B1G Game 8: Gophers host Michigan (1-22-25)

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico is committed to her freshmen. There really wasn’t another option.

After finishing 9-9, tied with Maryland for 7th in the Big Ten, the Wolverines advanced to the NCAA tournament where they were eliminated by Kansas 72-81 in overtime. Then came the Maize and Blue departures:

Leading scorer Laila Phelia moved to Texas where she’s been sidelined by a detached retina. Cameron William now averages 11 points and 7 rebounds per game as a starter for Miami. 23 game starter Chyra Evans joined the Utes where she is redshirting with an injury. Elise Stuck became a starter at Ball State. And we already know about Taylor Williams to Northwestern and our own Taylor Woodson.

Four players remained. The prime returnees were starter and three-point threat Jordan Hobbs who was the Wolverines third leading scorer and Greta Kampschroeder who averaged 9 minutes per game. The other two returnees, Alyssa Crocket and Macy Brown, played less than did Taylor Woodson.

Sure, Kim Barnes Arico brought in three transfers (two of which we’ll need to deal with) but it’s the four freshmen causing most of the stir in Ann Arbor. We may as well get right to the straw that’s stirring the Wolverines five out attack, their leading scorer, 6’1” freshman guard Olivia Olson who averages 16.4 points and 5 rebounds in 31.4 minutes of Big Ten play. Here’s a few quotes from or about the former Benilde standout:

“I wanted to be part of something that hadn’t been done before,” Olson said. “I wanted to be part of building that up and coming together with like-minded people. Coach Arico and I have the same vision and hope for the program.”

“I think Liv played such a huge part,” junior guard Brooke Quarles Daniels said. “Her ability to be a good defender, a good rebounder and being able to score, she’s a three-level scorer and that helps us out. Liv gives us a spark, and she keeps us in the game.”

“I think one play specifically summed up the game for me in the second half: Olivia Olson dove on a ball in front of the Michigan bench that she didn’t need to dive on,” Purdue coach Katie Gearlds said. “But it was that, ‘I’m gonna get on the floor, I’m gonna be dirty, I’m gonna play harder,’ kind of mentality that Michigan had that we did not have.”



The second leading scorer is Olson’s McDonalds All-America running mate Syla Swords who averages 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in 33.8 minutes. The 6’0” freshman guard was a member of the Canadian Olympic team.

Milo Holloway is the third freshman starter. The 5’10” point guard averages 9.7 points and 3 rebounds in 25.6 minutes.

6’3” senior guard Jordan Hobbs is one of two experienced veterans stabilizing the lineup. Hobbs averages 14 points and 4.1 rebounds in 31.6 minutes.

The other veteran is 6’1” senior guard Greta Kampschroeder averaging 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22.3 minutes. And like most Wolverines is a threat from three.

Other players of note:

6’5” junior center Yulia Graboskaia averages 6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 17.4 minutes. She transferred from Middle Tennessee.

6’3” freshman swing player Te’Yala Delfesse averages 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes.

5’7” junior guard Brooks Quarles Daniels averages 3.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. She transferred from Oakland.

Michigan, 4-7 in the B1G, began the Big Ten campaign with a 60-54 win over Northwestern before dropping a trifecta @ Sothern Cal 58-78, @ UCLA 70-86 and to Ohio State 77-84. The Wolverines rebounded to win three straight: @ Purdue 87-67, Washington 82-69 and Rutgers 87-71.

That brings us to Wednesdays battle at Williams which should be a battle of swarming defenses and ball movement. Not to mention a freshman showdown.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

 

[tripledouble]

Wolverines are very talented, but also young. Starting 3 freshman, it will be interesting to see how they perform on the road against a more experienced Gopher team. They start 5 guards, including a freshman point guard and all of their starters can make shots from beyond the arc. Gophers will have to guard the perimeter in this game. If Michigan wants more height, they have 6'5" and 6'3" players coming off the bench. I'm hoping that the Gophers are healthier from whatever bug has hit the team. If so, they'll have a chance to beat a good Michigan team. Would be nice to win this one and then beat Wisconsin before heading on the road to play the #1 and #4 teams in the country.

 

[drewhaus7]

Interesting the AP poll makes the Gophers #23 and Michigan #24 right before this matchup! Yes, hope all the bugs going through the team are gone and we can be a full go! Let's go Gophers! Rah!

 

[Gophers112233]

with it being WARMER.. you could say a heat wave tomorrow.. Hopefully we get a good size crowd tomorrow night.. a BIG GAME against Michigan and Olivia Olson

Dawn has said the crowds have made the BARN tougher to play in this season!

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Michigan freshmen continuing to navigate Big Ten play

Nearly midway through the season, the Michigan women's basketball team's freshmen are starting to figure out conference play.

www.michigandaily.com

It’s no secret that the No. 24 Michigan women’s basketball team has a young squad. In fact, the Wolverines’ youth has been on display since the start of the season when they debuted three freshmen in their starting lineup.

