The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/213966
inside michigan athletics "She can jump out of the gym; she can grab rim. "She has a knack for the ball and has a great motor. She runs in transition and is exceptionally long as well. "She will be able to help us on the defensive end, as well as run the court and finish in transition. Her ability to rebound the basketball will be invaluable to our team." A native of Germantown, Md., the 5-11 Dunston can play both guard and forward. She ranks No. 98 nationally and was the first of the four to commit to the Maize and Blue. "Jillian is such a great asset for our program because she can play multiple positions," Barnes Arico said. "I have seen her be able to get a rebound and go coast to coast and make a great play or finish the play herself. She has a great handle but also has the ability to post you up. She can shoot the three effectively as well. "She is a big, strong guard who can play with her back to the basket or from outside the three-point arc. She can do multiple things, rebound well and plays incredibly hard." Backman was the 2013 New York Daily News Player of the Year after leading Cardinal Spellman to its first Class A state finals appearance. The Bronx, N.Y., native averaged 26.3 points and 11.0 rebounds as a junior, and she is rated as the No. 117 player in the country. "Maria has tremendous length, and that will really help us extend our defense," Barnes Arico said. "Her length and quickness will give us the ability to play aggressive, pressure defense. She is also a 6-1 wing who can shoot the three-ball exceptionally well. She runs the floor like a deer and can score in transition. Her ability to play effectively on both sides of the ball will really help us be a more versatile team." Brandon Speaks On Football Season, Times Michigan athletics director David Brandon appeared as a guest with sideline reporter Doug Karsch on the Michigan Radio Network's tailgate show prior to the Northwestern game. In addition to issuing strong support to head coach Brady Hoke, Brandon talked about some of the disappointments of the present season. He noted that, in particular, the loss to Nebraska was a difficult one. It marked Michigan's first home loss since Hoke became head coach, and the 17-13 defeat represented one that could have gone either way, many times over. U-M athletics director David Brandon said of the football team after observing practice, "Based on what I saw this week, all things considered, they're in a very positive place." photo by Per Kjeldsen