Maryland Terrapins
Overall Rank: #9
Conference Rank: #3 ACC
Maryland Team Page
Like other schools in a transition mode between conferences, this will be the final season for Maryland basketball in its current form. After 2013-14, Maryland trades in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the Big Ten, and with that an era will end in College Park. The bigger question before the transition: Can the Terrapins have one final solid season in the ACC and even reach the coveted 30-win plateau? Not only that, can the Terrapins get veteran coach Brenda Frese her 300th win on the Maryland sidelines and her 350th overall victory?
2012-13 Record: 26-8, 15-1
2012-13 Postseason: NCAA (lost to Connecticut in regional semifinals, 76-50)
Coach: Brenda Frese
Coach Record: 278-94 at Maryland, 335-124 overall
Strengths:
Maryland’s offense revolved around two top scorers last year. We’ll talk about one of those scorers later, but for now Alyssa Thomas is the big story. Thomas, who is a senior this season, averaged a double-double of approximately 18 points and 10 rebounds a year ago to guide the Terrapins to the regional semifinals. Thomas might be a future WNBA star in the making thanks to her all-around game that also included 181 assists. Thomas is part of a team that returns four of its five leading scorers, including redshirt junior Laurin Mincy. Mincy was on her way to a solid season before an ACL tear ended her 2012-13 campaign after five games. Her return alone will offset the loss of one of the team’s top scorers.
Weaknesses:
Speaking of top scorers, the loss of Tianna Hawkins (18 points, 9.7 rebounds per game) will hurt the Terrapins somewhat. The twin combo of Hawkins and Thomas helped Maryland to a successful season, and the team will need to replace the lost rebounding Hawkins gave the Terrapins. This is about the only big weakness Maryland has, but it could be a big one if Mincy’s knee proves problematic to start the year.
Final Projection:
In all likelihood this could be a much better season for Maryland. Not only are four of the top five scorers back but so are eight of the 10 players that found the scoring column a year ago. Only Caitlin Adams is gone in addition to Hawkins and Adams was not a factor in 13 reserve appearances. The return of Mincy, plus other top scorers that are back and the addition of four freshmen, will help the transition to a Hawkins-less Maryland squad go much smoother. Whether or not Maryland reaches 30 wins depends on its non-conference schedule, and if it can go farther in the NCAA tournament. For now, the Terps look like a solid bet for success.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Alyssa Thomas, Senior, Forward, 18.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game
Katie Rutan, Senior, Guard, 68 3-point field goals last year
Laurin Mincy, Junior, Guard, missed all but five games with torn ACL in 2012-13
Alicia DeVaughn, Senior, Center, 7.4 rebounds per game
Chloe Pavlech, Sophomore, Guard, 137 assists last year
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.0 (9th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 56.8 (58, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.1 (3, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 35.4 (28, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.4 (215, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.5 (30, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.1 (73, 4)
Rebound Margin: 13.7 (2, 1)
Assists Per Game: 17.6 (6, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 17.5 (203, 5)
Madness 2014 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#3 Alyssa Thomas
#24 Alicia DeBaughn
Madness 2013 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#19 Lexie Brown
#41 Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
#46 Brionna Jones
#58 A'lexus Harrison
See All Top 44 Women’s Basketball Previews
