Can you say Tchatchouang with a French accent?
Fresh off a 2008 appearance in the Elite 8 but down a couple of superstars from last year, the Maryland women’s basketball team has jumped out to a 12-2 record. That record is not getting any attention on the national level as the ladies enter ACC play unranked in both polls. Maryland kicks off ACC play against NC State today.
In her column on the ACC women’s basketball outlook, ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel points out that the roster has virtually fallen apart with graduations, transfers, and academic ineligibility problems. She states, “That left Maryland with an 11-player roster that had nine freshmen or sophomores.” That’s a young team, and they’re going to have to gel fast if they’re going to succeed against a strong conference schedule.
On the bright side, the aforementioned underclasswomen seem to be gelling now. French freshman Diana Tchatchouang won ACC Rookie of the Week last week after an outstanding game against SJU. Tchatchouang is averaging about 15 pts/gm and has elevated her play as the season has progressed. Another freshman, Tiana Hawkins, is averaging 11 pts and 8.5 rb per game so far. Sophomore center Lynetta Kizer has also stepped-up her game this year, and she brings a big presence in the paint.
Despite the departure of many key players, it seems to me that the Terps have only had one setback thus far against Towson. They are otherwise chugging along coming into ACC play. That’s because Maryland has not lost its MVP – Head Coach Brenda Frese. Like the men, everyone is counting the lady Terps out. Unlike the men, this team has been playing to its potential all year. I think they’re going to surprise people in ACC play.
Girls aren’t supposed to have ineligibility problems. Come on. You’re a freaking women’s basketball player (who, I believe shouldn’t be allowed to exist) and you can’t even get good enough grades to play your horrendous sport? You suck.
Stupidity does not discriminate my friend. Dee Liles had committed to playing for Maryland in 2006, but she had to spend a couple of years at a junior college to get her academics together before coming back to play this year. But hey, it happens to the best of us. As far as I can tell she never got on the court, so it’s hard to tell what the impact losing her had on the team. It sounds like she was a very athletic small forward, so the Terps lost some depth if nothing else.
i guess everyone caught the score of the n.c.state game?this is starting to smell eerily like the mens situation.ride a hot streak to an improbable national title..then slide back down to mediocre also ran.brenda and gary both talk a good game..but it was a couple of stellar players that both these teams rode for a title.gary williams gets final four coaching money for n.i.t. results.hopefully the woman will prevail,at least maybe next year with this great recruiting class…oh…can Missy Meharg or Cathy Reese coach basketball?if not maybe they can recruit for gary williams?
[...] on Monday and beat the #21 UVA Cavaliers 61-60 on national TV. One of the freshman I mentioned in my previous post on the women’s team, Lynetta Kizer, stepped up big time, going for 19 pts and 14 rb. [...]