Brenda Frese interview on how much tougher BT has gotten Archived Message
Posted by Potomac on March 7, 2024, 14:28:57, in reply to "I'm stunned. The returning talent. The portal talent. Expected a big season. Anyone have insight"
Not really about this year. Her point was that when Maryland joined the BT, it was weak and Maryland dominated for a while. The league has greatly upgraded, and teams need to adapt. Here's part of the Washington Post's story: The shift in the style of play has been a significant factor in the increased success. “I would say [it’s] more athletic,” Wisconsin Coach Marisa Moseley said. “There’s a faster pace of play, and back [then] the Big Ten was all about pounding it inside, big post players, guards who were physical. But it wasn’t really about the penetration. It wasn’t about that transition as much. And if you had a couple players like that, like once Maryland came into the league coming from the ACC, that kind of changed.” There has been greater investment in women’s sports in general, and the fruits of that labor can be seen in Big Ten basketball in particular. From the salaries available for coaches to funds for recruiting, better food and travel — all have equated to a better product. Moren, whose team finished the regular season at 24-4, said an institution needs the right president and athletic director in place, ones who understand the importance of women’s sports. She said there’s a sense of equality at Indiana between the women’s and men’s programs. “A lot has changed. Administrators are hiring better coaches,” Frese said. “The support’s been there — the resources for every school in the conference. So it’s no surprise that . . . any team can beat anyone. [From] charters for recruiting to practice facilities to support — I mean, everybody has a budget to be able to do what they need to do at the highest level.”
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