The Michigan women’s basketball team arrived on Paradise Island in the Bahamas on Thursday, about 48 hours before their first game of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. There have been team meals, and players have swam in the ocean and explored the pools (with their awesome slides) on the incredible resort.
Come Saturday, the focus shifts to basketball. For the Wolverines, the visit to Atlantis is more of a business trip than a vacation.
Michigan opens the event against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The entire tournament is available to stream, for a fee, on flohoops.com. (The championship is the exception; that will air on ESPN2.)
The Wolverines expect to be fully healthy after playing shorthanded during their 2-0 start. Elissa Brett and Chyra Evans missed the opener against Purdue Fort Wayne. Elise Stuck sat out against Oakland. They’re all expected to be available, without restrictions, head coach Kim Barnes Arico said on a video conference call on Friday afternoon.
It will be all hands on deck against a capable Middle Tennessee team. The Blue Raiders (2-1) were an 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament last year and lost in the first round. They were picked to repeat as Conference USA champs, largely due to preseason Player of the Year Savannah Wheeler, a fifth-year guard averaging 18.3 points per game so far.
The Blue Raiders boast a Russian duo that stands 6-foot-5 and 6-6. Middle Tennessee is not deep, however. Last time out, two starters played all 40 minutes and the others logged at least 34 minutes, with just two bench players seeing the court for a total of 14 minutes.
Michigan gets three games in three days regardless of the outcome. Sunday’s draw will be either DePaul or South Dakota, the team Michigan beat to reach the Elite 8 in 2022. DePaul would be especially intriguing since a pair of Wolverines transferred there this past offseason.
Michelle Sidor and Kate Clarke are both starting for DePaul (2-1). In an 81-74 loss to Louisville the last time out, Clark played 40 minutes, attempted 23 shots (including 15 3s), and scored 32 points. She scored a total of nine points over 14 games as a freshman at Michigan last season.
Michigan plays at 2:30 p.m. (with a win Saturday) or 7:30 (loss). Monday is another full day of games. The rest of the field features Mississippi (ranked No. 23 in the AP top-25 poll), Arizona (which is receiving votes), Memphis, and Howard.
“This is great prep for Big Ten play, great prep for postseason play,” Barnes Arico said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to get this kind of feel heading into the biggest part of our season.”
As soon as the women leave Atlantis, the Michigan men arrive. They’re playing in the men’s event Wednesday through Friday, opening against Memphis. Barnes Arico noted the Michigan security staffer who traveled with her team was with the men when they won the Battle 4 Atlantis in 2019; he told Barnes Arico he’s good luck.
Michigan won three games to claim the Gulf Coast Showcase this time last year and didn’t lose in November events in 2021 or 2019 either (those didn’t happen in 2020). The goal is to win trophies in March, but these events are still worthwhile.
“I just think it gives you great experience against quality opponents outside your league,” Barnes Arico said.
In August, the Wolverines were able to travel to Europe for 10 days. While they played three exhibition games, that was more of a vacation. They did a lot of excursions and sightseeing and other team-bonding activities. This trip is different.
There’s a trophy at stake. Michigan is after it.
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Michigan signs 2024 recruiting class, including two 5-star prospects
Kim Barnes Arico signs contract extension