Oct. 28, 2008
Head Coach Brenda Frese
Opening Statement:
"It is just an exciting time of year, especially having a week of practices and being able to share so much about our team and program. First, I do want to tell all of you how proud I and thankful I am of all that our team and staff accomplished last season. When you look at the second season for us to be able to win 30 games, the fact that we've been able to go to the Elite Eight two of the past three years, the undefeated home winning streak that we have been able to secure, and again to be able to finish top ten in the nation in attendance goes to show the support from our fan base. Obviously, I am very proud of last year's seniors, two first-round WNBA draft picks. But having said that, the graduation of five seniors and fifty-one percent of our scoring and fifty-seven percent of our rebounding, leads us to where we are today.
"This is what is so exciting from a coach's end, anytime you get to start this process. We are thrilled after a week about where our team is at and the amount of effort and all the hard work they have put into the preseason. I am really excited with the blend we have; the experience factor in our backcourt, and the youth and energy that we've had from our frontcourt.
"In our backcourt, we have Kristi Toliver who is the first Maryland player to be named to the Nancy Lieberman Award in the offseason as the best point guard in the country. She was named AP WBCA State Farm All-American, and is three assists away from breaking the all time Maryland assist record. She is really doing a phenomenal job for us. Of any season I've seen, in this first week of practice, the maturity, poise and confidence she's playing with really directed this team. We need the leadership that we have been able to see in Kristi up to this point.
"Senior Marissa Coleman is `Ms. Versatility.' You talk about a three-time All-ACC performer. She was the first Terp in the history of our program to score 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 blocks. Again, it goes to show the versatility she is going to be able to provide in every avenue on the court. She is able to impact the game in so many different ways.
"Sophomore Marah Strickland had a great offseason. She got in the weight room and has gotten stronger, and gives us a legitimate backcourt with the game experience she had last season. She was someone we leaned on as our best defenders from the perimeter position, and has done a tremendous job from the three point line. We are really looking for Marah to expand her game this season with her role within the team and are excited about the depth that we are going to have with the back court.
"We have three redshirts last year, Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, Anjale Barrett, and Kimberly Rodgers. All three are healthy, are going to contribute and are doing some great things in practice. The number one question is how are they going to do in games, and we are all going to find out that answer together. I am really proud of how hard those three have been working. Sa'de gives a great defensive presence and a great spark of energy, Anjale is probably the strongest point guards we have ever had, with her ability to attack to the rim and to get to the basket. Kim Rodgers gives us a really nice option in terms of her ability to shoot from the three point line.
"I am really excited about what we have seen in our front court early on in practice. Probably the greatest surprise for us has been Lynetta Kizer. When we recruited her we knew she was going to be special, but just seeing how far ahead she is. She gives us a dominant low post presence inside, she played with USA basketball in the summer and helped lead her team to the Under 18 Championship in Argentina. She gives us a solid low post presence for us to secure inside.
"Junior College player, Demauria Liles was name Junior College player of the year as well as led her team to a Junior College National Championship. Of any forward that we have had in the program, she is by far the most athletic forward we have had. She is undersized but makes up for it in terms of her athleticism and her ability to get up near the rim; she is really going to show up for a lot of our rebounding responsibilities that we need.
"Sophomore Drey Mingo is someone we are looking for to continue to expand her role. With the way she was tutored last year by Laura Harper and Crystal Langhorne, we are expecting Drey to have an even bigger expanded role for us this season. The new surprise is Yemi Oyefuwa from London, England. She is a young lady who really is a raw talent. Every single day on the court I see her pick up something new, and I just think her upside is huge. It could be January when she has the dominant impact that we are expecting but with her size, presence and what she can do on the court, it could be sooner than later.
"Our last frontcourt player is Emery Wallace who will be stepping down to secure a medical hardship. After many attempts and numerous knee surgeries, she has had great courage in terms of bouncing back. She will still be an intricate part of this team and give great energy during practices and sitting on the bench at games, but she will be focusing on academics and her health.
"As always, our schedule is very challenging. We play 17 teams this year that were in the post season. When you look at our preseason games we have Rutgers, Illinois, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Old Dominion, and Purdue. We always love to play a competitive non-conference schedule, for the fact that it is going to prepare this team, find out where we are at, and get us prepared for ACC play. We really need to see for our younger players, where we are at because we will be challenged early and often.
