2015-16 Season Previews -- Part Four
10/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
On periodic Wednesdays throughout the season, MGoBlue.com will release season previews for upcoming sport seasons. The men's and women's basketball programs and No. 3-ranked wrestling team are featured in this entry.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
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2015-16 OUTLOOK
John Beilein, in his ninth season as head coach, hopes to guide the Wolverines back to a winning season free from injuries this upcoming year. Senior Caris LeVert and junior Derrick Walton Jr. return from season-ending foot injuries, giving the Wolverines a much-needed boost to their backcourt. Without Walton and LeVert in the lineup, the Wolverines went 5-9 last season. The Wolverines will welcome two newcomers this season: Moritz Wagner from Berlin, Germany, and Brent Hibbitts from Hudsonville, Michigan. U-M will be welcoming back the rest of a loaded roster that includes Zak Irvin, Kameron Chatman, Aubrey Dawkins and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, the last three of whom all gained valuable experience as freshmen lasts season.
KEY COMPETITION
Nov. 25-27 -- at Battle 4 Atlantis (Bahamas)
U-M travels to the Bahamas for one of the premier holiday tournaments. The Wolverines open against UConn (Nov. 26) and will face either Charlotte or Syracuse (Nov. 26) in their second game. The tournament features Texas, Texas A&M, Gonzaga and Washington in the other half of the bracket.
• Full Preview (detailed season preview, quotes, student-athletes to watch and more)
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
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• Social Media: Twitter (@umichwbball) | Facebook
2015-16 OUTLOOK
Michigan's roster features just four scholarship upperclassmen, with nine freshmen and sophomores on this year's team. The Wolverines welcome back their leading scorer from last season in sophomore Katelynn Flaherty (14.3 ppg) along with a pair of starters in juniors Siera Thompson (10.9 ppg) and Danielle Williams (39 steals, 2.4 rpg). Joining U-M this season is a group of four heralded freshmen, highlighted by 6-foot-5 Hallie Thome and 5-foot-6 Boogie Brozoski. Michigan will need to replace its entire frontcourt from last season and will turn to Thome, sophomores Jillian Dunston and Maria Backman, along with senior Kelsey Mitchell, who has missed much of her career due to injury. Head coach Kim Barnes Arico enters her fourth year in Ann Arbor as the only coach in U-M history with three 20-win seasons and keeps her coaching staff in tact from a season ago.
KEY COMPETITION
Sunday, Dec. 13, vs. UCLA, 2 p.m.
UCLA returns to Crisler Center for a rematch of last year's WNIT semifinals, where the Bruins escaped with a 69-65 win en route to winning the WNIT championship. It is the first game in a two-year home-and-home series with UCLA. The Bruins return the majority of their team from last season, and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network as the highlight of Michigan's non-conference home schedule.
• Full Preview (detailed season preview, quotes, student-athletes to watch and more)
WRESTLING
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• Social Media: Twitter (@umichwrestling) | Facebook
2015-16 OUTLOOK
Under the direction of 17th-year head coach Joe McFarland, Michigan enters the 2015-16 season with the No. 3 ranking in the USA Today/NWCA preseason poll -- its highest ranking in 10 years -- and with 10 returning NCAA qualifiers, including five All-Americans, the Wolverines have the talent and depth conducive to both dual-meet and tournament success. After fielding an exceedingly young squad in each of the last two seasons -- last year's NCAA contingent included just two upperclassmen -- Michigan will have a veteran lineup in 2015-16, as its 10 projected starters are all ranked by at least one wrestling media outlet.
KEY COMPETITION
Saturday, Jan. 9, at Ohio State
Michigan will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face defending NCAA champion Ohio State live on the Big Ten Network. After Michigan dominated the series for decades, the Buckeyes have had the upper hand of late, claiming six of the last eight meetings, including a 25-15 decision last season in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines won in their last trip to Columbus, however, and will look to repeat the feat this season.
• Full Preview (detailed season preview, quotes, student-athletes to watch and more)
