Several key contributors on last season's team are gone. Michigan will miss center Hallie Thome, a three-time first team All-Big Ten honoree, who graduated as the program's second all-time leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. Guard Nicole Munger, who started every game last season and was the team's third-leading scorer, also graduated, while guard Deja Church, the fourth-leading scorer, transferred to DePaul.
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Forward Naz Hillmon was a breakout star as a freshman last season, averaging a team-high 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. And she did it all as Michigan's sixth player. Hillmon was named Big Ten freshman of the year by the media and Big Ten sixth player of the year, and was picked for the All-Big Ten first team and Big Ten all-freshmanteam.
“She was a freshman for us last season," Barnes Arico said, "and she was our MVP.”
Now, U-M is looking for a sizable second-year jump from Hillmon.
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Amy Dilk was a highly touted recruit, a five-star prospect and ranked No. 40 in the nation. Which is why it wasn't a surprise that she played an integral role on last season's team, replacing former point guard Katelynn Flaherty, the program's all-time leading scorer.
Dilk started 29 games and averaged 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 4.4 assists, while playing 30.3 minutes per game. As Dilk enters her second season as a mainstay in the lineup, Barnes Arico is looking for more consistency.
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It'll be difficult to replace Thome, but U-M has a couple of options in the frontcourt. The tallest is freshman Izabel Varejão, whose uncle, Anderson, played 13 seasons in the NBA.
Varejão, who is from Brazil, is 6-foot-4 and has "a chance to be really special for us," Barnes Arico said. It'll be hard to keep Varejão off the court.
“She has great hands, great footwork," Barnes Arico said. "She can shoot the 3, she blocks shots. She’s got a chance to be really good. I think she’s off to a really great start.”