No. 18 Lady Terps open the season on the road

The first non-conference matchup for the Terps is against the UMBC Retrievers this Monday night.

Can you believe it is here? November means college basketball has begun. Maryland basketball starts the season on Monday.

Notes

The UMBC Retrievers had an offseason that saw changes. After five seasons, the Retrievers did not renew former head coach Johnetta Hayes’ contract and hired Baltimore native Candice Hill as the 11th head coach.

The Terrapins and Retrievers will meet for the thirteenth time, with Maryland having a 12-0 record.

Keys to Victory

How does UMBC Look?

UMBC finished 10-19 last season and hasn’t found that spark since the 2022 season. UMBC’s roster went through some changes. A transfer from UNLV, Anna Blount, was their best player and leading scorer. Blount has now graduated. Looking at their roster, they made some splashes in the transfer portal, landing three players, but how they’ll be used remains unanswered. The excellent news is that UMBC has Six players [Gradaute Seniors] who can lead them in America East.

How will Coach Frese balance out the rotations?

A nonconference matchup is an excellent way to see how you will see what works best. Only three returning players (Bri McDaniel, Allie Kubek, and Shyanne Sellers) should have a vast number of minutes, with six new additions and a new freshmen class looking to make an impact. Everyone should be playing their natural positions. The first half will be critical, especially since everyone will play their natural position.

Final Thoughts

Maryland finished 3-8 on the road last season, but in fairness, the previous season saw a lot, and that was then. Winning on the road can do wonders for the team.