No. 1 UConn Huskies vs No. 5 Michigan Wolverines
1-0 0-0
Thursday, November 6th, 6:30 PM
Crisler Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV - FS1/Radio UConn Sports Network
Last year was the first time these two teams have met with UConn winning 72-69 in a very close and competative game. Here is a replay and also a highlight video if you don't want to watch the entire game.
Game Highlights
UCONN
The player and coaches names for both teams
are clickable to see their Bios
are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Possible Starters
are clickable to see their Bios
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Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Starters
Michigan Bench
Michigan Injuries
Out with foot injury for the forseable future
Game Analysis
Last season Geno said - "Based on what I've seen from Michigan they will be, for sure, the best team we play this year, by a long shot at this time in the season".
I wonder how he feels about them this season? They have three starters and 5 of their top 7 players back only missing Brook Quarles Daniels who started 31 games last season. The 5'7" guard graduated taking with her 31starts, 25 MPG, 5.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and was second on the team in assists. Also missing their starting point guard to injury.
What makes Michigan a good team? Well, they play really well together on both offense and defense. They are just a really well coached team. We all know their head coach Kim Barnes Arico. She was at St. John's from 2002-03 thru 2011-12. She finished with a 176-134 record. But her big claim to fame was beating UConn and ending the NCAA record 99 game winning streak with a late three pointer to win 57-56.
Ok, I washed my mouth out to get rid of that bad taste. Back to the analysis. Who is coming back and how did they do last season against the Huskies.
Mila Holloway was the third leading scorer on the team at 12.3 PPG. The 5'10" junior guard had set a freshman record for Michigan with 148 assists and improved on that with 167 last season. She lead the team with 5 APG. Against UConn last year she played 37 minutes and led the team with 6 assists. Bad news for Michigan, she has an injured foot and will be out for this game and the forseeable future.
Replacing her is 5'6" Senior guard from Australia, Dallas Loughridge. She most recently played for the Casey Cavaliers in the NBL1 South, averaging 25.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. She was named the NBL1 South Foot Locker Player of the Week for Round 11 after recording 38 points, six rebounds and four steals against the Diamond Valley team. She has a nice three pointer when open and also likes the pull up jumper.
Junior Olivia Olson, a 6'1" guard was the top scorer on the team. After a terrific first two seasons, freshman season where she was CO-Big Ten FOY. She averaged 18.9 PPG and 6.1 RPG leading the team in both. After shooting 46.7% on threes her freshman season, she shot 30.5% last year. I expect that to improve this year. She is also great at getting into the lane and getting fouled, with around 5 trips to the foul line per game shooting them at 81%. The clear team leader in every way. Against UConn last year, she had 18 points and 10 rebounds alond with 3 steals.
6' junior guard Syla Swords was another double digit scorer at 14.6 PPG. She took the most three pointers on the team and shot them at a 34% clip. She has been chosen pre-season all Big-Ten for 2026-27. She can catch fire from deep, as we saw last season against UConn. She scored 28 points on a crazy 8-14 from deep effort. She good but wasn't that good a three point shooter last year but her surprising game against UConn kept it close and she played all 40 minutes in that game.
Ashley Sofilkanich is a 6'3" junior forward who transfered to Michigan from Bucknell two years ago. She dominated there winning Patriot League Player of the Year, All-Patriot League first team, Patriot League All-Defensive Team, Patriot League All-Academic Team. She averaged 7.7 points and 4.2 reboundslast season. In her 21 minutes against UConn last year she had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Last year she was the first off the bench, but Te'Yala Delfosse is now starting. The 6'3" junior guard/forward averaged 8.7 PPG and 4.7 RPG. Against UConn last year she had 7 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists in 26 minutes.
First off the bench is Kendall Dudley, who is still working herself back from an injury. She might start going forward. In her 18 MPG she is averaged 5.8 PPG and 3.9 RPG. She played 18 minutes and scored 2 points against UConn last year.
There are 4 other players coming off the bench. To be honest, I'm not sure who will play and who will sit. We will find out together. Not a great recruiting class for the Wolverines. They have Ayo Mofopefoluwa rated 94 4 stars, Devin Cosgriff, rated 93 4 star and Pope Ayo, rated 91 4 star.
Michigan plays a solid man-to-man switching defense. They are not particulalry quick but they do a great job playing off each other. They use full court pressure defense and it was pretty effective against the weaker teams. They play in your face man-to-man once the ball crosses half court.
Offensively they look to run off defensive rebounds.They also like to take three pointers off of fast breaks. They averaged 20 three point shots taken per game and hit them at a solid 35% rate last season. One weakness is free throw shooting as they hit only 67% of those.
Once in the half court they are constantly looking for driving lanes and once past the first line of defense, they look to dish to open players in the paint. It's been pretty effective. They also will kick out from the paint for open threes. They appear to have an offensive plan unlike so many other teams UConn faces. And they certainly showed that when they played the Huskies last year.
Final Prediction
So, how will this game play out? It's a tough one to get a handle on. UConn lost Fudd and Williams to graduation. And Blanca appears not to be ready yet. But they added 3 very good players in Vukosa, Popovic and Dursus. Michigan lost their starting poing guard Hollaway to injury but return 6 of their other top players from last season.
This years UConn team is as deep as any I have seen in Storrs. They can run you off the court and look to defend the heck out of the opponent. And I doubt this team will hit over 50% on threes, but they do have several players that can get hot from deep. It will be difficult for Michigan to defend this group.
My prediction last year was way off as I had UConn winning by 15+. So you would think I would learn from last seasons game where Michigan only lost by 3 points. You would think that that playing in Michigan might have me rethink that prediction. But you would be wrong.
Swords was just amazing last season, cutting up UConn with 8-14 on three pointers. Considering she shot 32.6% in all her other games, I'd say that was a fluke. Will she repeat that performance? Possible but doubtful. Add in their starting point guard missing the game, I just think I'm getting closer to last years prediction.
I'm thinking UConn by 10+. If the Huskies get hot from deep it could be ++.
