NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL 1 SEMIFINAL - NOTRE DAME VS MARYLAND

March 24, 2023

Brenda Frese

Diamond Miller

Abby Meyers

Shyanne Sellers

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Maryland Terrapins

Sweet 16 Pregame Media Conference

BRENDA FRIESE: Well, first of all, thanks for being here. Sweet 16 never gets old. I've been really fortunate to be a part of so many.

This season it really ranks right up there, just given that no one expected us to be here this year. Off-season we had a lot of questions, nine new players, we lost 87 percent of our offense. Just extremely proud of our staff and our team for buying in and trusting in the process.

Obviously we're led by All-American Diamond Miller, but it goes to show when a team is unselfish and plays with great chemistry, great things can happen.

We understand Notre Dame. Two teams that are really familiar with one another. We played each other back in December, and neither team is really the same when you look at the dynamics. Notre Dame is going to want an inside-out type of game, and for us it's kind of more on the perimeter, five out. But we're very, very excited about the matchup for tomorrow.

Q. You touched on it right there; how much does that previous game play considering how different Notre Dame is now, how much you guys have progressed since that point? And I guess how do you scout a little bit when it's a different team than you faced a couple months ago?

BRENDA FRIESE: I think the only thing both teams know is personnel. It's changed drastically for both, as you've seen what we've evolved into and grown, where our rotations and where our depth is.

And obviously the same thing for Notre Dame, some of their personnel pieces have changed. But they've really morphed into the best version of themselves. I can't say enough about Niele and the staff, what they've been able to do through their injuries. And they just continue to keep putting their head down and finding ways to win.

Q. Abby Meyers was a great player last year in Princeton, but some of her numbers are even better this year under y'all, and you've asked her to do a little bit of different things. How has she changed as a player or grown as a player?

BRENDA FRIESE: Well, we really were fortunate to be able to get a player like Abby to come back home, and to gain that experience and that leadership has been huge. She's another dynamic scorer for us, so it takes some of that pressure off of Diamond to have more scorers.

But her game defensively has really grown. She's understanding shot selection, being efficient, and rebounding the basketball. So all the intangibles, as well, that we really need.

Q. Brenda, you talked about how gratifying it is to be back after what you guys went through. How quickly did it all come together for you guys? Was it a process over these few months? Did it happen in November? How did that unfold?

BRENDA FRIESE: It was a huge journey. I pinpoint that it started when we had a team retreat back in September, with all the new faces and the team bonding that we needed to do on the court. If you watched us in November and December, it wasn't pretty. It took a lot of games and with the really second toughest schedule in the country that was built for players that were no longer with us.

They trusted the process, but really I would say it started clicking in conference play. The Big Ten really prepared us for -- you know, those games to prepare us for now.

Q. You played Notre Dame earlier in the year. What do they look like now on paper or on video? Are they totally different from the way you played them back in December?

BRENDA FRIESE: They really are. When you lose two elite-level guards like they did with Miles and Mabrey, two starters. But what I'll saying when you watch them on film, they still have five McDonald's All-Americans that are still on their roster. That talent is plentiful at Notre Dame. They've just built it differently.

Westbeld is playing really, really well. They've moved her out to the perimeter. They've got just great size. They're trying to pound it inside and use that ability with their size and their rebounding.

They've just done a tremendous job just building it differently through the adversity that they've faced.

Q. Coach, if I could ask you sort of two things on transferring. Lynne Roberts was in here yesterday talking about how it's difficult because the recruiting process of regular players and transfers, one may be years and the other may be weeks. As somebody who is known as such a great recruiter, how have you adjusted to that? And also, the fact that now players transfer for reasons that they never used to transfer for, it has nothing to do with sometimes playing time, has nothing to do with team success. How have you adjusted to all those things, because obviously you've been able to do that.

BRENDA FRIESE: You have to. If you don't adapt and adjust, you're going to be left behind. The portal has taken and giveth. We've been very fortunate to be able to get great players out of the portal. You see it over the years for us. But you do, you have to be ready to adapt.

