Women's hoops tidbits: Program building, Ristovski hype, ACL plague
The men's team is deservedly getting loads of attention as the basketball season nears, but I hope more Michigan fans pay at least a bit of attention to the women's team as well and perhaps attend a game or two (such as the doubleheaders that have been scheduled) during this first year of the Kim Barnes Arico era. As a Daily article titled "Enthusiastic Barnes Arico aims to lay new foundation in first week" points out, the new coach has been doing her part to raise the program's profile:
From coaching clinics to speaking at the student watch party at Michigan Stadium before Michigan football’s season opener, she has quickly immersed herself in the city and the University community.
. . .
Barnes Arico . . . already has plans to open up a practice to season ticket holders and host a clinic for girls in the community later this month.
. . .
Her goals also extend beyond the court as well, as Barnes Arico said she hopes to enhance the reputation of Michigan women’s basketball in the community.
“I think the number one thing is for the community to feel connected,” she said. “They need to feel a relationship with us and I think it’s part of my job is to go out and build that relationship. (We want to) promote the program and what these young ladies stand for and how much they work and how we’re building a championship year for the women’s basketball program.”
Barnes Arico was also on WTKA yesterday morning with Sam Webb. A podcast of her appearance can be found here, and here's an embed attempt:
The coach has high praise for this year's senior class and also goes on at great length about how impressed she is with incoming freshman Madison Ristovski, last year's Miss Basketball in Michigan and perhaps the team's starting point guard for the next four years. (Note: Sam mentions Ristovski having a couple of younger sisters who also play basketball, suggesting they might be future Michigan recruits. One of those, Haleigh, has already committed to Detroit Mercy; the other is Lola, who's in the class of 2015 and still uncommitted.)
The biggest news to come out of her WTKA appearance was on the injury front. Several months ago, I discussed in this post all the ACL injuries that current or future members of the women's team had suffered. Well, late last season then-freshman Cyesha Goree tore an ACL, and Barnes Arico mentioned yesterday that two more players—incoming freshman Kelsey Mitchell and junior Val Driscoll—suffered torn ACLs during summer workouts. This means that out of the 15 players on the 2012-13 roster, no fewer than 7 have suffered ACL injuries either during their Michigan career or during the year prior to their arrival in Ann Arbor. Also, of the incoming four-member 2012 recruiting class, only Madison Ristovski has not suffered an ACL injury in the last 12 months.
The coach indicated that Mitchell and Driscoll are likely to redshirt, but the other three players who tore an ACL in the last year will be available for game action.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
Perry the ACL-ephant visits the girls Crisler locker room?
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
I don't know if the rate here is substantially higher than normal, but I do know that female athletes tend to tear their ACLs at a rate that is significantly higher than male athletes. This thing from the NCAA says the ACL injury rate among women may be as high as 4X the rate among men.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
Yes, female athletes do tear their ACLs at a much higher rate than male athletes, as was discussed at some length in the previous thread I mentioned in the OP. But to have nearly half the team suffer this injury at some point over the last few years is not a normal occurrence. It's the ACL plague hitting one team particularly hard, when other teams have had the good fortune to avoid it. Barnes Arico told Sam Webb that it's something she's rarely had to deal with--and she's been coaching for well over a decade now.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
Unfortunately, the ACL issues are not remotely limited to UM's team. ACL injuries are way more common for women athletes.
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^
I had noticed two basketball players on crutches over near the Union last week and wondered what the deal is. Very disappointing to hear it was ACLs.
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
As the lone UM student athletes from my high school currently (although I think we have a baseball recruit for next year too Go Knights!), I am extremely excited at seeing Madison play. I went to a couple of her games (one her freshmen year and one in the state title two years ago) and came away extremely impressed even though they lost both games. I don't know much about the other freshmen, but I think she would have been the best shooter on Michigan's team. I do remember she had one shot in the state title game 3 steps behind the 3 point line where I literally jumped out my seat and yelled "JIMMER"
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
Check the fall 2012 Michigan baseball roster. Alex Daar is on there as a freshman, and there's also Dominic Jamett, a sophomore.