For the first time since December 23, 2002, the Michigan women's basketball team has been voted into the AP top 25. At 14-2 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten, the team is off to its best-ever start both overall and in the conference. They're also on a nine-game winning streak. Next up: Northwestern on the road Thursday at 8pm ET.
Barnes Arico has been in this position before. She led St. John's to its first ranking in 22 years back in 2006 and the Red Storm turned into one of the better teams in the Big East under her leadership. She's hoping for the same success at Michigan.
''We're going to talk about get ranked. Don't forget how we got here and the hard work it takes to stay,'' she said. ''I'm having them come in and we're going to talk about how to handle it. Make sure we continue to work and not let it go to our heads. We're going to enjoy it too. It's a place that Michigan hasn't been in the last 10 years.''
As the wins this season kept piling up, Barnes Arico admitted that her son Trevor had been ''bugging'' her to see when the Wolverines would get ranked. The last time Michigan was in the poll, he was just four months old.
''He'll be really happy when he comes home from school today,'' she said laughing.
My wife and I went to the game yesterday - both to see the game vs. Wisconsin and also to check out the renovated Crisler Center. It was interesting that like the men's team yesterday (checking updates on my cell phone throughout the game), the ladies started out ice cold. But, the latter picked it up in the 2nd half and pulled away from Wiscy in the end. Coach Arico seems to be doing a great job early on with them.
"You owe it to every man, woman, and child in the State of Michigan to beat the Buckeyes and silence their fans! Now go out there and make it happen!"
- Bo Schembechler (Result: U-M 22 OSU 0)