It's very challenging. Obviously daily, our staff is monitoring it. We're still in season, so those teams that have lost are recruiting at a higher rate, but we're still balancing all of it.

Your staff has to be really prepared, and I can't say enough for our staff what they've been able to do. Bringing in nine new players last year was -- I liken it to a rebuild similar to when I first came to Maryland, although it wasn't a rebuild. But you've got to understand what it is and be able to adapt to it.

Q. This is actually the second year in a row you got a rematch in the Sweet 16. Last year Stanford. Obviously unfortunately not the result you wanted. But in your regular season game against them, you lost by double digits and you were able to shrink it. Bigger picture question, maybe not this year with Miles out, but do rematches help, just having that tape?

BRENDA FRIESE: Yeah, I think from a comfort level, yes. But that's for both teams. I think both teams, like I said, they know the personnel and the taste it left in your mouth when you played that game. It's kind of like conference play when you play a team a second time or a third time.

But again, that game was so early in December, it really feels like a different team because both teams are built so differently since then.

Q. How do you like this new format, the eight teams here, the two pods, I guess, going to the Final Four? Do you think that can help grow the women's sport which is already growing?

BRENDA FRIESE: I think it can. Obviously I need to get through it to have games under our belt. I don't necessarily love that we're two hours away from South Carolina. It feels like when we've been sent to the Bridgeport region, which we've done numerous times.

I think it's interesting that both places are so far away from each other compared to maybe a Midwestern location. But kudos to the creativity, to see what we can draw. I do think when you look at our game and in the first and second rounds, now the crowds and the attendance figures that we're starting to build is really encouraging.

But I get it. We need to have fans in the stands and the attendance, but definitely would have loved the opportunity that we got more than 100 tickets to Greenville versus the 10,000 that South Carolina can get out ahead.

I think from that end, something needs to change. I don't know how to fix that. But I do love -- the fact of these arenas are full is really, really important.

Q. Your program is obviously known as a program that has successful WNBA players. You have a long line of them. Can you put Diamond into context in terms of the way her game has developed and how she's going to be prepared to play at the next level as well as what she's going to do in this tournament?

BRENDA FRIESE: It's a huge focus of our program, that's why players come to Maryland is that they've seen just how much success our players have had. Our GMs, our WNBA coaches share back. We're very intentional of getting them ready to go play professionally for those that have those goals and those dreams.

Diamond, can't say enough, just like any player in our program. When you have those four years and that development, her growth has been huge from the minute she walked in here to what she's going to be leaving us as a top WNBA first-round draft pick.

Just understanding that that development piece is really, really important. I think we do it better than most, and if our players transition into the league, that we want them to be ready to play. And all indications from the league are that Diamond is just going to be a sensational pro.

Q. You talked about this obviously a little earlier, but in terms of -- you're somebody I've always thought really develops good relationships with players. How do you do that as quickly as you've done it with so many new players this year to be able to play Maryland basketball, if you will? Because I think you're there now. Like you said, maybe you weren't there in November. What does that take to be able to do that?

BRENDA FRIESE: I think it's just truly being authentic and genuine. I think relationships make the world go round. We were just having the conversation why we're the only team that has an open practice for the media. I think it's important for people to do their jobs and to be able to have those relationships. And just like you're speaking with the players, with the coaches' families, this is what makes -- life to me is about relationships, and it's the most important piece in our program.

Q. Diamond, this is the third trip to the Sweet 16; is there anything from past seasons that you lean back on that you've learned about the process, that you've learned about the environment? Anything that you can draw on that becomes applicable for this week?

DIAMOND MILLER: I think when you just come to the Sweet 16, everybody is good. You're going to play top competition. It's just how you compose all the trials that the game holds. Sometimes they could have a 10-0 run, what do you do with that; know what I'm saying? The margin of error is also very slim, and this is the part of the year where execution matters.

We're definitely going to have to make sure we have good execution, but it should be a lot of fun. We've got to enjoy the atmosphere and just have fun.

