NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - HOLY CROSS VS MARYLAND

March 16, 2023

Brenda Frese

XFINITY Center

Maryland Terrapins

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for joining us, everyone. We're joined by Maryland Head Coach Brenda Frese.

Q. It's been a long season at this point. What's kind of one last message before you kind of start the postseason, you know. You guys have been through so many battles throughout the year. What's one last thing you say to the group before you get this party started?

COACH FRESE: I don't know if there's one last message because I think you are not going to change who you are at this point. So it's just continuing to be us I think is the most important thing. And you know, I think the thing we focus the most on these last couple weeks is fine tuning the details, understanding that it can come down to a possession where it's a communication piece on the defensive end, a box-out on the glass. So just kind of really fine tuning the details.

Q. Obviously the transfer portal is a pretty big part of college sports right now. It's been a big boost to your team this year. When you were looking at which players to bring in, how much did you have your specific style of play in mind when you were overhauling the roster?

COACH FRESE: The transfer portal is, you know, a part of our game, and I think you can see over the last couple of years we've had a lot of success within the portal. I think it's important -- our staff does a tremendous job kind of vetting through it. Where we need to know who the kid is and like you said, whether they fit our style of play. And that's really important, being able to score the basketball, being able to run, getting out in our transition game, being able to rebound. So a lot of different pieces and factors that go into it. And, you know, I think it's a job our staff does extremely well.

Q. So, you know, in earning the No. 2 seed you guys obviously have home court advantage. Kind of talk about how much it may mean to you and this team to open the tournament -- open up the tournament early against a home crowd?

COACH FRESE: Yeah. You know, it's a really important priority. That's what all teams try to work for is that home court advantage. And rightly so. The fact that you can kind of keep your routine, sleeping in your own beds and having your fans, you know, with the energy that our fans bring to the table. I think we also recognize that the number in front of your name being a home seed, hosting on your campus doesn't guarantee you a win. And so I think just understanding that we've got to do the work for the 40 minutes within that game, but also understanding that we have a tremendous opportunity to utilize our fans to bring a lot of energy for us.

Q. You guys were able to mix up so many different defenses throughout the year, even throughout singular games. How beneficial is that? How does that come into play now when you are playing different teams and you can -- you got so many different looks in your tool bag that you can use at any given moment?

COACH FRESE: I think it makes us a difficult scout when you are going back and watching film on us. I think it's a credit also to our players that they have allowed us as a coaching staff to be able to scheme and scout different teams based on personnel and style of play. So this team has done it better than most, and it's a big advantage when you can change up defenses on your opponent.

Q. It's been a pretty big year for the Big 10. I think you have four teams in the top three seed lines. Is there a sense of solidarity wanting the league to do well in this tournament and how important is it for the conference to follow-up the regular season you had?

COACH FRESE: Of course this time of year after you have been beating each other up all season long, you are all Big 10 and you want each and every team to move through the brackets as far as possible. So credit -- I thought the schedule -- the conference really prepared us for now to see so many teams are hosting and, like you said, top seeds is, you know, a great thing to be able to see. But now just understanding that each and every team has to, you know, continue to use what we did during the conference slate and take this into this tournament.

Q. It seems as if Holy Cross really wants to grind the game. Play slow. Rebound. Try to maybe force you into a couple mistakes you wouldn't normally make. And obviously you like to get out, rip and run, transition, that type of thing. When it's two stylistically matchup, as the favorite do you try to maybe make them play your way, or do you try to dominate in the way that they want to play?

COACH FRESE: I think both staffs and styles of play, you want to dominate the way you play. And that's the exciting thing when you match up against anyone, is you want to see who can win out. I don't see us wanting to lend to their style of play. I'm sure they don't want to lend to ours. So that's the beauty of the game. And putting the 40 minutes together and seeing who is able to, you know, outlast the other.

Q. How do you not let it get bogged down in terms of game style? Is it really trying to get out and push it especially? What's your plan?

COACH FRESE: Yeah. I think both ways. Defensively you need to be really really good with who you are. And then on the offensive end, you need to value the basketball. If you're turning the basketball over, that's going to lend to a team and their strengths. So it's just valuing the basketball.

Q. [Inaudible question].

COACH FRESE: I'm really excited for those three. They have had a tremendous year for us. It's a big reason why we are where we are today. That energy that we're getting out from all three of them off the bench, you know, again, it's starter minutes. They are coming in and they are so valuable to our team, with their defense, with their offense, with their rebounding. And you know, it's critical. But excited for all three of them in this tournament. And to be able to showcase what they are able to do.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach.