A little boy eyed Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese during a summer wedding. Leaving the dance floor, he pretended to take a shot and said, “Kristi Toliver for three.”
The Terrapins have gone mainstream. A White House visit, European tour and ESPY awards along with constant speaking engagements filled the offseason. Fans told Frese and her Terps how much last season’s national championship meant. Even more, supporters wondered whether a young team can do it again, even establish a dynasty.
But just like the Pittsburgh Steelers can open 2-5 after a Super Bowl victory, Maryland must be wary following its own success. That’s the biggest question as the team opens with an exhibition against the LTL All-Stars on Thursday at Comcast Center: Can they do it again? Frese isn’t falling into the trap of predictions.
“You have a lot of question marks … in terms of how your team is going to handle expectations with a new target on their back,” Frese said. “How we’re going to handle getting everyone’s best game for the next 35-plus games this season. What’s our chemistry is going to be like and obviously how healthy we’re going to be.
“If any team out in the country that can come out with these expectations on their shoulders, it’s this team. They’re extremely hungry right now. … [The title] gave them a chance to taste, it, feel it and want to do it again.”
The Terps return their top eight players with 95 percent of the offense and 98 percent of the rebounding. Two more contributors have been added. North Carolina, Duke, Tennessee and Connecticut are wary of falling behind a team with two sophomores, two juniors and a senior as starters.
They can bang inside with ACC Rookie of the Year Marissa Coleman. There’s Shay Doron and Toliver on the outside. Laura Harper was the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. Crystal Langhorne was USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Fear the Turtle is popular once more around College Park.
“We all know we can do it again,” Doron said. “I don’t know if it’s cockiness. It’s confidence. We’re trying to build a concrete program that will stay at the top level.”
The Terps raise their national banner before their Nov. 12 home opener versus George Mason. Maybe it won’t be alone for long.
“We don’t feel like we’re defending the title — we already own it,” Frese said.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
