Diamond Miller is back on the Maryland team with mostly new faces. She shines in the spotlight that came with this decision.
Within two weeks of losing the 2022 NCAA Tournament to Stanford, Maryland coach Brenda Friese was staring at an entirely different slate for 2023.
Maryland’s top scorers, Angel Reese and Ashley Owusu, are gone. Mimi Collins, their leading scorer, also left on the bench. The three, along with reserves Taisiya Kozlova and Channise Lewis, left the program through the transfer portal.
Friese only had four players return.
She was able to use the Transfer Gate to fill in the gaps she had in the roster, but there were questions about how she could replace the production she had lost.
Enter Diamond Miller.
Big Bright: Diamond Miller moved up to Maryland
Diamond Miller Not a new name in the world of college hoops. Her talent has always been evident and she has starred in some incredibly talented nominees lists. Now, as a senior, she has the chance to prove that she can undoubtedly be the best player on a great team.
So far, she’s doing just that.
Miller returned to form after a junior season in which he missed the first 12 games due to an injury. She never found her rhythm, despite being the third best scorer on the team. She finished last season averaging 13.1 points per game, but on .408/.315/.768 shooting splits, all notable drops from the previous season.
Through her first eight games as a senior, though, Miller averaged 19.3 points per game, two full points above her previous high of 17.3. She also bounces the ball at a career-high rate of 7.6 fumbles per game.
Standing at six-foot-three, Miller offers a unique mismatch to her opponents. She plays guard, often overwhelming her matches with her size and height. When her outside shot doesn’t fall (26% on the season so far), it forces its way inside, causing a mismatch in the post. This height also makes Miller a very troublesome defender, averaging 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
Pressure makes a diamond
As great as Miller was in all eight games, she raised her game when her team needed it most. Against the two ranked opponents she has played against this year, she averaged 31.5 points, 11 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. Its proficiency in these games also increases; She shot 11 for 21 in both matches.
Besides ramping up her production, Miller has had some big moments in these games as well. Her 32-point performance against Baylor marked a career high and part of the week in which she won Big Ten Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
Against Notre Dame, Miller led Maryland in points, rebounds, and assists. She became the first Maryland player to record 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game since Alyssa Thomas in 2013. Oh, and she had the game winning streak.
Diamon Miller has been impressive on multiple levels at Maryland
by all accounts, This past season was tough for Maryland. Freese, other coaches, and several players alluded to difficulties behind the scenes. Not only Miller staying in those conditions, but also appearing that way speaks volumes for her as a player, person, and leader.
For a team with a deep cycle in mind, Miller was everything they needed and more. If it maintains this level of performance for the rest of the year, Maryland could snap its streak of Sweet Sixteen losses, and Miller will be a lock for selection in the WNBA lottery.
There is still a lot of season left. Maryland and Miller will be TV must-watches for the rest of the program.
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