Big Ten roundup

With just over a week of college 

basketball in the books, the season 
is already shaping up to be a good 
one.

Granted, 
the 
level 
of 

competition across the board has 
not been even, but so far, the Big 
Ten is still an impressive 42-9. 

No. 25 Michigan is probably 

in the top half of that spectrum 
after beating Marquette and 
Southern Methodist last week 
in New York City to win the 2K 
Classic.

While it’s still early, things are 

shaping up to be very interesting 
when conference play starts, and 
with that, the Daily breaks down 
the Wolverines’ upper echelon of 
competition when Big Ten play 
rolls around.

No. 3 Indiana (3-0)

Tom Crean’s squad is off to 

a fast start after topping then-
third-ranked 
Kansas, 
103-99, 

in Honolulu during the Armed 
Forces Classic. The Hoosiers 
trailed at halftime before surging 
back to tie the game and force an 
extra period. In overtime, Indiana 
pulled away for its first signature 
win of the season.

Guard James Blackmon Jr., 

who missed all of Big Ten play 
last season with a knee injury, 
has played like he has something 
to prove. He has averaged a 
whopping 23 points per game as 
well as 7.3 rebounds per game in 
Indiana’s first three games of the 
season.

Three other players in the 

Hoosiers’ 
starting 
lineup 
— 

center Thomas Bryant, guard 
Robert Johnson and forward OG 
Anunoby — are all also averaging 
10-plus points per game.

Indiana will have one more 

massive test — a home game 
against No. 4 North Carolina in 
the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on 
Nov. 30 — before starting Big Ten 
play.

No. 16 Wisconsin (2-1)

After 
losing 
at 
No. 
12 

Creighton, 79-67, the Big Ten 
media’s preseason pick to win 
the conference rebounded two 
nights later with an 18-point win 
over Chicago State and a 74-62 
win over Tennessee in Hawaii 
in the first round of the Maui 
Invitational.

The 
Badgers 
will 
play 

Georgetown next with a potential 
matchup against the Tar Heels in 
the championship game.

Guard Bronson Koening has led 

the way, averaging 17 points per 
game, while Big Ten Preseason 
Player of the Year forward Nigel 
Hayes has averaged 12.5 points 
per game.

Forward Ethan Happ has 

averaged eight rebounds a game 
to lead the Badgers on the glass.

No. 17 Purdue (2-1):

The Boilermakers head into 

the week preparing for a trip to 
Mexico to play in the Cancun 
Challenge. But a week ago, Matt 
Painter’s team had a chance to 
snag its first signature win of the 
season against No. 3 Villanova.

But Purdue couldn’t pull off the 

victory, falling just short, 79-76.

While the Boilermakers were 

projected to lean heavily on their 
big men inside — Caleb Swanigan 
and center Isaac Haas lead the 
team averaging 20.7 and 18.3 
points, respectively — guard Vince 
Edwards has also impressed early 
on.

Purdue is slated to play at No. 

10 Louisville in the Big Ten/ACC 
Challenge before it starts Big Ten 
play.

No. 24 Michigan State (2-2)

Michigan State started off its 

season with a heartbreaking loss 
in the Armed Forces Classic to 
Arizona, in which it gave up the 
winning bucket with just two 
seconds left in the game to seal the 
65-63 loss.

A week later, the Spartans 

traveled to New York City, 
where they faced off against No. 
1 Kentucky in the Champions 
Classic. Michigan State struggled 
to generate offense, shooting just 
38 percent to lose to the Wildcats, 
69-48.

The Spartans, led by a highly 

touted recruiting class which 
includes three five-star recruits 
in guards Miles Bridges, Cassius 
Winston and Joshua Langford 
and a four-star recruit in forward 
Nick Ward, were expected to 
contend from the get-go, but 
recent results have caused some 
doubt.

Sunday night, Michigan State 

eked out a one-point victory 
over Florida Gulf Coast that was 
marred by a clock error at the end 
of the game.

