So, it’s been a minute.

Last season, this writer was a semi-regular diarist, posting game recaps and "analysis" for nearly every game the ladies played.  This year, however, life and work have repeatedly intervened, and while I’ve taken some notes for just about every game, the task of writing to that level has basically felt insurmountable.

But this season begs explanation and (hopefully) celebration…so it’s time to make the clicky noise with my fingers; maybe not to my previous level of detail, but clicky-ness nonetheless.

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“Best XYZ in program history.”

That phrase has been thrown around a lot this year.  Best player, best start, best season, best coach, highest ranking…you’ve heard it.  Maybe even said it.

It occurs to me that using that phrase - and knowing that it's absolutely true - is an indicator of a program that hasn't quite matured. No football fan at Alabama or Notre Dame (or Michigan, for that matter) can really, truly call any part of the program "the greatest ever" with complete confidence. You can't say Nick Saban is the greatest coach in Alabama history, not really. The state of Alabama has way too many kids named "Bryant" and dogs named "Bear" for that.

See, when you have a truly great program and you say that a current thing is the greatest thing ever, there’s always an old-timer like me ready to jump up and dissuade you of that notion.  “Sit down, my friend, and let me tell you about Bob Schlattermeyer, who played in sandals back when the basket was actually a basket.”  And yeah, us old timers are annoying, but that’s not really the point.  The fact that the argument exists in the first place is pretty illustrative of...something.

Having said all that, this is pretty clearly the best team in program history, but also has a whole shitload of stuff yet to prove – going into the season, one of the questions currently left unanswered was whether they were ready to consistently beat similar programs and compete head-to-head with the Death Star programs.

Since my last missive, after game 5 of the season, they’ve played three of those programs and played some other games.  The season, in order:

• Games 6 & 7:  Michigan handily beat Oregon State and Mississippi State, two Tier 2 programs that have made Sweet 16s and Final 4s.  Note - this would qualify as "beating similar programs."
• Game 8:  Louisville scored about 37 points in about 2 ½ minutes spanning the first quarter break, and it was game over halfway into the second quarter (note:  I may be misremembering some details).  The game was fairly even except for that Very Bad Stretch.
• Games 9, 10, 11:  Michigan handled Akron, Wisconsin, and Minnesota with varying levels of poundedness.
• Game 12: Michigan got (arguably) its first-ever defeat of a Death Star, beating Baylor (and future WNBA #1 selection NaLyssa Smith) in overtime on a neutral court.  The win was also notable for the way it happened:  Michigan led for long stretches of the game but won after Naz Hillmon fouled out late in regulation.
• Games 13-19:  Michigan went 6-1, including a total curbstomping of Maryland (a Death Star!) in College Park.  The only blemish was a road blowout to a Nebraska team that shot the lights out and looked pretty good at the time but has since driven into a ditch.

Michigan stands 17-2, 8-1 in the conference, behind a 14-2, 6-0, #6 Indiana team that’s had some COVID issues and just lost their top scorer, possibly for the season.  Guess who’s coming to Crisler on Monday?

***

Basketbullets.

This start (are we still in “start” territory?) has been accomplished despite extended absences from several key players.  In my opinion, this has been KBA’s best coaching job – she’s used…what?  eight different starting lineups?  Nine?

• Amy Dilk went out in minute one, game one, and missed the next eleven games.  She’s still playing limited minutes, but has looked sharper in every outing.
• Laila Phelia had just broken into the starting lineup and was looking extremely comfortable when she missed three games with COVID.
• Leigha Brown missed three games and came off the bench in four others after an injury.

She’s papered over the absences with a deeper rotation than she’s ever used.  She’s also varied it depending on the opponent – she went big against Wisconsin, but against guard-dominated Purdue a couple of the bigs didn’t leave the bench.  There’ve been way more surprising fives on the floor this season than I can recall in her tenure.

Some player notes:

• The kids are playing increasing minutes.  Cam Williams in particular seems to have moved into a semi-consistent rotation role, as has Elise Stuck.  I’d like to see Ari Wiggins get more time at the point – she has defensive quickness up top that Maddie Nolan and Danielle Rauch just don’t have – but that’s a minor quibble, and I get the hesitancy.  She’s definitely got frosh point guard disease, with an ability to take your breath away, either with her quickness or by exploding in all directions.
• The development of Laila Phelia has been a delight – the game was clearly getting slower for her when she got COVID.  She’s presumably still not full strength or back to full minutes, but she looks like Akienreh Johnson 2.0, a terrific perimeter defender and a nice ability to get downhill late in the clock.  A star in the making.
• MGoMatty fave Maddie Nolan is no longer a hidden gem – she’s still an annoying defender and tremendous, Derrick Walton-esque rebounder, but her shooting has become a huge part of the offensive effectiveness of the team.  Naz is still the center of gravity, obviously, but Maddie’s shooting – which seems to be getting better every week – gives her and Emily Kiser so much room inside.  There aren’t many teams that can play inside-outside-midrange like we do, and Maddie is critical to that.
• The development of Danielle Rauch and Emily Kiser is the best argument you will ever find against the Transfer Portal.  After two seasons, both looked like “program” players – important to the overall team, certainly, and able to plug in in spots, but not stars.  And let’s be honest – the ceiling for both is probably honorable mention All-B1G – but man, it’s hard to imagine us being 17-2 without them.  They lead the team in minutes, and are the only two players to start every game.
  • Danielle Rauch is, justifiably, a team captain, and was an enthusiastic bench mob leader that has turned herself into a plus point guard.  Not a volume shooter, she keeps the ball moving, will take an open three when it’s available and even drive to the hoop, and is a willing, dogged defender.  She’s one of those players that probably won’t win a game on her own, but she won’t lose it, either, and she can make big plays when they’re offered.  Just a tough, hardnosed player.
  • Emily Kiser in particular has made the biggest leap.  Rauch had at least started in spots as a soph and junior, but Kiser had never started a game, and here she is, bumping from 12 minutes a game to 30, averaging 10.3 points and 8.2 rebounds (!) a game, leading the team in defensive rebounding and blocks, and perfectly sliding into the role vacated by Hailey Brown.  She’s truly been a critical player.

The last two players to mention are the best offensive players on the team.  Both are tremendous players.  Both will be All-B1G. Perhaps most interestingly, the offensive numbers for both players are down from last season, in virtually almost every category.

• Leigha Brown has been relied upon to intitiate the offense more often in Amy Dilk’s absence, so her assists are up, but her distance from the basket has led to fewer rebounds and fewer trips to the line.  She’s still scoring and remains an extremely efficient offensive threat, and is able to take over games for stretches.  She’s become an outstanding defender.  It’s also worth noting that she never gets the calls…on the other hand, it really pisses her off – when it happens a couple times in a row, watch her go for ten points in three minutes.
• Naz Hillmon (NMFH) remains the north star.  She can dominate the game, and does, when it’s necessary, but with the increased talent level she doesn’t need to…which isn’t to say she coasts, EVER.  She has, as they say, an endless motor; yes, she’s got an incredible array of moves in the post, with both hands, but most of her scoring is due to pure, unadulterated, relentless hustle, getting to the offensive glass and then to the free throw line.  She probably won’t be B1G POY – Caitlin Clark is putting up way too many empty numbers for that to happen – but she’s on track to to be a top-5 pick in the WNBA draft, and for her ‘00’ to make the rafters.  Oh, and one more thing – she’s a fantastic leader and teammate and becoming a loud, proud voice off-court, too.  I miss her already.

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Yadda, yadda, yadda.  We’re nine games from the B1G Tournament.  Where is this all headed?

Well, we currently stand in second place, with a chance to put a stranglehold on first place in the next two games. Ohio State is rolling, having won six straight since their bludgeoning at Crisler…but it should be noted that only one of those wins was over an tourney team, a 6-point win over a reeling Maryland team.  Michigan dominated them by pounding the ball inside and absolutely dominating the boards.  Barring something weird, that formula should still work.

#6 Indiana is also rolling, but just lost Mackenzie Holmes, possibly for the season.  They remain deep, experienced, talented, and tough as hell.  Unlike Maryland (who are always an egg-laying possibility) they’d be more than happy to come in and play a 51-49 game.  It’s as big a regular-season game in Crisler as this program has played.

And it doesn’t get much easier – the remaining schedule also includes two games against Iowa (the Iowa ladies are every bit the no-defense outfit the Iowa men are, but they can make the scoreboard spin like a slot machine), two games against Sparty, and a return trip from Maryland.  They’re all winnable – herhoopstats.com has Michigan favored in all but tonight’s game in Columbus – but two or three losses would not be out of the question.  My guess – we split vs Iowa but beat Sparty twice, and lose two of OSU / Indiana / Maryland…which leaves us at 23-5 going into the B1G tournament.  Holy moley.

Beyond that, ESPN had the ladies as a 3-seed this week, which…wow.  Having followed this team for about a dozen years, I can tell you – this is some uncharted territory.  First or second in the B1G regular season gets us home games in the NCAA tournament, which would be yet more proof of the Best Season in Program History (TM). 

What a ride.