Tuesday, November 7, 2017
TIP OFF 2017
5B
Dunston’s Michigan teammates have
noticed the work ethic Joe instilled.
“The work ethic and the theme of
‘hardest-working team in America’
is set by our other senior Jillian
Dunston,”
Barnes
Arico said at Media
Day.
“If
you’ve
watched
us
play,
(Dunston) … will do
everything
that’s
needed to be done
to help our team be
successful. Whether
that’s
taking
a
charge to win a
game, whether that’s
a dive on the floor
for a loose ball, get a key rebound or
whatever we need to do.”
This was on full display throughout
the WNIT run, where the senior
amassed 54 rebounds – including 13 in
the championship game. The forward
also took a crucial charge at the end
of regulation, forcing Georgia Tech’s
leading scorer Zaire O’Neil out of the
game. Then she hit two clutch free
throws in the second overtime to pull
Michigan ahead of the Yellow Jackets.
Those efforts found their way onto
the stat sheet. What Dunston did
before the start of the third overtime
didn’t — but was perhaps even more
important.
She told her teammates that they
would win by 10. This must have given
the Wolverines the confidence they
needed. They outscored Georgia Tech
13-3 in the final overtime, winning
89-79.
***
None of this should be a surprise.
Dunston’s
grind-it-out
mentality,
hard-nosed
style
of
play
and
persistence on the glass has been a
constant throughout her career. With
565 rebounds, Dunston ranks 16th in
program history. If she can replicate
her 286 boards from last season, she
will finish tied for second most all-
time.
That ability helped
her as a sophomore,
as
Dunston’s
role
increased,
playing
19 minutes per game
and making nine spot
starts. But the real
strides came between
her
sophomore
and
junior seasons. All the
dedication paid off. All
the hours of training.
All the time in the gym.
“I think patience and confidence
was the biggest thing that propelled
me my junior year,” Dunston explains.
“I learned the impact I can make. I
don’t have to be the leading scorer to
have an impact on this team. I think
that’s why I was able to have such a
successful season.”
Last
season,
Dunston
finally
became an impact player, starting
every game at forward spot while
averaging 5.8 points per game and a
team high 7.7 rebounds.
A lot of what Dunston brings to the
court often gets overlooked. Grabbing
rebounds and playing solid defense
isn’t as glamorous as scoring 20-plus
points a night. Players like Katelynn
Flaherty and Hallie Thome consume
much of the spotlight, earning the
preseason and postseason accolades.
This doesn’t bother Dunston, but she
does envy her teammates’ ability to
light up the scoreboard.
“I don’t mind not being the
highlighted player because I know
what I do for this team,” Dunston said.
“But some days I do want to be that
leading scorer. I sometimes do wish
I could put the ball in the hoop like
Hallie and Kate can. But you take your
role, you embrace it, and you do the
best you can.”
Dunston already does the little
things well. This offseason, she
worked on becoming more like
Flaherty and Thome — and the scorers
have taken notice.
“I think she’s going to be a big
scoring threat,” Thome said. “Her
ability to attack the basket and to be
able to knock down a jump shot has
really improved.”
Dunston doesn’t need to score
20 points per game — her other
contributions do enough. But her
offseason efforts to add another
aspect to her skillset only shows how
determined she is to help her team
improve upon last year’s finish.
***
Dunston
has
clearly
found
her role on the team as a hard-
working rebounder that does all the
little things. Yet all that Dunston
contributes doesn’t go unrecognized
by her teammates.
“She’s
grown
so
much
since
our freshman year,” said Flaherty,
Dunston’s
roommate.
“She’s
an
incredible athlete. She has great speed
and quickness and she rebounds well
for us.”
Dunston’s most valuable assets are
intangible and cannot be seen in the
box score; she prides herself on her
leadership skills.
“Everybody looks up to her,” said
freshman guard Desha Church. “And
we all respect her.”
Not only is she a leader, but anyone
that watches Dunston play can see the
energy and passion she approaches
the game with. Whether it’s going up
for a rebound, ripping the ball out of
the hands of the opponent or laying
out for a loose ball, she feels that she
“can bring a spark when needed” –
and her teammates agree.
“She is a positive energy all the
time,” Flaherty explained. “She’s
probably one of the funniest people
I know. She always
looks on the bright
side of things and it
is very inspirational
to be around her.”
Her
buoyant
personality is clear
from just watching
how she interacts
with
teammates
prior to games –
dancing,
laughing
and
performing
elaborate handshakes. This vigor was
immediately evident to freshmen such
as Church.
“Her energy at practice is – well,
if she wasn’t at practice, you would
notice,” Church said. “She makes a
presence. I’ve never seen her down
before and she just makes you feel
good if you’re down. And even outside
of basketball, she is always positive.”
This sort of high-energy player
and personality is what Barnes Arico
saw out of Dunston as a high school
recruit.
“I think every program needs a
Jillian Dunston,” Barnes Arico said.
“She’s just a really special kid and
we’ve been fortunate to have her in
our program.”
This season, the Wolverines will
look to Dunston to continue their
success and avoid another late-season
skid.
Looking back, Dunston admits
that the Wolverines may have let
their ranking in the top 25 get to
their
heads.
She
acknowledges that the
losing streak hurt them
in the end, and likely
cost them a trip to the
NCAA Tournament –
and all they can do now
is learn from it.
She also explained
that finding out that
the Wolverines weren’t
selected to the NCAA
Tournament
was
devastating – and this motivates her.
As a senior, Dunston feels a
responsibility to establish the team’s
culture and not allow the group to
become complacent. This may prove
the difference in earning an NCAA bid
or not. If the Wolverines learn from
last season and make adjustments,
Dunston
believes
Michigan
will
continue to make a national name for
itself.
And with Media Day marking the
beginning of a new season, Dunston
can’t help but smile.
The season hasn’t started yet, but
Dunston’s sure of one thing – “This
year is going to be even better.”
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Dunston grabbed 12 rebounds in Michigan’s 65-43 win over Grand Valley State.
The early part
of her career
was tough. It
was a journey.
I think every
program
needs a Jillian
Dunston.
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Dunston, now a senior, will be an integral leader for the Wolverines as they attempt to go dancing for the first time since 2012-13.