The Spartans travel to the 

Bahamas this week to play in the 
Battle 4 Atlantis, where a potential 
matchup against Louisville is in 
the books. Michigan State will 
also play at No. 6 Duke in the Big 
Ten/ACC Challenge.

Maryland (4-0)

The Terrapins’ non-conference 

schedule was highlighted by 
a matchup at Georgetown in 
their second game of the season. 
Maryland overcame a seven-
point deficit in the final minute of 
the game to narrowly win, 76-75, 
to open its season.

Mark Turgeon’s team followed 

the win with another victory 
Sunday night against Towson. 
The Terrapins’ biggest question 
going into the season was where 
production would come from 
after a high attrition rate last 
season, but Preseason All-Big 
Ten guard Melo Trimble is still 
around, and he leads the team, 
averaging 19.9 points per game 
so far. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MINH DOAN

Daily Sports Editor

Wolverines top Western Michigan, 66-40

The 
Michigan 
women’s 

basketball team started off its 
game against Western Michigan 
the same way it did the previous 
game against Howard.

The Wolverines (4-0 overall) 

found themselves in an early 
6-0 hole Monday against the 
Broncos, but the ensuing play 
was not nearly as impressive as 
the 109-41 drubbing of the Bison. 
Michigan pulled out a 66-40 
victory, snapping its three-game 
streak of reaching the 100-point 
mark and giving them a tougher 
test heading into the Paradise 
Jam in the Virgin Islands.

While Michigan responded 

to the early deficit with seven 
straight 
points, 
Western 

Michigan (1-3) proved to be its 
toughest 
defensive 
matchup 

through its first four games, 
limiting the Wolverines to just 
12 first-quarter points — the first 
time they have trailed after a 
quarter this season. The Broncos 
consistently 
double-teamed 

sophomore center Hallie Thome 
down low, and Michigan was 
able to get off just eight shots the 
entire quarter.

“We knew we were playing 

better 
competition, 
so 
we 

expected Western (Michigan) to 
come out very hard, very tough,” 
said senior point guard Siera 
Thompson. “We came out slow, 
but we picked it up in the second 
half. As a team we need to come 
out more prepared.”

The teams traded baskets for 

much of the second quarter, but a 
Kayla Robbins layup as the clock 
expired gave Michigan a 26-24 
advantage at the half. Despite 
the lead, it was still a half that 
Michigan would surely like to 
have back.

After recording a season high 

of 16 turnovers in its previous 
game, Michigan totaled 17 in 
the first half alone, and 24 total.

“(Western Michigan) is a tough 

team,” said Michigan coach Kim 

Barnes Arico. “They forced us 
into a lot of turnovers. They had 
a great game plan. Western did 
a great job of forcing their low 
point guard to go and double our 
kids, tip balls, get deflections or 
take the ball out of our hands. We 
need to get better at that and show 
toughness.”

Thompson — who played the 

game’s first 27 minutes — kept 
Michigan afloat in the first 
half, scoring 11 of her team’s 26 
points. Thompson also kicked 
off the second half with her 
third 3-pointer of the game to 
spark an 8-0 run.

Michigan’s 
third 
quarter 

looked much like its previous 
three 
games, 
outscoring 

the Broncos, 23-9, and only 

coughing up the ball twice to 
pull ahead, 46-33. Robbins, who 
has usually only played during 
garbage time, stepped up when 
the game was close in the third 
quarter, recording four points 
and five boards.

“(Robbins) played a lot in 

other games but to have a 
tight game and see a freshman 
come in and make the positive 
impact that she did tonight 
was definitely something we’re 
excited to see,” Thome said. 
“Having her be able to get those 
rebounds and get those extra 
points is definitely a big deal for 
us.”

With 
a 
comfortable 
lead 

heading into the final quarter, 
the Wolverines were able to pull 

away even further and hold a 
worn out Western Michigan to 
under 10 points for the second 
straight quarter.

Amid 
free 
throw 
and 

turnover 
difficulties, 
the 

Wolverines’ 
defense 
was 
a 

bright spot in the 26-point win. 
The Broncos were limited to 
just a 31.4 shooting percentage, 
and Michigan forced them to 
turn the ball over 22 times.