"The final piece I am happy to be able to announce that we are launching a new site, MarylandWomensBasketball.com. I have always felt that we are ahead of the curve. When you talk about our Athletic Director, Dr. Debbie Yow who has always created the vision within our athletic department and was the first to come to me with our coaches' show, `Under the Shell,' and now with our ability and vision to be able to create a website like this that really captures the total Maryland experience. As you'll see, it is very interactive and you'll see so many things that don't exist on other websites out there. We feel like we are one of the first to show how powerful the internet can be, and believe that it will be able to raise more awareness about our team and program, attract new fans, increase ticket sales, and continue to help build a stronger national presence. The other thing I am really proud of is that the vision and creativity of the site was designed by Michelle Miller, a Maryland alum and former member of the Maryland women's basketball team. We feel thrilled that we are going to be able to constantly be able to raise the bar for this team and program."
On the biggest challenge between now and the start of the season:
"The biggest thing is obviously the defense, rebounding, and what we lost in our ability to get to the glass. So that has been a major focus but with all of the new comers, getting them caught up to speed on our defense and transition defense. For a lot of them the plays and sets we have put in, there are just so many new things you have to get in before your first game, and our first exhibition game is this Sunday."
On Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman as leaders:
"I think the exciting thing is that Kristi and Marissa know what we expect. They know how to shoulder the load, and when the shot clock is winding down they know how to make plays. I think the thing I am most thrilled about is seeing where their leadership is at within this first week of practice. They are so into helping the others and making sure every one is caught up to speed. Their leadership is what we need to have consistently on a day to day basis throughout the season."
On Lynetta Kizer's preparation:
"Lynetta's preparation started her senior year in high school when she sent me an e-mail discussing that she needed to get herself in shape. From there we were able to get her in touch with our strength and conditioning staff. The ownership was all onher, she changed her diet, did extra cardio, and recognized that she was not in the shape that she needed to be in order to come in here and make an impact or play the kind of minutes that we need her to play. She's been tapped pre-season freshman of the year but now she understands that she has to put the hard work into that to be able to go out and secure that."
On the seniors lost and its effect on the expectations for the team:
"I think our expectations are always even higher. The bar has been raised for this team and program. It has always been the same for us, and we have always felt that if we work hard in our preseason and practices then everything else will pay off for us. What we can control is our work ethic."
On this year's seniors' goals to win a National Championship:
"I think every player that we recruit here now has the goal and aspirations to win a National Championship. These young ladies are really driven and that is always the goal. I think they understand that as just by as hard as they are working, everyday they are trying to improve and get better to try and achieve that goal."
On the ACC:
"I am obviously excited to have North Carolina back here this year, and we always have the home and home with Duke. I think there's much more parodies when you talk about the improvement that you are starting to see. I think anyone can battle anyone on any given night, and when you look at Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Florida State and how much the league has improved since I've came here, it has been amazing to be able to watch."
On changing her approach with the new comers:
"The thing we've found is that we never lower our intensity level but we have tried to be smart from a coaching end in how much you can throw at them in a day and how long you can keep them in a practice. I'd rather have shorter practices if I am going to get greater intensity. We have been a lot more strategic as a coaching staff in terms of the duration of practices to be able to keep the intensity at the level that we want and need it to be at."
On Lori Bjork:
"Lori Bjork is someone who will be sitting out this year, she is a transfer from the University of Illinois. We are really thrilled, Lori was able to graduate from Illinois in three years, and now she will be sitting out this year and taking graduate classes. She is going to be tremendous for us from a scout team end. With her work ethic and amount of time she spends in the gym, you would think she is competing for a starting position. The way she has approached every single practice and the reps she has gotten in the gym, we are excited that with the graduation of our three seniors this year, Lori is going to provide an immediate impact next season as a senior to help this team."
On the role of more experienced players:
"I think Kristi and Marissa are going to play a huge role, and I expect that to happen immediately. When you look at our schedule and the tough non-conference opponents we have, we are going on the road and it takes a different mentality when you are competing out there. I really expect them to consistently play at a level until our new comers are able to be able to get caught up to speed. The exciting thing is that Kristi and Marissa worked really hard in the off season and I think they are excited about this new opportunity to show their ability to lead this team."
On Kristi Toliver's maturity:
"I have seen so many great things, a focus ad a level of intensity consistently. Everyone knows what a great scorer she is but defensively, she has really set the tone on the defensive end of the team, trying to improve and get bettering that area. I see her understanding timing, speed and pace within our offense. The old Kristi may have run some of our sets before everyone else was ready and before the team was set up in the right positions. Now as a senior, Kristi will not run a set until everyone is ready in their places. That's the joy of coaching, to be able to see a player as a senior understand what her role is and how she is able to lead and guide this team."
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