Q. Abby, I assume that one of the reasons why you came home to Maryland was to have a deep run in March or have the opportunity to. Am I right about that? And if so, how gratifying is it to kind of be at this stage?

ABBY MEYERS: Yeah, no, you're definitely right. I just think Maryland is a legendary, successful, high-achieving program with great players and a great coaching staff, and it definitely was factored in when I was making my decision. For me, I could never get past the second round, so to make it to the Sweet 16 alongside talented women is super, super special.

It's gratifying, but at the end of the day we're not done. We're not finished. I know that for many, they can't get past the Sweet 16, but this year we're going to try and make that a different story.

Q. You guys obviously saw them in December. They look a little different, but is it helpful to have the rematch tape and to have seen them live?

SHYANNE SELLERS: Yeah, I definitely think it's good for us to have played them before, kind of get a feel for what they're going to throw at us. March catches everyone by surprise because you've been in conference play and everyone is running. Now you're trying to figure out how to scout people again.

I think it's good we've played them. We've got a good feel for who they are and what they can do as players.

Q. Shy, obviously this time around, much bigger role, your fingerprints are on the game a lot more than last year. What's this run been like for you personally just with a much bigger role than you had last year?

SHYANNE SELLERS: I'd say joyful. I've enjoyed my year this year, the company, the teammates, the coaches. Like everything about this year has just been so much fun.

Honestly don't want it to end, so it's just -- I've just had so much fun this year, and I think that's the biggest difference from last year to this year.

Q. Diamond, you guys obviously -- there were transfers, people graduating, you have in some ways a new team that you're putting together this year. Can you talk about what the growth has been like for the two of you who are sort of staples on this team and being able to help the growth of this team?

DIAMOND MILLER: Honestly, it's been kind of exciting to see. I mean, September I barely knew these girls, and now they're like my best friends. It's so crazy just to realize that in two weeks, no matter what, the season is coming to an end, and it's bittersweet for sure just because we got so close in such a short period of time.

But no, it's been amazing to watch the team develop on and off the court and how everybody has different personalities since they came from different places. And, honestly, what makes our team so unique is the diversity from one individual to the next.

SHYANNE SELLERS: And I think to add to that, just putting together basically a brand-new team, I think our team did a phenomenal job of just putting their head down and going to work. There wasn't too much complaining about anything, and everyone was really open and welcoming to everyone. Like we always hung out. I think that was one of the main reasons that we were able to connect so fast.

Q. Diamond, basketball ratings, women's basketball ratings are kind of booming this year and last year and games are on ABC now. What's it like to be right in the middle and part of that boom that could really help the sport, bring more young girls into the sport, et cetera?

DIAMOND MILLER: Of course I love it. This is what we live for. This is what we've been asking for.

The talent has always been there. I mean, I know players personally. I remember watching back in high school, and I'm like, wow, these girls are really good. But now that we're getting the exposure we need, it's something that excites me, and to be a part of it is kind of cool. Because all of us are a part of history, and we don't even really know it, we just live in present day.

But this is history in the making, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

Q. Abby, kind of the flipside of the question that was asked to Shyanne and Diamond, what was it like being one of the nine new players coming into this program and everybody is new and you have to adjust?

ABBY MEYERS: Yeah, I think personally for me it was they have no idea how we play. I have no idea how they play. But other than that, they play really fast, and I wasn't used to that at all. I was used to a half court structured offense and defense.

But I think it just took time. I wanted them to learn my game, and over time we did mesh. But it would be -- I would be lying to say it was easy at first. We played pickup, we had our practices, we would scrimmage the guys. We'd get frustrated sometimes because we're trying to figure each other out, where do you like this pass? If you're cutting, what do you like? What's your look?

We kept on saying, we've got to just keep working at it, let's trust the process. Just keep on, keep our heads high, we're going to figure this out.

Now we're in the Sweet 16. We're coming together. We know each other's strengths, we know each other's weaknesses, we have each other's back. I think it's a good story to tell of just trusting the process and trusting each other.