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2019-20 Big Ten Women’s Basketball preview and predictions

By Ben Rosof

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 16: Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico reacts in a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on January 16, 2018 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. The Wolverines won 84-75. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 16: Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico reacts in a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on January 16, 2018 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. The Wolverines won 84-75. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Michigan Wolverines

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 22-12 (11-7 B1G, 4th in standings)
  • Lost to Maryland in semifinals of Big Ten Tournament
  • Lost to Louisville in second round of NCAA Tournament

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Naz Hillmon (13.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg) – Returns as a sophomore
  • Hallie Thome (12.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg) – Was a senior, graduated

Key Additions:

  • #67 overall prospect, 4-star guard Michelle Sidor from New Jersey
  • Freshman center Izabel Varejão from Brazil (High School in North Carolina)

Entering her eighth season as the coach of the Wolverines, Barnes Arico believes that the “practices, energy and enthusiasm” of this year’s team are, thus far, the best since she arrived in Ann Arbor in 2012. The program will look to build on progress made over the course of the last three years, winning the WNIT tournament in 2017 followed by back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019.

After losing Katelynn Flaherty — the all-time leading scorer in school history, man or woman — following the 2017-18 season, Michigan graduated two cornerstone players to last year’s roster in Hallie Thome and Nicole Munger. In attempts to make up for the loss of their second and third leading scorers, respectively, Michigan recruited 4-star prospect Michelle Sidor. The 5’8” guard arrives as the second all-time scorer in New Jersey history, averaging 26 or more points in each of her four high school seasons. Michigan’s freshman class also includes 6’4” Izabel Varejão, niece of former NBA player Anderson,  and Maddie Nolan from Indiana.

The Wolverines are led by sophomore Naz Hillmon, who ranked first on the team in scoring and rebounding a year ago en route to Big Ten Freshman and Sixth Woman of the Year honors. Coach Barnes Arico also expects strong seasons from her seniors, Kayla Robbins and Akienreh Johnson. Barnes Arico acknowledged that “everything hasn’t always been easy for them,” praising their wealth of energy and noting Johnson’s two torn ACLs.

Michigan will face an early test before entering conference play, welcoming Notre Dame to Ann Arbor on November 23. This contest will provide the Wolverines with a benchmark to assess just how successful the program can be this season.

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