Michigan is 2-0.
That may seem insignificant, but the Wolverines’ past says otherwise.
Michigan last started the season with back-to-back wins in 2003.
Coincidently, today’s squad and that one beat Cincinnati for their second win, this time defeating them 55-46.
That season, the Wolverines finished 14-17, the last time they have come close to finishing a campaign with a .500 record.
The three seasons since, the team has finished an average of 15 games below .500.
If this season’s quick start leads to a record even mirroring .500, this campaign will be considered a success.
3-point Brigade: The Wolverines attempted 29 shots from behind the arc against the Bearcats, knocking down 11.
Last season, Michigan never attempted more than 27 threes, and the team has passed that mark in just its second game.
And it’s been a collective effort. Four Wolverines have already attempted more than 10 3-pointers in the young season.
However, Borseth wasn’t pleased with all the attempts.
“We took way too many 3-point shots and nothing around the basket,” Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said. “We’re just not getting the ball inside and scoring it.”
Michigan is shooting 31.4 percent from behind the arc.
Starter or bench?: Sophomore Krista Phillips has been playing better off the bench this season. Against Cincinnati, Phillips had what Bearcats coach Kelley Hall called a “monster game.”
Cincinnati was the victim of Phillips’s 17-point, six-rebound and four-block performance in 22 minutes. She was efficient from the field (7-for-10) and consistent from the charity stripe (3-for-3), as well as active on the defensive end, (four blocks).
“We put Krista (Phillips) in the game – she’s obviously a natural post player,” Borseth said. “We were able to get it to her for the score, which was the difference for us. She gave us an inside presence.”
Starting at center for the exhibition game against Lake Superior State two weeks ago, Phillips had a sub-par game, scoring seven points while rarely looking to score. And after playing just 12 minutes, she was also clearly fatigued.
Against Akron, Phillips provided a spark off the bench in just seven minutes, going 4-for-5 from the field for nine points.
After starting 21 of 29 games last season and getting a taste of starting and coming off the bench this season, the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native may have hit her stride.