COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland women's basketball team welcomed local, regional and national media to the XFINITY Center Thursday for its annual Media Day.
The Terrapins come in at No. 6 in the Lindy's poll and No. 9 in the Street & Smith's poll. They are No. 17 in the Athlon Sports preseason poll. Junior Kaila Charles was named to the Street & Smith's Preseason All-America Second Team. The Associate Preseason poll will be released Oct. 31 and the USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches poll will be released Nov. 1.
The Terrapins earned an overall record of 26-8 last season and advanced to their fourth straight Big Ten championship game and NCAA Second Round. The Terps return four starters. Charles earned All-Big Ten First Team and WBCA All-Region honors.
This year, Maryland welcomes the No. 4 freshman class in the country, featuring Shakira Austin, Taylor Mikesell and Olivia Owens, as well as junior transfer Sara Vujacic.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season are on sale now. To purchase season tickets, click here. For ticket information for the upcoming season, log on to the Terrapin Ticket Office online umterps.com or call 1-800-IM-A-TERP.
Maryland officially opens the season on Friday, Nov. 9 vs. Coppin State at 7 p.m. at XFINITY Center. The Terrapins will host Kutztown and Clarion for a pair of exhibition matchups Oct. 28 and Nov. 2.
Quotes from Thursday's Media Day are below.
Head Coach Brenda Frese
Opening Statement:
"Obviously we are very excited about the upcoming season and being able to welcome our four newcomers that we really feel like are a another outstanding class that we're bringing into our program. In addition, we are returning four starters from last season, which allowed us to bring back about 75 percent of our offense. I thought last season gave us a tremendous amount of experience, which I thought was very invaluable to our young group as was being able to finish out strong. Also, to be able to set that tone and be able to get us back to where we know we can be. It has been a phenomenal summer for us. I think the thing that separates this team right now is their bond, and their chemistry which is stronger than any team I have seen in a long time. They just had a tremendous summer in the weight room, thanks to our basketball performance staff. You can really see their results when you look out on the floor and see the hard work that they put in. I know our fans are really going to enjoy this new group, they're talented and they're going to really have an impact immediately for us. The energy and the personality of this team is going to be a lot of fun to watch this season."
On biggest challenge with bringing in new players:
"You know, up to this point it's been defense.
Taylor Mikesell - a couple of weeks ago - let me know that she hasn't played man-to-man defense, she always played in a zone defense her entire high school career. When you look at some of those deficiencies right now on the floor defensively, we've spent more time there and it probably doesn't look like it at this point, so that's going to be a work in progress for us throughout this season, but they will get there. They're fast learners."
On what she's hoping to do offensively this season:
"I think a big piece for us, as I look on the floor, is that we have more weapons and we have more scorers. I look at the ability to shoot the three right now is very high for us - when you look at Taylor [Mikesell], you look at Sarah Vujacic, they're able to expand it. Then when you look at our post game right now with
Brianna Fraser,
Stephanie Jones,
Kaila Charles and
Shakira Austin, just having that inside-outside combination is going to be key. Another key element for us is
Blair Watson and how quickly we need to get her back on the floor, but we can't rush that process for her coming back. She just brings probably even more defensively, how she can guard for us as a junior, her passing ability and her ability to shoot the three."
On competing in the Big Ten Conference:
"I think back to when I first got here to Maryland and Gail Goestenkors and Duke was the standard. I remember how we all had to kind of adjust to that standard and again, you remember in '06, four years later when we won the National Championship. That program made us better and I think we've done the same as we've gone into the Big Ten and been able to elevate the play. You do see teams now that are hungry, that are prepared. Last season they were able to come in here on occasion which we didn't like, but get some wins here at XFINITY, going on the road. We get everyone's best shot. That's where you want to be as a program, but also at the same point in the conference is that you're helping elevate every team's play."
On if she's more comfortable going into this season than she was last year:
"I don't know if a coach is ever comfortable going into a season because I think we always see our holes and our weaknesses and want to make sure nobody else sees them. But yeah, we are able - I think the ones we couldn't cover up last year - we were able to fill. So when you look at our size and you look at our three-point shooting ability now, the experience at the point guard position has drastically improved and I think the last piece for us is getting
Blair Watson completely healthy… and that's the piece that's still missing. Fortunately we have some time, but that's the piece that will make us completely whole."
Junior Guard Kaila Charles
On what Stephanie Jones brings to the team:
"Steph does a lot, she's not very talked about, but she does a lot offensively and defensively. She's just always talking, always doing the little things, I believe she averaged the most steals last year. She's always getting rebounds, always fighting for loose balls, she's a big factor on our team. Offensively she's always there, you know she might be setting screens, but she'll be open. She talks, she communicates and she'll knock down shots. She's a very big part of our team, she keeps us together. She's kind of a glue player because she has more impact and she really bring us together. "
On what she can do defensively to get the team on track:
"Just being the example, and not taking plays off. Making sure they (the younger players) are looking at us seeing us working hard on defense and think that they need to do that, because most importantly offense wins game but defense wins championships. But, mainly just locking in and being supportive. I know we had certain practices where our defense hasn't played well, but I go to our underclassmen and say, 'It's okay next play, we're going to be good, next time we'll be good.' That way we're all uplifting each other, and not being negative. Just being positive and supportive. Just being a good role model, in terms of they see me do it, that way, I'm not just telling them to do it but doing it myself can really help."
Senior Forward Brianna Fraser
On this being her final season:
"Yeah, it came around really quick. I'm just happy to be able to have one more year with my teammates. You know, to play hard and just remember all of these great opportunities we get to have."
On her steps taken to be a leader for the team:
"Just bring my voice and energy to practice all of the time. I know that I've been quiet before, you know being a freshman or a sophomore you're not really that comfortable talking. Though now I've been with the team for such a long time and the chemistry makes it really easy for me to speak up."
Junior Forward Stephanie Jones
On the change for this season:
"I guess it's just being an upperclassman now, and just knowing that we have four new players coming into the system. We just have to help them ease into it and I just have to be a leader for them, and to step up. We, having gone through it, know exactly what's going on what they should be doing and just helping them deal with the transition."
On what they took from last season:
"I think overall everybody was able to gain a lot of experience, and become leaders. Also, just to be able to figure out their role on the team. I believe last year was a great year for everybody to step up, use their voice, and be their own leader."
