UCONN vs Maryland
Day: Sunday
Date: November 19th, 2017
Date: November 19th, 2017
Location: Hartford, CT
Time: 1:30
Time: 1:30
TV: ESPN
No. 1 UConn Huskies No. 15 Maryland Terrapins
2-0 2-1
Prior Meetings
UConn leads the series 6-0
12/3/12 W 63-48 Home
3/30/13 W 76-50 Neutral
11/15/13 W 72-55 Away
4/5/15 W 81-58 Neutral
12/28/15 W 83-73 Home
12/29/15 W 87-81 Away
Above is highlights from last year's meeting.
UConn defeated Maryland last season in College Park, Maryland 87-81 in a game that ended up closer than the final score indicated. UConn had a 15 point lead going into the fourth quarter, 68-53. Destiny Slocum hit 3 three-point baskets in the fourth quarter to keep it from getting totally away from Maryland, but it wasn't nearly enough for the Terrapins. Sanyia Chong hit a late three to blunt any comeback by Maryland. Katie Lou threw up in a bucket and still managed to hit several other buckets to score 23 points to lead the Huskies. Slocum score 23 to lead Maryland and Briona Jones had 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Team Overviews
Maryland comes into this game with a 2-1 record. The beat Albany 91-58, Niagara 92-65 and lost to No. 4 South Carolina 94-86.
Losing three important players like Brionna Jones, Shatari-Walker and Slocum is never easy but so far, not bad. In the South Carolina game, Maryland was way down and they got to within three points.
UConn comes in 2-0 after easy wins over No. 14 Stanford 78-53 and No. 20 California . The only bummer is the injury to Samuelson and the impact to this game and the immediate future.
Losing three important players like Brionna Jones, Shatari-Walker and Slocum is never easy but so far, not bad. In the South Carolina game, Maryland was way down and they got to within three points.
UConn comes in 2-0 after easy wins over No. 14 Stanford 78-53 and No. 20 California . The only bummer is the injury to Samuelson and the impact to this game and the immediate future.
MPG - 23, FG% .455, 3PT% .250, FT% .917, 16.51 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1 blk, 4 stls
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1" Junior Forward/Guard
MPG - 24.5, FG% .474, 3PT% .286, FT% .500, 11 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0 blks, 5 stls
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Senior Forward
MPG - 26, FG% .579, 3PT% .000, FT% .333%, 12.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 90 blks, 5 stls
Min - 30, FG% .385%, 3PT% 667, FT 100%, 9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0 blks, 1 stl
5 Crystal Dangerfield
5'5" Sophomore Guard
MPG - 30, FG% .5675, 3PT% .933, FT% 1.000%, 9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2 blks, 1 stls
UConn Bench
23 Azura Stevens
6'6" Senior Forward/Guard
MPG - 19.5, FG% .474, 3PT% .141, FT .000%, 9.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 4 blks, 3 stls
3 Megan Walker
6'1" Freshman Guard/Forward
Min - 18, FG% .154, 3PT% .000, FT% 1.00, 3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1 blk, 2 stls
10 Molly Bent
5'9" Sophomore Guard
Min - 9, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, FT% .000, 0 ppg, 0 rpg, 0 apg, 0 blk, 0 stls
25 Kyla Irwin
6'2" Sophomore Forward
Min - 6.5, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, FT% .000, 0 ppg, .5 rpg, 0 apg, 0 blk, 0 stls
4 Mikayla Coombs
5'8" Freshman Guard
Min - 5, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, FT% .000, 0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0 apg, 0 blk, 0 stls
2 Andra Espinoza-Hunter
5'11" Freshman Guard
Min - 7, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, FT% .000, 0 ppg, .5 rpg, 0 apg, 0 blk, 1 stls
34 Alexi Gordon
6' Freshman Guard
Min - 1.5, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, FT% .000, 0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0 apg, 0 blk, 0 stls
Maryland
Head Coach Brenda Freese
Ahh....Coach Freese. One of the coaches that UConn fans love to hate. It goes back to some of the recruiting wars that UConn has had with Maryland since Freese became the Terps head coach in 2002. She has done a terrific job bringing in great players.
• No. 10 2002-03 Recruiting Class
• No. 2 2003-04 Recruiting Class
• No. 4 2004-05 Recruiting Class
• No. 7 2005-06 Recruiting Class
• No. 2 2006-07 Recruiting Class
• No. 10 2007-08 Recruiting Class
• No. 15 2008-09 Recruiting Class
• No. 2 2010-11 Recruiting Class
• No. 6 2011-12 Recruiting Class
• No. 4 2012-13 Recruiting Class
• No. 11 2013-14 Recruiting Class
• No. 10 2014-15 Recruiting Class
• No. 1 2015-16 Recruiting Class
• Unranked 2016-17 Recruiting Class
• Unranked 2016-17 Recruiting Class
Four years later, in 2006, Freese won a National Championship for Maryland, a terrific accomplishment. She has won 30+ games five times.
