Lauren Young

mgoblue.com is apparently going to have interviews with all the new members of the team. First up is Lauren Young:

• You started your college career at Colorado State. What made you want to come and play basketball at Michigan? Coming to Michigan to high jump was actually my first choice coming out of high school but ultimately I couldn't give up basketball so I went to Colorado State. I have always loved Michigan, and when I decided to transfer, Michigan was at the top of my list. I love the school and I am so excited to have the opportunity to play basketball here.
and

• Where is Michigan women's basketball going to be in five years? BIG TEN CHAMPIONS! Well on our way to a national championship!

Go read the whole article.

Non Conference Times, Television Announced

From mgoblue.com:

The University of Michigan women's basketball team has announced television and game times for its non-conference schedule for the 2008-09 season.

Michigan opens the season with an exhibition contest against Northwood University at Crisler Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. before opening the regular season with road games at Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. and at Akron on Monday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.

The Wolverines then head back to the friendly confines of Crisler Arena for the first of two back-to-back games against top-25 foes. U-M takes on 2008 Sweet 16 participant Texas A&M on Thursday, Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m. in its first televised game of the season. The contest will be the first of five to air on the Big Ten Network. Michigan closes its two-game homestand against Vanderbilt on Sunday, Nov. 23, in a Noon contest that will also be televised by the Big Ten Network.

The Maize and Blue head to the Southern Mississippi Thanksgiving Tournament where it will open action against Belmont on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. CST. To close the tournament, they will face either host Southern Mississippi or Alcorn State at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Michigan will next begin a tough stretch playing four games in nine days. U-M opens with a road game at Southern California on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. PST before coming home to host North Carolina State in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, a game airing on the Big Ten Network.

U-M will take on perennial top-25 power Duke on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium before coming home to face 2008 Sweet 16 participant Notre Dame on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Crisler Arena. The game against the Fighting Irish will be shown on the Big Ten Network. Michigan closes the non-conference slate on Friday, Dec. 19 against Cincinnati at 7 p.m., also on the Big Ten Network.

In addition to nine appearances on national television, fans will also have the opportunity to catch the Wolverines in nine games that will be streamed live, free of charge, at BigTenNetwork.com. Homes games against Northwestern on Dec. 28, Illinois on Jan. 8, Michigan State on Jan. 15, Indiana on Jan. 22, Ohio State on Jan. 29, and Wisconsin on Feb. 1 will all be streamed live.

In addition, road games at Penn State on Jan. 4, at Wisconsin on Jan. 11 and at Michigan State on Feb. 19 will also be streamed live.

Briana Jones to Illinois

Briana Jones, a 6'2" power forward from Toledo Central Catholic (the same high school that Jessica Minnfield & Kelly Helvy attended) has verballed the University of Illinois. I'm not sure if Michigan was recruiting her or not, but she is a great addition to the Illini - they're putting together a heck of a recruiting class down in Champaign.

Recruting Update

It appears that with six verbal commitments and a transfer that Michigan is done for the 2009 class. Of the players still listed as prospects for 2009, Sami Tucker has verballed to UW-Milwaukee (hat tip gbbrecruit blog), and two others (Destiny Williams, Tayler Hill) are not listing Michigan among their choices.

For now I'll leave Juanita Cochran and Chenise Miller on the list but it seems unlikely they'll be joining the Wolverines.

Season Tickets on sale

Season tickets are available through mgoblue.com:

2008-09 Season Ticket Information
• Adult Reserved Season Ticket - $60
• Youth Reserved Season Ticket (18 and under) - $30
• Senior Reserved Season Ticket (55 and over) - $30
• Family Pack Reserved Season Ticket (2 adults, 2 youth) - $150
• General Admission Season Ticket - ONLY $20

» Download the season ticket application (PDF: 1 page, 382 KB)

Tickets available by calling 866-296-MTIX (6849) - or for purchase at the game beginning one hour prior to tipoff.

Single Game Ticket (General Admission ONLY)
• Adult Single Game Ticket - $5
• Student Single Game Ticket (Ages 18 and under) - $3
• Senior Single Game Ticket (Ages 55 and over) - $3
• University of Michigan students with a valid student ID - FREE
• U-M Faculty and Staff with valid ID card - FREE

Group Tickets (10 or more fans)
Interested in bringing a group to a Michigan Women's Basketball Event? Take advantage of special perks and discounted admission, all listed below.

• Adult GROUP Single Game Ticket - $3
• Student GROUP Single Game Ticket (18 and under) - $2
• Senior GROUP Single Game Ticket (55 and over) - $2

Purchase tickets in advance and your group will receive:
- Team poster autographed by Head Coach Kevin Borseth
- Pre-game welcome message on the videoboard

Call 734-647-1261 to purchase your group tickets today!

Kate Thompson, recruit #6

Kate Thompson, a 6'2" guard from Wayzata High School in Minnesota has made a verbal commitment, Michigan's 6th in the 2009 class. From gprep.net:

Kate Thompson made the All-gPrep Team last year because of her ability to dominate both as a point guard and as a post player. At 6-2”, Thompson has great handles, can rebound the ball on both ends of the court and can shoot the 3-pointer. Thompson led Wayzata to within one game of the state tournament while averaging 16 points per game. Her versatility allows her to be effective in all areas of the game like rebounding, shooting, passing, scoring, and dictating tempo. Thompson also runs cross country which will help her with her endurance when closing out games in the 4th quarter.

Hat tip to bluex on umgoblue.com.

2008-9 Roster Posted

This year's roster is posted on mgoblue.com. It includes newcomers Courtney Boylan (number 20), Jamillya Hardley (number 4), Carmen Reynolds (number 33) and Lauren Young (number 35).

