'M' women exceed expectations, warrant Associated Press ranking

By Dena Beth Krischer

Daily Sports Writer

I saw a young girl wearing a t-shirt with, 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dream' written on the back.

Curiously, I waited for the girl to turn around so I could see what it said on the front.

'Michigan Women's Basketball.'

You've got to be kidding me. That's so... so... what's the word I'm looking for? Cheesy?

It was a Friday night back in November, and I was at a women's basketball game. There were only about 700 people in the stands - including the Michigan band and cheerleaders.

Regardless, all were patiently awaiting the Wolverines to take the court and face Athletes in Action for the first exhibition game of the season.

I'll admit, I wasn't a huge fan of women's basketball. And given last year, when the Wolverines finished 8-8 in the Big Ten and lost only one player to graduation, I wasn't expecting much.

The band played "The Victors" and the 12 women donning the maize and blue jogged out of the tunnel, split into two lines as they went to center court and rejoined underneath the far basket.

As the starting five was announced for both teams, each Michigan player threw out a t-shirt into the stands.

Some fans squirreled around, trying to catch one, while others just sat in their seats - a little wary of what was to come.

It wasn't until Danish sensation Anne Thorius snuck a behind-the-back-pass to co-captain Stacey Thomas, who went coast-to-coast, that my attention piqued a little.

"Hey," I thought, "that was pretty cool."

Michigan was now up 12-0. I unfolded my arms and started paying very close attention to details - and actually started to enjoy myself.

Thorius rolls her passes like Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton, arguably one of the best passers in NBA history.

Thomas plays like her idol, former Detroit Piston Isiah Thomas. Not coincidentally, she too wears No. 11.

Sophomore guard Alayne Ingram runs the point much like Denver Nugget Nick Van Exel (minus the head-butting).

This may have been only an exhibition game, but these women were playing like they belonged in the NBA.

Excuse me, the WNBA.

Because, after all, they are women.

And yes, they can play basketball.

Very well, actually.

So well that they defeated Athletes in Action, 90-75.

So well that since then, they've posted an 8-3 record in the Big Ten and a 16-6 overall.

Recent victories have catapulted the Wolverines into second place in the Big Ten.

Exhibiting clutch performances, they've upset ranked teams three times this season.

In fact, they've got a legitimate shot at making the NCAA Tournament.

The Wolverines are attaining individual accolades as well. Anne Thorius has just been named Big Ten Player of the Week.

Senior Stacey Thomas scored a career-high 32 points two weeks ago against Iowa, and freshman center LeeAnne Bies is a contender for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award.

They've played so well that Michigan is now regarded as the "darkhorse" of the Big Ten.

But not well enough to be ranked in the AP Top 25.

That's okay, though. The Wolverines don't need to be ranked to show what they can do.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dream."

For the Wolverines, the future is now. And basically, they own it.

Where can I get one of those t-shirts?

Just as senior forward Stacey Thomas knows the right spin to put on the basketball, the Wolverines overall movement this season has been upwardly mobile, despite being neglected in recent Associated Press Top 25 polls.

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