She has 408 wins in her 16 years of coaching.
She has 408 wins in her 16 years of coaching.
Here are some of her awards:
• Associated Press National Coach of the Year (2002)
• WBCA Regional Coach of the Year (2012, 2013, 2015)
• ACC Coach of the Year (Coaches' 2013)
• Big Ten Coach of the Year (2002, 2015)
Maryland Starters
12 Kristen Confroy
5'9" Senior Guard
Frese on Confroy: “Kristen is mentally one of the toughest players you’ll see. She accepts every challenge our staff throws at her and never shows any sign of cracking. She has hit numerous big shots for us in big situations and has a knack for rebounding from her position that is tremendous.”
Ranked the No. 51 overall player by Blue Star and No. 55 by All Star Girls Report… averaged 19.3 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game through her high school career…McDonald's All-American nominee.
3 Kaila Charles
6'0" Sophomore Guard
Games - 3, MPG 22.7, FG% .465, 3PT% .400, FT% .950, PPG 20.3, RPG 7.0, APG .3
Frese on Charles: “Kaila is a champion in every sense of the word. As a freshman, she’s already pushing the level of everything this team does from workouts to practices and anything else. That probably shouldn’t be a surprise when her mom and sister were Olympians. I’m excited for her future.”
2016 McDonald’s and WBCA All-American…named to the Jordan Brand Classic USA Today All-America Second Team…named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year as a senior…scored 2,000 points in her career...averaged over 22.0 points and 9.0 rebounds with 13 double-doubles her senior year…the No. 25 overall player by both ESPN and the Collegiate Girls Report and No. 21 by the All Star Girls Report
24 Stephanie Jones
6'2" Sophomore Forward
Games - 3, MPG 26.0, FG% .609, 3PT% .000, FT% .857, PPG 13.3, RPG 10.0, APG 1.7
Frese on Jones: “The Jones family has been incredible for our program. Stephanie is coming along well while rehabbing her repaired ACL. Once she’s 100 percent, we know she can provide that same Jones family standard we’ve enjoyed for four years.”
Named to Naismith Trophy Watch List…named the No. 51 overall player by both ESPN and the Collegiate Girls Report and No. 35 by the All Star Girls Report.
22 Blair Watson
6' Sophomore Guard
Games - 3, MPG 28.0, FG% .444, 3PT% .458, FT% .000, PPG 14.3, RPG 4.3, APG 2.3
Frese on Watson: “I’ve said from the first day I saw her, she has the potential to be a great player in our program. She can do it all on the floor. She’s been patient and diligent in rehab for her shoulder and once she's 100 percent, I think you’re going to see her put the pedal to the metal.”
2016 McDonald’s All-American…also named a WBCA High School All-American…named the No. 28 overall player by both ESPN and the Collegiate Girls Report and No. 24 by the All Star Girls Report.
Channise Lewis
5'8" Freshman Guard
Games - 3, MPG 18.7, FG% .353, 3PT% .429, FT% .500, PPG 5.7, RPG 1.3, APG 3.7
Rated the No. 55 overall recruit by ESPN's HoopGurlz.... earned FABC All-State honors in three years, All-USA Florida Girls Team honors, All-Dade County First Team honors every season and was named All-Dade County Player of the Year twice...named Miami Country Day's Player of the Year in 2016, Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the Year in 2017 and was a runner-up for Miss Basketball...earned Naples Holiday Shootout All-Tournament honors twice and was named the MVP in 2016... named to the Nike Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team in 2016.
Maryland Bench
1 Ieshia Small
6' RS Senior
Games - 3, MPG 24.7, FG% .462, 3PT% .000, FT% .733, PPG 11.7, RPG 5.3, APG 4.3
Frese on Small: “We’re excited to see what Ieshia can do on the court. It’s been a while since she played, but we’ve seen glimpses. She’s a very powerful guard that can be a handful for defenders when she attacks. She has a big personality and I think our fans are going to enjoy getting to know her.”
34 Brianna Fraser
6'3" Junior Forward
Games - 3, MPG 26.3, FG% .419, 3PT% .000, FT% .636, PPG 11.0, RPG 7.0, APG 1.3
Frese on Fraser: “Brianna can do some things that maybe no post player we’ve had before her can do. She’s very fluid with the ball and can be very hard to defend. I’m excited to keep challenging her to grow into all her potential.”