Nya Jordan commits

Michigan has added a fifth player to their incoming class, wing forward Nya Jordan. From the Detroit Free Press:

Nya Jordan , a forward from Detroit Community, committed to U-M to play for the women's basketball team next season.

Hat tip to mzonefan over on umgoblue.com.

Updates

I missed this earlier, but Monica Albano (who had expressed at least some interest in Michigan) committed to Loyola University in Chicago.

Also, mlive has posted a profile on incoming freshman Jenny Ryan.

(Hat tip for both to girlsbasketballrecruit blog.)

Taylor Wurtz

Taylor Wurtz (from Ripon, Wisconsin) has committed to the University of Wisconsin. Wurtz had been recruited by Michigan:

Taylor Wurtz has one more basketball season to play but she knows one thing for sure: she won’t have to worry about where’s she’s playing next season.

The senior from Ripon has verbally committed to play at the University of Wisconsin, ending a recruiting process in which Wisconsin edged Michigan.
The biggest reason for picking Wisconsin was simple.

“Obviously it’s in the Big Ten and it’s close to home,” said Wurtz. “My friends and family will be able to watch me.”

Wurtz indicated last season Michigan may have been in the lead as coach Kevin Borseth, formerly of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, showed interest in her from her freshman season on. However, she said more than once how important it was to be close to home.

Ripon is a 77-mile ride to Madison, according to mapquest.com

Hat tip to girlsbasketballrecruit blog.

Victory Hoops Club Welcome Picnic

From mgoblue.com:

The University of Michigan women's basketball team, in conjunction with the Victory Hoops Club, is holding a Welcome Back Picnic on Sunday, Sept. 14., from 4-6 p.m. at the Junge Champions Center.

The event, which is open to the public, will feature members of the women's basketball team and staff and also members of the Victory Hoops Club. There is a firm RSVP deadline of Monday, Sept. 8. Please RSVP to women's basketball secretary Serina Brown at 734-647-2918.

Schedule Released

From mgoblue.com:

Sat Nov.8	Northwood (exhibition)	Ann Arbor
Sat Nov. 15	Kentucky	Lexington
Mon Nov. 17	Akron	Akron
Thu Nov. 20	Texas A&M	Ann Arbor
Sun Nov. 23	Vanderbilt	Ann Arbor
Southern Missisissippi Thanksgiving Tournement
Fri Nov. 28	Belmont	Hattiesburg
Sat Nov. 29	Alcorn State or Southern Mississippi	Hattiesburg
Tue Dec. 2	Southern California	Los Angeles
Big Ten/ACC Challenge
Fri Dec. 5	North Carolina State	Ann Arbor
Sun Dec. 7	Duke	Durham
Wed Dec. 10	Notre Dame	Ann Arbor
Fri Dec. 19	Cincinnati	Ann Arbor
Sun Dec. 21	Ohio State	Columbus	2pm	Big Ten Network
Sun Dec. 28	Northwestern	Ann Arbor	2pm
Sun Jan. 4	Penn State	State College	2pm
Thu Jan. 8	Illinois	Ann Arbor	7pm
Sun Jan. 11	Wisconsin	Madison	TBA
Thu Jan. 15	Michigan State	Ann Arbor	7pm
Sun Jan. 18	Minnesota	Minneapolis	TBA
Thu Jan. 22	Indiana	Ann Arbor	7pm
Mon Jan. 26	Iowa	Iowa City	7pm (CST)	Big Ten Network
Thu Jan. 29	Ohio State	Ann Arbor	7pm
Sun Feb. 1	Wisconisn	Ann Arbor	2pm
Thu Feb. 5	Northwestern	Evanston	7pm (CST)
Mon Feb. 9	Penn State	Ann Arbor	7pm	Big Ten Network
Sun Feb. 15	Minnesota	Ann Arbor	5pm	Big Ten Network
Thu Feb. 19	Michigan State	East Lansing	7pm
Sun Feb. 22	Iowa (1)	Ann Arbor	TBA
Thu Feb. 26	Purdue (2)	West Lafayette	TBA
Sun Mar. 1	Indiana (3)	Bloomington	TBA
Big Ten Tournement
Thu Mar. 5	First Round	Indianapolis	TBA	Big Ten Network
Fri Mar. 6	Quarterfinals	Indianapolis	TBA	Big Ten Network
Sat Mar. 7	Semifinals	Indianapolis	TBA	Big Ten Network
Sun Mar. 8	Finals	Indianapolis	TBA	ESPN2

(1) ESPN wildcard game on Feb. 22, to be decided no later than Feb. 1
(2) Big Ten Network wildcard game on Feb. 26, to be decided no later than Feb. 16
(3) Big Ten Network wildcard game on March 1, to be decided no later than Feb. 16

Mike Curtis, New Strength & Conditioning Coach for Basketball

From mgoblue.com:

University of Michigan men's basketball head coach John Beilein and women's basketball head coach Kevin Borseth announced today (Sept. 2) the hiring of Mike Curtis as the new strength and conditioning coach for the Wolverine basketball programs. Curtis comes to Michigan after spending the past six years with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies as the strength and conditioning coach.

"I don't know if I can put into words the feeling of being here on this campus and having the opportunity to be a part of the Michigan family," said Curtis. "I'm really looking forward to helping Coach Beilein and Coach Borseth build their programs and put a winner out on the court each and every night.”

Amber Moore commits to Illinois

Amber Moore, one of the top high school players in the state of Michigan has apparently committed to the University of Illinois. There is a story on michladyballers.com and a podcast on WDWS radio station about it. Best of luck to her, except when she's playing the Wolverines....