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Winter Sports

U-M athletics update

by Craig Ross

From the January, 2021 issue

Michigan football's dreadful season eclipsed them, the school's winter sports got off to a promising start. In mid-December, Kim Barnes Arico's women's basketball team was undefeated. With junior Naz Hillmon averaging 'twenty-five points and more than nine rebounds per game, the women were rated #19 in the country.

Juwan Howard's men's team was also undefeated, though not as dominant--on the men's side, the Big Ten is the best basketball conference in the country this year, and the competition will be brutal. But the Wolverines are a pleasure to watch, playing with elegance and joy, unselfishness and passion. And Howard has recruited the best incoming class in the country next year, with letters of intent from six highly sought-'after players.

Mel Pearson's hockey team started out 5-5, but that's with ten freshmen in the rotation. Michigan has six athletes who have been (or will be) drafted in the first round of the NHL, and four others who have been chosen later in the draft. This young team is likely to improve over the course of the year, and by year end, they should compete with anyone.