Krista Phillips article

Today's Michigan Daily had a nice profile on Krista Phillips.

At 6-foot-6, Krista Phillips is taller than more than half the men's basketball team, a rarity for a female hoops player.

The sophomore center used her height along with her talent to lead all Wolverine freshmen in games played (29), points (8.0), rebounds (4.3) and blocks (37) last season.

It sound like Coach Borseth has big plans for her in the future:

"I don't think we can drop the whole boat on her shoulders and say 'Ok, you go do it,'" Borseth said. "I don't know that Krista, at this point, is capable of doing that. But at some point in the coming years, I think she is going to have to be, and I think she's capable of doing that."

And some good news - it sounds like Phillips is healthy after off season knee surgery:

And this season, Phillips won't have to worry about the nagging cartilage injury that plagued her last year. She underwent surgery over the summer to fix the problem in her knee.

More Quotes from Media Day

Ta'Shia Walker on Coach Borseth (from Mlive.com):

But senior Ta'Shia Walker isn't paying attention to the polls and believes the team and Borseth, who replaced the retired Cheryl Burnett, have clicked.

"He's one of the most amazing people I've ever met," Walker said. "He's a really straightforward kind of guy, but he's funny. The good thing about him is that he has a family, and he's approachable. He's very down to earth. He'll sit here and talk to everybody."

Coach Borseth (Detroit News):

Borseth knows it will take time to turn his team around -- the Michigan women's squad was 21-66 the last three seasons. What's encouraging is the group's attitude toward his strategy, which includes a motion offense, he said.

"I believe that what we do, the style we play and the system we have will allow players to play their best," he said. "What we need to do is first lock in on five kids (as starters) and then build from there."

Coach Borseth (Detroit Free Press):

"The building process that I've encountered (previously,) has taken us three-plus years to do it," said Borseth, who explained the coaching staff has remade the shooting touch of 13 of the 14 Wolverines. "Then everything had to be perfect. You can't have any injuries, you can't break (a bone), you can't blow knees out and have kids transfer or quit. Everything has to be perfect for three-plus years. But in the meantime, we have players we have to mold into a team."

Michigan Daily Quotes from Big Ten Media Day

From the Michigan Daily.

Coach Borseth in the Michigan Daily:

Borseth's brand of basketball also includes letting his players play at their abilities. Borseth has no doubt the Wolverines will be the most improved team of the Big Ten.

"It may not reflect in wins and losses, but all I know is that we're going to improve," Borseth said. "It's like your golf game. If you're golfing 60, it's easy to get to 50. But try and get to the 49, 48, 47 - that's when you start honing. We're going to get from 60 to 50. That's going to come in a hurry."

Ta'Shia Walker on Coach Borseth:

Not only can Michigan be a good team, but it can also gain a greater understanding of the game. Part of Borseth's philosophy isn't about just passing the ball, but learning why you do it.

"He gives you a reason," senior Ta'Shia Walker said. "He'll say, 'Swing it,' and ask, 'Why swing it?' And we'll be like, 'I don't know.' "

And Krista Clement:

Added senior Krista Clement: "It's a lot of learning about the game of basketball. In college, the defense is better, the people are bigger and you need to play smarter."

Big Ten Media Day

Was held on Sunday in Chicago. Both the coaches & the media pick Ohio State to win the big 10 and Michigan to finish 10th. I'm not familiar enough with all the teams to make a good argument against the 10th place prediction, but my guess is that it is based more on last years finish than anything else. With almost all the team back and a new coach I think they may surprise people a bit... More from the Michigan Daily, MLive/Ann Arbor News, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News.

Carmen Reynolds and Jamillya Hardley

Michigan's two verbal commitments for next year received mentions in the oldgoldfreepress update on Big 10 recruiting:

In a move certainly to make for interesting family conversation during the Ohio State/Michigan football matchups, longtime Ohio State fan, Carmen Reynolds, has committed to Michigan. Reynolds has an older brother who is a member of the Ohio State men's lacrosse team. The 6'0 forward from Hilliard Davidson, recruited to play small forward in college, averaged 14.1 points and 7.0 rebounds and was first-team all-conference selection as a junior. Reynolds chose Michigan over offers from Bowling Green, Toledo and Coastal Carolina.

Michigan's new head coach Kevin Borseth received his second commitment recently from 5'9 senior Jamillya Hardley of Grand Rapids Christian (MI). Hardley chose the Wolverines over offers from Central Michigan, Ball State, Indiana State and Oakland.

They also have a listing of all commits for the conference.

Lake Superior State alumni honor Borseth

The Ironwood paper has an account of the alumni award present to Coach Borseth, which was originally noted here.

Kalyn McPherson

A nice article about Kalyn McPherson in the Michigan Daily today:

"...But the 5-foot-7 guard didn't light it up offensively for the Wolverines last year. She averaged just 3.3 points per game, yet her playing time was fairly consistent.

She did almost everything else well, seemingly doing all the little things right.

McPherson was one of just four players, and the lone freshman, to test out of Burnett's summer condition program before the season. In the process, she set the all-time team squat record with 361 pounds and benched 145 pounds (fifth all-time).

