Before Kim Barnes Arico took over as Michigan’s head women’s basketball coach in 2012, the program had five career NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Wolverines have earned five more tournament bids under Barnes Arico, including four straight, and are looking to make more history this season.
They broke through last year with their first Sweet 16 appearance and nearly pulled off an upset against No. 2 seed Baylor.
No. 3 seed Michigan will get another crack at the Sweet 16 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday when it faces No. 10 seed South Dakota at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
“I have been coaching a long time, and I know a lot of great coaches that have never been to the Sweet 16 ever,” Barnes Arico said following her team’s win over No. 11 seed Villanova in the second round. “For us to go back-to-back years is absolutely incredible. It’s just a credit to the players in our program. So super pumped. Excited to still be playing.”
The Wolverines (24-6) have received contributions from throughout the roster this season, but it has been the senior class that has elevated the program into a new echelon.
Forward Naz Hillmon, a first-team All-American and four-time all-Big Ten first-team selection, is the headliner. The 6-foot-2 Cleveland native is having another exceptional season averaging 21.3 points and 9.6 points. But she also has more complementary pieces around her.
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Senior guard Leigha Brown entered the transfer portal following Nebraska’s 2019-20 season, and the chance to play with Hillmon was too good to pass up.
For a consecutive year, Brown is Michigan’s second-leading scorer. Despite her playing time being limited in her first three games back from injury, she received her usual workload against Villanova and scored 20 points to complement Hillmon’s 27 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.
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“You see a dynamic duo right here,” Barnes Arico said of Brown and Hillmon after the 64-49 win against Villanova. “Leigha Brown wanted to come here to have an opportunity to play with Naz Hillmon because she knew that they could create something special.”
Then there is senior forward Emily Kiser, who didn’t start a game her first three seasons. The 6-foot-3 Indiana native has thrived in a starting role this year and has given Michigan another imposing presence inside, averaging 9.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Fellow senior Danielle Rauch also played limited minutes her first three seasons but has been Michigan’s spark plug this season, starting all 30 games.
Point guard Amy Dilk, a three-starter who now plays a pivotal role off the bench, rounds out the senior class.
Their reward for helping Michigan complete one of its most successful regular seasons in program history, which included an 8-2 record against ranked opponents, was getting to host the first two rounds of the tournament.
The Wolverines entered the tournament 14-0 at Crisler Center this season, and they gave the home fans plenty more to cheer about in their victories over No. 14 seed American and No. 11 seed Villanova.
“It was just a special weekend for our senior class, which has left such a legacy on our program,” Barnes Arico said. “The game was unbelievable, everything that we thought heading in.”
After two more tournament wins, Michigan is brimming with confidence heading into the Sweet 16. On paper, it appears to be the favorite against a South Dakota team coached by former Wolverines assistant Dawn Plitzuweit.
But it is March, a month notorious for upsets. Just ask Baylor, a No. 2 seed that was knocked off by South Dakota last week.
“Being there before certainly helps,” Barnes Arico said. “Us being in this game before last year and then us having an opportunity to play in the Sweet 16 on another game that came down to the wire (last year) definitely helps. With our senior class, obviously led by Naz and Leigha and that group coming back, I think we’ll have a little bit of confidence. But we also know that we cannot look past anyone or take anyone for granted. The team that we’re going to play is an unbelievable team. They showed that in the way that they were able to defend Baylor. It should be an exciting game, but experience always helps. Experience is the best teacher.”
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