Michigan Women Redefine Rebuilding Year

Cover Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

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Michigan Women’s Basketball had a successful season. This was a rebuilding year, with eight new players added to the roster, five freshmen and three transfers. Only four players returned from last season.

Three out of Michigan’s five freshmen became starters from day one: guards Mila Holloway, Olivia Olson and Syla Swords. Olson led the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game, but Swords was a fraction behind, at 16.0 points per game. Holloway led the team in assists, 4.4 per game, and became a decisive floor general. Swords led the team in rebounds, at 6.2 per game.

These were not empty stats on a losing team. Holloway, Olson, Swords and a full team effort produced 23 wins. They made the semi-finals in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, winning two games. The Wolverines would go on to earn a six seed in the NCAA Tournament, winning their opening round game against Iowa State before losing to Notre Dame in the second round.

It’s a tough task as an underdog to win in the first two rounds of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Games are played on the higher seeded team’s home floor, a tradition that should be changed.

If this core stays together, a championship banner is within reach.

This year, the Wolverines finished sixth in the Big Ten in scoring and eighth in points given up. They were fifth in three point percentage and sixth in free throw shooting.

Perhaps their greatest area of improvement needs to be rebounding. Michigan finished ninth in the Big Ten in total rebounds, 11th in defensive rebounds and eighth in offensive rebounds. Holloway is 5’10”. Olson is 6’1”. Swords is 6’0”. If a 6-foot guard is leading the team in rebounds, you need to bring in more size. These three should remain the core starting backcourt of the team. Adding big, tenacious forwards and centers should be a priority going into next season.

The team also averaged 15.4 turnovers per game. Way too high. Experience should help in this area, and Holloway, Olson and Swords gained a lot this year. Holloway averaged 29.1 minutes over 34 games played. Olson averaged 30.8 minutes over 34 games. Swords averaged 32.5 minutes over 33 games.

Based on this season, Michigan is poised to improve and could compete for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament titles as early as next season.

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