Nov. 20, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
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Embarking on a new era, Maryland's women's basketball will undergo its biggest changes in over two decades. This year, the Terps begin their season in a new building and will be the first team, men's or women's, to play a game in the Comcast Center. Walking the sideline in the state-of-the-art building will be first-year head coach Brenda Frese, only the third coach in Maryland history. In light of those changes, it's easy to see why Terp fans have a high level of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season.
The New Coaching Staff
Frese and her staff have their work cut out for them, but if there's a group of people up to the task of revitalizing the Maryland program, it's these five. Frese's staff organized the best turnaround in the Big Ten history last season, taking a Minnesota program that was 8-20 to a 22-8 record in 2001-02. Named the 2002 Associated Press Coach of the Year for her success at Minnesota, she brought her entire Gopher staff with her to Maryland to try the same feat two years in a row.
Joining Frese is seven-year assistant coach Jeff Walz, four-year assistant coach Marsha Frese (Brenda Frese's younger sister), and Erica Floyd, a nine-year assistant coaching veteran. Director of Basketball Operations Mark Pearson also packed his bags and joined Frese in College Park to begin anew again, this time with the Terps.
The Pieces Of The Puzzle
Similarly to her start at Minnesota last season, Frese has her work cut out for her again, inheriting a Maryland program that went 12-17, finished eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings and graduated five seniors from its roster.
No stranger to taking over difficult situations after not only turning around the Golden Gopher program, but also Ball State's women's basketball program the two years prior, Frese is up for the challenge.
"It's definitely going to be a rebuilding period for us after losing five seniors," said Frese. "We're going to have to use this year to teach and coach fundamentals with so many young, inexperienced players. With that approach, we're really going to be able to start building the foundation of this program."
POSITION-BY-POSITION
Guards
Senior Renneika Razor, one of two returning Terrapin starters, will be asked to carry most of the load during the 2002-03 season with the departure of All-ACC guard and No. 7 all-time scorer March
