That Brenda Frese doesn't know how to prepare her team

[Icebear]

As usual many people are missing the point here. We are not UConn and play in the AAC. We play in the Big 10 with many solid (but not great) teams. Maryland don't need to schedule 10 top 20 teams in OOC. They have four decent/above average teams on their schedule, a fifth game against a team who won a tournament game last year (on the road against Duquesne) plus 8 soft teams. Maryland don't "need" to play 6/8 top 25 teams. They get enough competition in the Big 10. The reason why Maryland won two games by 126/129 point was partially because of the poor competition but in reality Maryland actually has a really good team. Kentucky men basketball team won their exhibition game by over 100 points. Maryland's bottom 5 players (the last players on the bench) are Sarah Myers, Jenna Staiti, Kiah Gillespie, Brianna Fraser and Blair Watson. You have three McDonald's All Americans and a state of Georgia POY. Odds are they will destroy all Div.2 or Div 3 teams.

All the more reason to not beat up on the defenseless.

 

[JordyG]

It seems you’re suggesting that Maryland’s soft OOC schedule was a significant contributing factor in their 2nd round loss in last year’s NCAA tournament, and that this year the team again won’t be ready - unlike Baylor, Texas and Louisville. It seems that you're predicting a greater likelihood of success for those three teams.

Last year, Louisville, a #3 seed, lost to DePaul in the 2nd round, like Maryland, a #2 seed.

Texas, also a #2, lost to Uconn in the Elite Eight round, as did Baylor, a #1 seed that lost to #2 Oregon State.

Why did Louisville, Texas and Baylor lose these games? Was it because they were playing teams with superior talent and/or superior coaching? Was it because they were playing teams that got hot at the right moment?

Why would Maryland’s 2nd round loss to Washington (an eventual Final Four team) be more attributable to its OOC schedule than any other possible factor?

In 2015 and 2014, Maryland made it to the Final Four - in 2014 as a #4 seed, surpassing the expectations of the NCAA committee, and in 2015 as a #1 seed, meeting its expectations.

Last year and the year before talented teams such as Baylor and Texas played soft OCC. Baylor has for years played an easy OOC while playing most games in Waco. Both of these teams have changed their tunes this year, and for good reason: early exits. All of the teams you've mentioned except Maryland are playing tougher OOC's and playing them on the road. Why do you think that is? Yet here again comes Frese with a great recruiting season a young, inexperienced team, and of the opinion that great recruiting makes championships easy. Well, prove it. Some also would say that Walz was the reason for her only championship. Well, prove them wrong.

 

[emjay]

Well, prove it. Some also would say that Walz was the reason for her only championship. Well, prove them wrong.

I am looking forward to seeing what Maryland will do this year (the win at Louisville was a great start!). It was thrilling to watch Alyssa Thomas carry the team to the Final Four in 2014, and it was gratifying to see them return again in 2015 (without Thomas). Last year's 2nd round loss was tremendously disappointing. I'm curious to see how that has motivated Walker-Kimbrough, Jones, Frese and the rest of the team.