Now, roughly halfway through the season, all of Michigan’s youngsters have gotten a taste of conference play. And like most freshmen, they’ve experienced the ups and downs that come with Big Ten play.


“It’s been good,” freshman guard Olivia Olson said Jan. 18. “It’s slowly starting to get there. Just seeing more consistency through everyone. The upperclassmen have been really helpful. The change of pace was probably the hardest thing to adjust to, but I think all the freshmen are starting to get the hang of it now.”

Despite coming onto the scene late, one such freshman is guard Te’Yala Delfosse. After remaining sidelined for the early games due to injury, Delfosse made her debut with the Wolverines against Long Beach State Nov. 24 and has steadily grown as the season progressed. Though she’s had limited playing time against Michigan’s initial conference opponents, Delfosse played over ten minutes against Washington and Purdue and, most recently, tallied a season-high 19 minutes against Rutgers. In that game against the Scarlet Knights, Delfosse tallied 10 points, making her one of the Wolverines’ four freshmen to record double-digit points in that matchup.


The other three that reached double figures against Rutgers are starting freshman guards Olson, Mila Holloway and Syla Swords — all of whom were thrust into major roles from day one.


“They play basketball the right way,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “Liv, Mila and Syla have gained a lot of recognition through the start of the season. When you’re a freshman and can come in and play in our league, which is the best in the country, and not just play but start and make an impact, that’s pretty incredible. And the three of them have been able to do that really successfully.”

Indeed, the trio had gained much attention early in the Wolverines’ season. But they certainly aren’t immune to imperfections and mistakes.

When Holloway first joined Michigan’s roster, Barnes Arico had been looking for a true point guard for years. And while Holloway’s ball-handling and playmaking abilities have proved advantageous to the Wolverines early on, her impact was limited due to foul trouble. Racking up nine combined fouls in Michigan’s exhibition against Northwood and regular-season opener against South Carolina, Holloway spent more time than expected on the bench.


But things need time to flourish. And Holloway did too.


Since those initial games, Holloway has managed to steer clear of foul trouble, and in doing so, has become instrumental in catalyzing the Wolverines’ offensive success. In addition to averaging 10.4 points per game, Holloway leads the team in assists per game with 4.1, and is tied for highest average steals per game at 1.6. Helping Michigan push the tempo in transition, Holloway does everything she can to get her teammates the ball, and the Wolverines are better because of it.

Swords, alongside Holloway, has also experienced the highs and lows of college basketball. Swords started the season red hot with a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Gamecocks, the defending national champion. From there, Swords consistently put up double-digit figures until her momentum was halted in December, averaging only 8.25 points per game. But Swords worked through the momentary lull, finding her footing once more against Rutgers with a 20-point night.


Olson rounds out the Wolverines’ starting trio of youngsters and has been a relatively consistent source of offensive production this season. Olson holds the highest average points per game on the roster with 15.8, and is tied with Swords and senior guard Jordan Hobbs for the most rebounds per game.

“They’re relentless,” Barnes Arico said. “They want to be great. They want to be coached, and they want to be in these positions. The more that they can be in them, the more that they will take. They’re students of the game.”

Gaining experience in conference play, Michigan’s youth is only continuing to grow. And while growth isn’t linear, the Wolverines’ freshmen will need to come through if Michigan hopes to continue to build success in the Big Ten.

 

[blkroll]

with it being WARMER.. you could say a heat wave tomorrow.. Hopefully we get a good size crowd tomorrow night.. a BIG GAME against Michigan and Olivia Olson

Dawn has said the crowds have made the BARN tougher to play in this season!

Ticket sales have picked up. Some of the concession stands have been asked to bring in extra volunteers.

 

[DietCokeFan]

This is going to be tough just from a matchup standpoint. I wonder if we will go more small ball. Hart's minutes may be limited.

 

[Hoopsmom]

This is going to be tough just from a matchup standpoint. I wonder if we will go more small ball. Hart's minutes may be limited.

Why would we play to their strengths? Let’s make them play to ours. If they can’t match up with our bigs, we will just go right to the middle. We are excellent at defense with our normal starters.

 

[Gophers112233]

Ticket sales have picked up. Some of the concession stands have been asked to bring in extra volunteers.

I know they have a 3$ concession sale thing tomorrow as well..

 

[Katogopher]

This is going to be tough just from a matchup standpoint. I wonder if we will go more small ball. Hart's minutes may be limited.

I watched them play in the past week. Apparently they play 5 guards, have we faced that yet this season? It should be an interesting matchup. Hoping for a healthier squad. Go Gophers!

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I watched them play in the past week. Apparently they play 5 guards, have we faced that yet this season? It should be an interesting matchup. Hoping for a healthier squad. Go Gophers!

Michigan plays 5 guards but 2 of those are clear forwards or stretch forwards with length and height, that can simply move well. They Michigan will present some match up challenges. Hopefully Gophers are feeling more like themselves at home.