21 Sara Myers
6' Sophomore Guard
Games - 3, MPG 24.3, FG% .250, 3PT% .000, FT% .875, PPG 3.7, RPG 3.7, APG 3.7
Frese on Myers: “From the day she arrived on campus, Sarah has been stepping up for us. She's a really hard worker and is not afraid to lead and take on responsibility. The same attributes I liked when I first saw her in high school are still there and she’s going to be a really good player for us."
Game Analysis
There is really a big change in rosters for Maryland and not many changes for UConn. No comparison to last years matchup.
Maryland loses threee terrific players in Shatari Walker-Kimbrough, Brionna Jones and Destiny Slocum.
SWK was the best guard on the team. Brionna Jones was their 6'3" center. A true wide body. And a superstar in the making was Slocum. They are not at the same level as Stewart, Jefferson and Tuck, but the losses for the Maryland team is just as impactful.
Returning to the starting lineup is Senior guard Kristen Confroy. She is a deadly shooter when left open. Confroy has improved the rest of her offensive game with drives to the basket. But that is against weaker teams and not a defense as good as UConn's.
Another returning is now leading scorer sophomore Kaila Charles, a 6' guard/wing. She is more of a slasher and likes to play around the basket. She is 2-5 on threes so I guess you still have to honor that. She is also the second leading rebounder on the team.
Stephanie Jones, Brionna's little sister, moves into the starting lineup at center this season and has done a great job so far. She is averaging a double-double to date. She is a little slight in build, unlike her older sister, who would carve out space in the lane. But she has good rebounding instincts and has long arms and nice jumping ability. A lovely little jumper in the lane is her major weapon on offense.
Now sophomore, Blair Watson, a 6' guard moves into the backcourt. She has been the big three point threat for Maryland, going 11-24. That's 6 attempts per game, so UConn will have to keep a good eye on her.
Replacing last years great freshman point guard Destiny Slocum is 5'8" freshman point guard Channise Lewis. She is averaging 3.7 assists per game. Not bad. But she is also averaging almost 3 turnovers per game.
Their big weapon off the bench is Iesha Small, the former Baylor guard. She is averaging double digit scoring and leading the team in assists. She might not start, but she will get plenty of minutes against UConn.
UConn comes into this game a little short handed, with the possibility of KLS missing the game with an ankle injury. If she plays, I would bet her minutes will be limited as well as her effectiveness. But after last years performance against Maryland, where she played incredibly well considering her vomiting in a bucket!
Maryland plays mostly a matchup zone, where they look like they are playing a man-to-man but as the UConn players cut through the lane they are picked up by the post defenders. Last year it was pretty effective but without Brionna Jones to fill the lane, I don't think it will be nearly as effective. UConn moves so well without the ball and they pass the ball so crisply that they should be able to find openings in the zone. Passes over the top of the zone to perimeter players should find some open threes for Nurse, Dangerfield and if she is playing Samuelson.
In the past Maryland had used the strategy of pounding the ball inside to Jones and worked to get open threes. But with the big girl gone, they have had to adjust how they work their offense. They might be hoisting a lot of three point shots.
I think UConn will try to do what they always do, try to run as much as possible to tire out the opponent. That could be particularly effective against the limited player rotation. UConn will set up in the half court if the break is not there and work the ball around the Maryland zone with their excellent passing.
Maryland will have some issues trying to guard the big three. If she plays, Samuelson is a match problem for most teams, and Maryland starts four guards. None of them will be able to handle Lou's height. She will take advantage of that factor, posting up and coming off curls for jumpers.
If Samuelson doesn't play, Stevens moves into the starting lineup and presents just as many issues for Maryland to deal with. I would look for Stevens to post up the shorter Jones and take her outside the arc for a few three point attempts. The 11 point second half for Stevens might be the start of her playing to her ability. Hey, it's only the third game!
Geno will have to find another player to add to the regular rotation. Minutes played so far might suggest Molly Bent, but I think based on how the bench has played in the two games so far, that Geno might give Andra Hunter-Espinoza some more minutes. I bet he is telling her over and over to shoot when she is open and don't worry about missing. This kid has a great shot. She needs to take it.
Final Prediction
There are some talented players on the Maryland team. Charles is a heck of a player. But she hasn't been the go to player very long. Jones has been terrific, but two of the games were against weaker teams. Maryland starts 1 senior in Conroy and starts 3 sophomores and a freshman. They are a really young team walking into the XL Center on Sunday. That doesn't bode well for the Terrapins.
UConn will keep the pressure on them early and often and look to turn them over for easy baskets.
UConn will keep the pressure on them early and often and look to turn them over for easy baskets.
With or without Samuelson, UConn just still too talented for Maryland. UConn by 25+.
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