Four B1G Ones Coming - Tournament Seeds Final Run - Gophers Defense and Offense System Explained Too
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WinMinGophers!
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Maryland actually lost I think four guards this season to injury and should be wounded game. It looked bleak for them in January.
- Kaylene Smikle
: Ruled out just hours before tip-off. She announced she would undergo season-ending surgery after attempting to play through persistent knee pain earlier in the season. - Lea Bartelme
: Out for the season after tearing her ACL in November. - Ava McKennie
: Out for the season after suffering an ACL tear during the Puerto Rico Classic in late November. - Bri McDaniel
: Sidelined while recovering from an ACL tear sustained in a previous matchup against Minnesota in January 2025. She later officially took a medical redshirt for the entire 2025–26 season.
Key Factors in #14 Maryland's Recent Surge
- Head coach Brenda Frese has "reinvented" the team's defensive identity by re-implementing a high-pressure, full-court press forcing 20.2 turnovers per game and averaging 24 points off turnovers, which accounts for nearly 30% of their total scoring.
- Transition game scoring: Maryland is outscoring opponents by an average margin of +18.2 points per game, largely fueled by their ability to run the floor. Oluchi Okananwa has been the primary transition threat, frequently going "coast-to-coast" for layups following defensive rebounds or steals. Her speed has allowed Maryland to maintain an up-tempo style that currently ranks 11th nationally in scoring (83.2 PPG).
- Strong rebounding in recent surge.
- Offensive Depth: Maryland features a balanced attack with four 1,000-point career scorerson the roster.
- Oluchi Okananwa: The Duke transfer leads the team with 17.4 points per game and has been explosive lately, scoring 51 points over the last two games alone.
- Kyndal Walker: The redshirt freshman has emerged as a "superstar" off the bench, recently scoring a career-high 18 points and consistently providing double-digit production during the winning streak.
- Freshman guard Addi Mack is currently averaging 10.9 points and 2.4 assists per game. Shooting a remarkable 95.8% from the free-throw line.
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