While Western Michigan was 

the most difficult opponent for 
the Wolverines through their 
first four games, Michigan will 
have to mitigate its ball handling 
miscues if it wants any chance to 
compete against top-25 teams 
Gonzaga and Florida State in the 
Virgin Islands this weekend.

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

The Michigan women’s basketball team did not break the century mark, but it still handled Western Michigan, 66-40.

ETHAN WOLFE
Daily Sports Writer

Thompson’s leadership key in win

The 
Michigan 
women’s 

basketball team would not have 
beaten Western Michigan by 
26 points without senior guard 
Sierra 
Thompson. 
In 
fact, 

without her 16 points, six assists, 
and four defensive rebounds, it 
probably wouldn’t have won the 
game at all.

As a co-captain and one of two 

seniors on the team, Thompson 
has been an important leader for 
the Wolverines (4-0), but before 
Monday, they hadn’t needed 
her to dominate in games. With 
three wins in three games — 
racking up over 100 points in 
each — Michigan was content 

with spreading out playing time, 
not requiring Thompson to be 
anything more than consistent.

But against a more competitive 

Western Michigan team, things 
changed. The Wolverines looked 
shaky during the first quarter 
after the Broncos were leading 
13-12 and needed Thompson to 
come through on their behalf. 
She delivered, leading the team 
in points.

“She’s 
definitely 
increased 

her leadership role this year,” 
said sophomore forward Hallie 
Thome. “So having her come out 
and have these nights is definitely 
exciting to see, because it’s well 
deserved. All of her hard work 
over these four years is paying 
off.”

Added Michigan coach Kim 

Barnes-Arico: “Sierra Thompson 
was solid throughout … She has 
to always play the other team’s 
best player and she has to handle 
the ball for us. She did a great job. 
She made some plays, she kept us 
in the game in the first half and 
then we were able to rest her for 
a couple minutes in the second 
half.”

In addition to starting every 

quarter, Thompson stayed on 
the court for the entire first 
half of the game, playing two 
full ten-minute quarters. She 
drained three 3-pointers during 
the evening, closing the gap to 
becoming the Wolverines’ all 
time 3-point leader. She is now 
trailing the record by just two.

Thompson had opportunities 

to try and beat that record 
tonight, but she chose to take the 
safer route. On several occasions, 
despite having plenty of time, 
she took a step or two inside 
the three-point arc in order to 
make things easier, instead of 
attempting to pad her personal 
statistics.

“She’s 
so 
experienced,” 

Barnes-Arico said. “She knows 
best shot compared to first shot. 
I think some of our younger kids, 
especially the freshmen, feel like 
the first shot they get is the one 
that has got to go up. (Thompson) 
is experienced enough to know 
that my percentage is going to 
drastically increase the closer I 
get to the basket. So if I can step 
in and make a shot, it’s better 
than me staying where I am and 
missing a shot.”

When she did decide to shoot 

for three, she chose wisely. Her 
3-point field goal percentage was 
50 percent, Michigan’s highest. 
The Wolverine’s leading scorer, 
junior guard Katelynn Flaherty, 
had 18 percent in comparison.

“I think my role on the team 

is to impact the game in any way 
I can,” Thompson said. “I know 
if other people are struggling, I 
can step up and score. I just try to 
do whatever it takes to have our 
team win, and that’s what I had 
to do tonight.”

It may be the first time this 

season that Thompson has filled 
up the box score, but according to 
her coach, she is always making a 
difference.

“I never think we’ll win any 

game without Sierra Thompson,” 
Barnes-Arico said. “I said that 
in my pregame chalk talk to 
our season ticket holders. I said 
‘I know it’s kind of early to be 
thinking about this, but when I 
lay awake sometimes at night, I 
think about her graduating, and 
how much of a void that’s going to 
leave in our program, because of 
what she’s meant to our program 
in the last four years.’ ”

MAGGIE KOLCON

Daily Sports Writer

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Senior guard Sierra Thompson had a breakout game for the Michigan women’s basketball team Monday night.

8 — Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com