Oct. 16, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland's women's basketball team held its annual media day on Wedneday, Oct. 16, in the Comcast Center, theTerrapins' new home. Below are 2002 AP Coach of the Year and Terps' new head coach Brenda Frese's comments from media day.
Opening Statement:
"We're really excited about a new era for our women's basketball team and a new beginning. When you look around, you're sitting here in Heritage Hall in this brand new facility, being a part of the number one facility in the country. (In addition to the new building) we're really excited about having a new coaching staff, new system, and a lot of new faces on this squad. There are five newcomers out of the 11 players we have on scholarship and with the new personnel so we're excited. We don't have a lot of experience with the loss of five graduating seniors, and there's not a lot of depth, but this team is hungry and is excited about building the foundation for this program and excited about reestablishing a tradition here at the University of Maryland and for our women's basketball program. I'm so pleased at what I've seen so far, and if our preseason and our first four days of practice is any indication, it's going to be exciting. Our players got themselves into really good shape to come into practice. We only have four practices under our belts but I'm really excited about this team. They're very coachable, work extremely hard and good things are going to happen when you have a work ethic like that. We are going to have to be patient, we have a very difficult schedule; going to Penn St. and with Virginia Tech coming in here, and with Miami's tournament. That'll be a very difficult non-conference schedule for us...and we already know with the ACC conference what kind of schedule that is. With not having a lot of experience we'll definitely have to be patient with this young ball club."
On pressure to turn around Maryland's program after being National Coach of the Year:
"I've never looked at it as pressure -- I think it's exciting because there are so many unknowns. You don't know what this team is going to do and where they're going to be at. In terms of coming in with credentials and being the AP Coach of the Year, all I can expect of myself and our staff is to come out everyday and work very hard to maximize the potential of these student athletes. I'm just going to pour my heart and soul into it just as I have with any other team that I've had."
On similarities in turning around Maryland's program and Minnesota's program last season:
"It's really similar because you have two premier conferences and you can compare notes to the beginning of last season as to the things that we're running and things that we're doing just to see where this team is at in comparison to the Minnesota team. It is different because you have a new identity and different personnel, so it's always a challenge to the coaching staff because you want to fit your personnel to put them in positions to be successful."
On possible starting lineup:
"I'm really excited by what I'm seeing, I would never want to rule things out that early, we're putting so many teaching things in for them, a lot of plays, so right now there are a lot of mental things going on with them that you aren't really able to see their true potential. I am really excited both by the new players coming in,
Charmaine Carr and
Chrissy Fisher as freshmen have really come in and battled and shown that they're going to play as freshmen. And we have some great senior leadership out of
Terri Daniels,
Renneika Razor and
Brie Jackson. The thing that will be different about this year's team is that we're going to be very up-tempo. This is by far the most athletic team I've ever coached, and that even counts from a year ago. We're getting up and down the floor and the transition game is really going to be exciting to see."
Overall impression of team:
"These players are hungry and will run through a wall to represent this university and that's what I'm most excited about. I don't have comparisons to make from a year ago because I never saw them play in person. They're really excited about being able to do some positive things for this program."
Goals as far as post-season play is concerned:
"Realistically for this team our goal is just to get better. We're taking over a program that won 13 games and graduated five seniors, so this team needs to learn how to play together and have confidence and a lot of fun. That's what this season is all about, both developing them as people and players and collectively as a team. Hopefully people will see that when we step out on the floor as a team we'll will get better and improve and that we'll be a lot of fun to watch."
Injuries:
"We're doing great with the injuries, especially with such a short squad with only 11 on the roster. Right now we're completely healthy so we hope it'll stay that way.".
