Well. I had a draft of an overview / wrap up post just waiting for a final edit…but that’s no longer really valid.  So, an update in lieu of a Story.

There I am, back in Crisler after 21 months away…I’ve just attended one of KBA’s pregame “chalk talks” where she talks in general terms about how things are going and answers a couple of questions from season-ticket holders before handing things off to an assistant (in this case, newcomer and WMU legend Carrie Moore). One of the questions to KBA is the same one I’ve been asking, regarding the rotation – how will she distribute minutes on a 15-deep team of high-3 to 5-star players? She didn’t answer, of course – how can she, until the frosh and sophs get real live game minutes? In the audience, I mutter, “and how can they get game minutes if you don’t put them in?”

Fast forward an hour or so. Game 1 tips off. Michigan controls, moves the ball around to get Maddie Nolan a nice look at a three that bounds away. Rebound Buffalo. In the half court, Amy Dilk fights through a high screen, tries to get the defensive glass, and comes down very awkwardly.  Crisler gets deathly quiet and stays so until she’s helped off the court a couple of long minutes later.

42 seconds. That’s how long it took to both throw expectations for the 2021-22 season into complete disarray AND throw the rotation wide, WIDE open.

I’ve been somewhat critical of Amy Dilk over the last two seasons. She’s turned the ball over too much for my taste, and sometimes seemed hesitant to be aggressive offensively. But she's a steady hand, has been through the wars, and is the best ball handler on the team.  This team without Amy Dilk looks very different…and it has very different expectations. 

***

Once Dilk got to the locker room, the vibe on the court was decidedly subdued. The teams traded hoops until just before halftime, when a 9-0 run put the ladies up eight. They’d push it to thirteen at one point, but the lead stayed right around eight until three minutes remained in regulation, when Naz Hillmon got a layup to put the ladies up 58-51. IUPUI would score the last seven points of regulation, tying the game at 58.  Leigha Brown got a good look at a three at the buzzer but it bounded away.

The defense – excellent all night – really turned it up a notch at that point; the ladies would score the first seven points of the OT and win by five. IUPUI is a quality team, with a terrific defense and outstanding big in Macee Williams - they'll be a favorite to win the Horizon League, so, while OT wasn't an ideal outcome, it was the kind of "grit" win against a good team that quality teams need to get from time to time. Survive and advance, baby.

***

132 seconds.

With Amy Dilk unavailable for game 2, Leigha Brown - apparently nursing a nagging lower-leg injury - was pressed back into the starting lineup, probably earlier than KBA would have preferred. A few possessions in, Brown switched on the defensive end, twisted awkwardly, and...crap. Limping. She left on the next whistle, not to return.

Another 132 seconds, and we're down another starter.  Sheesh.

This time, though, the ladies didn't really miss a beat. They'd dominate every facet of the game, leading by at least 30 for almost the entire way. Everyone played, and almost everyone scored. Another sign of a quality team - you pound the teams you're supposed to pound.

***

So with two in the books, basketbullets:

• First of all, the injuries - apparently the UM radio broadcast described Dilk's injury status as "day-to-day," which seems a bit optimistic based on her reaction at the time, but we'll see. KBA described both Dilk and Leigha Brown as day-to-day during her weekly drop on WTKA.  Brown has apparently been fighting a nagging leg injury for a while, and one wonders if the extended minutes in the opener were too much, too soon.
• The Dilk injury led to extended high-leverage minutes for freshman Laila Phelia and Ari Wiggins in the opener. Both looked as advertised - Phelia appears to be a smooth scorer and plus defender, and Wiggins showed superb speed, quick hands, and excellent defensive instincts. She seemed completely comfortable running the offense from the point. KBA was also running an offense / defense substitution pattern late in the fourth and into overtime, with Phelia and Wiggins at the second level of a 1-2-2 press that was very effective, both getting turnovers and in generally getting IUPUI out of sync.  Not to get carried away but both players look like immediate contributors that will be very, very hard to keep off the court once the team returns to full strength.
• I was, frankly, surprised to see their fellow frosh Jordan Hobbs early in both games.  She showed an ability to either take the ball to the hoop or pull up from deep, as well as good feet defensively and good hands on the glass. KBA may have found herself a sleeper.
• Naz did Naz things, but also showed a much-improved handle, leading several breaks herself and taking her defenders off the bounce. She also  attempted two threes - she missed both, but she's taking them.  Naz has returned from every offseason with a new skill - this year it looks like ballhandling and outside shooting.  B1G take note.  
• Emily Kiser has been, by far, the most-improved player - she's taking and making more shots, she's hitting the glass, and she's taking care of the ball. One of my concerns going into the season was whether she could slide into the swiss army knife role previously held by Hailey Brown - consider that answered, so far. She's been a plus in every regard.
• Guards Maddie Nolan and Danielle Rauch have both been good. Nolan has been her usual defensive pest, rebound machine, and willing shooter. Rauch remains a solid ballhandler and facilitator and was a vocal leader in the huddle following Dilk's injury.  She’s also shown an increased confidence and willingness to make her own offense.
• Michelle Sidor’s role has stayed about the same as last season – she’s still an offense-first off-guard off the bench.  She does seem (I can’t be sure of this) a bit more aggressive offensively off the bounce, but that may just be my imagination.
• The only other minutes (well, minute, as in a single minute) against IUPUI went to Cameron Williams.  I’m…not sure what KBA was doing, there.  She came in and left on the next whistle, then got somewhat limited minutes in the St Francis blowout.  Kinda weird, given that the physical gifts are really tantalizing.
• The rest of the roster didn’t play at all vs IUPUI but did get minutes in the St Francis game:
  • Whitney Sollom played as expected as a face-up 4 - got to the glass, distributed the ball, wasn’t afraid to take a shot.  She’s long, athletic, and active.
  • Elise Stuck played a disjointed 10 minutes, was good defensively but turned the ball over five times (!).  KBA likes her a lot – she was the first off the bench several times last season, so it was a surprise that she didn’t play at all against IUPUI.  Hoping that the St Francis outing  was just an off night
  • Possibly the biggest surprise for me was the very limited run for Izabel Varejao.  She missed all of last year, yes, but she was often the first off the bench in 2019-20 as an athletic rim protector and purveyor of a very nice drop step.  She only got five minutes; one wonders if she’s still getting in game shape?
  • Frosh Taylor Gibson only played a couple minutes; I expected her to be a project.

***

Three more mid-majors await – at home vs UMass Lowell, at CMU, and back home for Oakland – before they head to Daytona for games against Oregon State and Mississippi State, followed by a trip to Louisville.  That’s an extremely rugged stretch, and wins in these next three games are absolutely critical.  So.  What will I be looking for?

• Obviously, some sense of the rotation.  None of the pre-Daytona games are body-bag games – if Dilk and Brown miss all three, one assumes some variation of Nolan / Rauch / Wiggins / Phelia / Sidor at the guards, with Hillmon / Kiser / Hobbs getting most of the minutes up front.  Personally, I’d really like to see some extended runs from Cameron Williams and Izabel Varejao.
• I’m hoping to see some more offensive flow.  Not having Dilk or Brown around to initiate made for a lot of standing around on the perimeter, waiting for Naz to work her way open.  The team had stretches like that last year, too, particularly when Leigha Brown missed time for COVID.  It seemed to be less of an issue when Wiggins was at the point, for what it’s worth.
• Did I mention Cameron Williams?  Give her some minutes!
• Going back to the offensive flow – I’m hoping to see fewer turnovers.  I’d also like a pony, and for Rebecca Ferguson to return my calls.

But, mostly, I’m hoping for no more injuries.  Next up at Crisler – UMass Lowell, tonight.  Be there!