Experience will lurk in the backcourt for '98 Blue season

Last year, experience led to a breakout season for the Michigan women's basketball team.

Four seniors, led by current WNBA player Pollyanna Johns, took the team to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament and led it to its second ever NCAA tournament.

But this year's outlook is quite different. While the ultimate goal remains the same, the team will have to take another path to get there.

Because the team has eight underclassmen in the 11-member squad, inexperience will describe the Wolverines this season.

Most of the youth lies in Michigan's frontcourt. Three freshmen started for the Wolverines in their exhibition game against the Swiss national team, adding athletic ability and quickness. But coach Sue Guevara noted that they "have a long way to go.

WARREN ZINN/Daily This is a rebuilding year for the Michigan women's basketball team. An experienced backcourt, led by Stacey Thomas and Anne Thorius, looks to return Michigan to the NCAA tournament.

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The little experience Michigan has lurks in the backcourt, with junior Stacey Thomas and sophomore Anne Thorius leading the way.

Thomas is one of the team's strongest defensive players and one of the quickest and most athletic players in the league. She holds Michigan's single-season record for steals and was Michigan's second-leading rebounder and scorer.

Though Thomas' natural position is shooting guard, she will also see time at small forward.

Thorius is a floor leader who can play either the one or two spot. As an experienced player on the perimeter, she will be looked upon to shoot the ball and score more, instead of distributing the ball as much as she did last year.

"There is a lot of pressure when people keep talking about how we are the ones with the experience, but we aren't supposed to win the game for us," Thorius said.

Ann Lemire, the lone senior on the team, will also add to the experience of the backcourt when she returns. Lemire was suspended for the first three games of the season for breaking a team rule, but is eager to be put back in the lineup.

"We really need Ann's leadership," Throrius said. "She is bummed that she is not playing, and as soon as she is able to she will add to the perimeter defense. She is also a great shooter and penetrator."

With the loss of Johns, the weakness of the team will be the lack of height.

But the Wolverines have many new faces to prove that statement wrong. They hope that sophomore Katie Dykhouse and freshman Raina Goodlow will step up and produce in the post position.

The two are not expected to replace Johns' rebounding and defensive abilities, but Guevara will look to them to lead the frontcourt.

"We didn't see a rebounder like Pollyanna tonight," Guevara said after the exhibition game. "But we are really working on our defense, and looking for that animal."

Goodlow and Dykhouse weren't wild animals, but they did score in double digits against the Swiss. The duo also contributed on the other side of the ball.

The guards are not looking to lead the team to another NCAA berth on their own. Guevara noted at the beginning of the season that this was a team with good chemistry, so every member of the team is looked on to contribute.

"We are trying to get everyone involved," Thorius said. "We don't have specific plays to get the ball to Stacey and I. Everyone has the green light to shoot."

Despite the inexperience, the Wolverines don't feel that they have any setbacks this season. They are optimistic about the freshmen, who are eager about playing a large part in what they hope will be another breakthrough season.

"We don't really have any weak positions, just less experience" Thomas said. "As long as they learn and work hard, they will play."

The starting lineup is not yet set, but it is almost certain that some freshmen will start.

The experience may lie in the backcourt, but the frontcourt is waiting to prove that there is no weakness on this team that will prevent it from taking another trip to the Big Dance.

11-16-98