87.4 ppg) leading the way. On the flip side, of course, Big 10 teams give up a lot of points. Nine of the B10's 14 teams give up more than 70 ppg with Iowa giving up the most (81 ppg).

 

[Vowelguy]

Oh boy. Comments coming on this one.

I mistakenly thought this was posted on the main board.

 

[Plebe]

At the end of last season I thought Maryland was playing as well as any team in the country and their defense was outstanding. This season is a much different Maryland team, scoring more points while allowing opponents to score more too. As I posted elsewhere, Maryland this season seems to be daring teams to try and outscore them. Arkansas couldn't do it!

Really, the Big 10 has become quite an offensive conference with Maryland (91.3 ppg) and Iowa (87.4 ppg) leading the way. On the flip side, of course, Big 10 teams give up a lot of points. Nine of the B10's 14 teams give up more than 70 ppg with Iowa giving up the most (81 ppg).

Completely agree on all counts. People last year felt the top 3 of SC, Oregon and Baylor had separation from the field, discounting Maryland due to their early-season stumbles. But MD was playing clearly better than Baylor IMO by end of February and would've been an extremely tough out in the NCAAT with that incredibly suffocating defense that was humming in the latter half of the season.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Maryland’s Offense Is On Another Level

Maryland's offense finds many ways to beat you.

fivethirtyeight.com

Thanks for sharing.

Shout out to Brenda. Most coaches can only coach with a specific style. As mentioned above, last year the Maryland team was exceptional defensively. This season they're doing it on the offensive end. Last season was the unusual season as Maryland never was known as a defensive team.

 

[Dillon77]

Great article, thanks for sharing. Maryland is my favorite team to watch this season--crazy good offensive and a lot of transition basketball. They were exceptional last year too until the tournament was canceled. Worth noting, Diamond Miller is probably the best least spoken about player in the country...6-3 guard with tremendous handles and athleticism, she's put up a spectacular season with little recognition. I could see her being a potential #1 overall pick in the 2023 draft if she continues to improve. Barring transfers Maryland is going to be exceptionally good the next few years too as everyone likely returns next year and they have Reese/Owusu/Robinson/Collins back for at least 2 more years.

A potential Sweet 16 match up that would be incredibly intriguing is Maryland vs Arizona. Maryland is exceptional offensively but not strong defensively, and Arizona is pretty bad offensively but very strong defensively.

I saw Diamond Miller play a few times while she was at Franklin High School in New Jersey's Tournament of Champions. She led her team to a few championships and played against a loaded Manasquan team, featuring Dara Mabrey and Faith Masonius. Ironically, she and Faith ended up going to Maryland together while Mabrey started her journey through the ACC.

When I see her, I think of combining the skill sets of two Irish players I watched: the ability to score in traffic and make it look easy that Jackie Young has; and, the fluidity and inventiveness of Jewell Loyd. But she's taller than both of those #1 picks. Hmmm.

 

[Go/huskies]

Miller is a unique player with her size and footwork in traffic, at times I find myself saying wow that wasn’t a travel, she looks like a future WNBA All Star, but I can’t see her being taken before Boston when the time comes.

 

[eebmg]

Maryland is a sleeper team and fun to watch, I mean who doesn’t love a team that is deadly from deep? I thought early on they would be a sleeper team, with Miller and Reese on the wings, I wonder how Mikesell feels, I thought she transferred because Owusu and Reese would be doing most of the ball handling and she wanted to showcase her point guard skills, but now she’s still sharing point guard duties with Paopao.

I would guess she would be getting less minutes at MD than at OR with Benzan