Beyond, she showed tremendous leadership."

Photos from Basketball Clinic

Can be found here on mgoblue.com.

Borseth article in the Detroit News

A nice profile of Coach Borseth in the Detroit News. One thing I did find a bit discouraging - it sounds like recruiting is proving a bit tougher than he thought it might:

"We've tried to get the top '08 kids in the state to come in and take a visit and they won't for whatever reason. I'm shocked. We're talking about Michigan here, the tradition for excellence in academics and athletics.

"Kids are all about instant gratification. They see facilities like at Michigan State and Maryland, unbelievable places, and want to go there. How about coming here and creating your own masterpiece. I think the university here recognizes the importance of basketball and they'll make a commitment."

Michigan Daily Blog Update

Can be found here. Mostly quotes from media day. Coach Borseth seems to be pointing to big things for Krista Phillips down the road, though not quite yet:

“Krista Phillips is very talented,” Borseth said. “She’s a big girl and she’s talented. She’s got good feet and good hands. Obviously, her ability to run the floor and become more athletic is going to be very critical as she moves forward. We just have to walk her through the process. I don’t think we can drop the whole boat on her shoulders and say ‘Okay, you go do it.’ I don’t know that Krista, at this point, is capable of doing that. But at some point in the coming years, I think she is going to have to be, and I think she’s capable of doing that.”

Fan Night November 2nd

It sounds like a combination of "Meet the Teams" and pep rally at Crisler, with both the Men's & Women's team being introduced. There will be photograph and autograph "opportunities" as well as prizes. Doors open at 6:30 and things get underway at 7:00pm. More information over at mgoblue.com.

Michigan State Media Day

Mlive has coverage of Suzy Merchant's first media day at MSU.

Girls Basketball Clinic Deadline

The registration deadline for the fourth annual University of MichigGirls Basketball Clinic (Oct 21st) is today at 5:00.

Borseth recognized by Lake Superior State

Kevin Borseth received the Shouldice Achievement Award from Lake Superior State and will be recognized (along with other alumni award winners) at the LSSU hockey game (against Western Ontario) on Saturday.

More on Media Day

From mgoblue.com:

Quotes from Coach Borseth.
Quotes from the players.
Photos.

Another preview on mlive

From the Ann Arbor News/mlive.

Preview articles

In the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News & Michigan Daily. There were several interesting things in the articles. There seems to be a shift in emphasis from conditioning to shooting - probably a positive, since the team struggled on offense last year and they have quite a bit of depth.

From the Free Press:

Unlike the previous years, there was not a big emphasis placed on how much weight the players could bench or squat or how fast they ran three miles. There was a lifting session, but no three-mile run.

"I'm not going to make them run around the block," Borseth said. "I want them to chase the ball on the court."

That is why the players spent more time in individual sessions with assistant Mike Williams or in team pickup games.

"We did a lot of skill development, individuals working with Coach Williams," Clement said. "We played pickup three days a week. We shot a lot. We got in 300 shots a day. We lifted and we ran on the court.

From the Michigan Daily:

"I think we are so talented and we are so deep," Skrba said. "I think we have the most talent in the Big Ten, and we can take it so far. Our mindset has completely changed this year­­. We are all stronger mentally, and that is going to push us so far."

I must say I like Srkba's optimism, though I suspect some people would disagree with her assessment.

Samantha Arnold

Hat tip to mzonefan on umgoblue.com for finding this. Apparently one player considering Michigan is Samantha Arnold:

"(Samantha) Arnold, who plays for Lake Park High School, is interested in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Saint Louis and Wisconsin."

Not sure if she was one of the four players mentioned at one of the football games or not. In any case she sounds she'd be a great addition to the team - a 6'4" player w/an outside shot.

Radio & Television Schedule Announced

Eight games will be carried by the Big Ten Network and all will be on radio station WTKA (1050 AM in Ann Arbor) or WLBY (1290AM in Ann Arbor) in the case of a conflict. Despite the Big Ten Network/Comcast impasse, this is probably better exposure than a few games on Comcast Local that were on TV the past couple of years. Full schedule (with TV noted) can be found here.

4th Annual Girls Basketball Clinic

From mgoblue.com:

October 1, 2007

Michigan to Host Basketball Clinic in Crisler Arena

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball program will host the fourth annual Girls Basketball Clinic on Sunday, Oct. 21, in Crisler Arena. The clinic -- open to all girls in Grades 3-8 -- will be conducted by all U-M women's basketball players and coaches.

Cost of the clinic will be $10. Each participant will receive a season ticket pass for all home games and a clinic T-shirt. They will also have an opportunity to get player autographs at the conclusion of the event.

The session for girls in Grades 3-5 will be held from 2:30-4 p.m., and the program for girls in Grades 6-8 from 4-5:30 p.m. All participants are asked to check in 45 minutes prior to their session.

To register, contact Katy Jackson at (734) 647-1261, e-mail katjacks@umich.edu or download and complete the form below and fax to (734) 615-1567. The deadline to register is Thursday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m.