The Michigan women’s basketball team’s mentality has never been to only put in what’s required. Instead, finding ways to show up and give extra effort is considered the bare minimum for both the rising stars and experienced veterans.
And for many players, you don’t just show up and get to start as a freshman — you have to put in the effort, wait your turn and buy into the program.
Looking at players over the past few years such as Danielle Rauch, Emily Kiser or even assistant coach Jillian Dunston, all of them are examples of how putting in the extra reps pay off. All these players started their career with little to no playing time, and yet ended up achieving multiple combined Big Ten accolades while leading the Wolverines to new heights.
To achieve all of that, it starts with player development.
“Player development is really what we’ve built this program on,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said Nov. 14. “That’s the biggest goal and that’s what players out there see. If you come to the University of Michigan, it doesn’t stop here. … We’re going to do everything in our power to help you be the best player that you can be at the University of Michigan.”
Players on the Wolverines’ current roster are prime examples of this philosophy. Junior guard Jordan Hobbs and senior forward Cameron Williams both started their careers behind someone else. Whether it be nine or 12 games off the bench, respectively, neither of them got to be a starter from the jump. Instead, it took effort and time to develop into the key role players they are for Michigan today.
Hobbs contributed through her big personality and encouragement from the bench while continuing to put in her effort to get the starting role she has today. Williams leads by example — putting in the extra effort, watching film, showing up early and providing a stable presence for the Wolverines.
“From a coaching perspective, (Williams) is a coach’s dream,” Barnes Arico said March 3. “She’s had bumps in the road. … The next day, she’s calling up (assistant coach Melanie Moore), ‘Can we get in? Can we get an extra workout? Can I watch film? How can I be better? How can I be better to help my team? How can I be better to help us win?’ So she has just been amazing.”
Both Hobbs and Williams’ tendencies are the standard. And their efforts have helped the rest of the newcomers buy into the program — including freshman guard Macy Brown.
“I’ve watched this Michigan team since I was young,” Brown told The Michigan Daily. “I remember when Jordan was a freshman and just the energy she had on the bench, you can just tell she’s a great teammate. And now that she’s starting, she deserves that. Maybe you don’t play as much early on but it’s all a process and when it’s your time, it’ll be your time.”
Watching the players above you succeed is motivating for the younger athletes who want to be in their same shoes later in their careers. For sophomore guard Alyssa Crockett, that dedication and extra effort was evident from week one.
“Your first week here, you come in for practice and the seniors have already been here for two hours because they just got a work out in and they’re already getting treatment,” Crockett told The Daily. “And you’re like, ‘Okay, this is how it is. So next week, I’m going to come in these days, these days, these days, and make sure I get my work in.’ Then it just becomes normal.”
Self motivation isn’t something that can be coached. While Michigan’s coaches have laid the foundation of what they expect, it takes the example of the upperclassmen and the desire to get better for the young players to buy into the program and follow suit.
Now, Michigan not only supports self motivation, but has designated an entire position to player development, hiring Ariel Atkins as assistant coach of player development at the beginning of the season. Her position and obligation includes exactly what the Wolverines pride themselves on.
“A lot of people think player development is just training one-on-one, but I think the bigger picture is making sure the whole human is something that the players think about,” Atkins said on the MGoBlue Podcasts with Jon Jansen. “… Being able to have those conversations with them of like, ‘Hey, there’s so much more to life than just basketball.’ And if you understand that, you can take the time to get everything in order in life. Basketball becomes easier because now you can have a clearer mind when you walk onto the court.”
Atkins is not just an integral part of Michigan’s coaching staff, but she also brings her USA Basketball Women’s Olympic Team talent. Her high caliber experience in the WNBA and representing the United States helps elevate her coaching.
Honing in on the fundamentals and starting with the basics, Atkins works with younger players like Brown, Crockett and freshman forward Taylor Woodson. The three often spend time after practice working with Atkins on dribbling, finishing shots or defensive skills that will prepare them to be game-ready when their names are called.
Through Atkins’ high basketball IQ, she knows how to bring in analogies or examples to help make things click. She relates to the players that are around her age, making them better athletes and people in the process. She even finds fun ways to hammer down the most important parts of the game.
“She calls him Bob,” Crockett said. “She gets this big pad on this big guy that she can move around. That’s all she just slammed us. We throw the ball and rebound and then she’ll just take Bob, throw it up against us as if it’s like a foul and we have to finish through it.”
Having these fun moments to compete and get extra practice encourages the young players to take the extra rep or time in the gym, building a competitive and encouraging environment.
Other examples that build the competitive edge is through their “practice points queen” title every week in practice and stickers for hustle plays during games. The latter is a physical sticker the players get for hard working plays such as diving on the ground for a loose ball, taking a charge or making the extra pass to a teammate.
These friendly competitions seem fun on the outside, but it gives the players the opportunity to harness their competitiveness and become the best player they can be. By putting in the extra effort during practice or making the most of their time on the court, their role will start to solidify.
Even for players like Brown or Crockett who aren’t playing as many minutes as some of the starters, having an impact from the bench has helped the Wolverines’ camaraderie.
“Energy is contagious,” Brown said. “Hopefully we can give the people on the court some energy but no matter how many minutes you’re playing, you’re on this team for a reason.”
The ultimate goal for the Wolverines is to win. But to get there, the underclassmen in the program have to put in the extra effort, knowing their role on the team is to make an impact regardless of how often they play. And for the youngsters, their expectations for the program are high.
“I just want to win a Big Ten Championship,” Crockett said. “I definitely envy Iowa for being able to win three years in a row. I want to be in that position. … I know every single person in this program wants to win. So there’s not a doubt, you just have to do it.”
Barnes Arico’s philosophy of player development continues to go full circle. As new generations of Michigan players buy into the program and the grind, it will only continue to grow. As for Brown, Crockett and Woodson, they have players like Hobbs and Williams to look up to. They have coaches like Atkins and all the other assistants ready to go into the gym early. When the time comes for Brown, Crockett and Woodson to lead the team in a few years, they will all have their predecessors, coaches and the Michigan mentality to thank.