The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Once at Michigan, basketball changed for Goree like it does for all high school players heading into college. No longer was she one of the tallest, most athletic players. That transition can be tough for a lot of highly successful athletes, but Goree understood what she was get- ting into. "It was difficult because coming out of high school you're one of the best players, but you have to under- stand that at the next level you're playing with kids that were the best players too," she explained. "So you are now playing against players that are as good or better than you every day. It just let me understand how hard you have to work and realize who really wants it and who's really working on their game and getting better." The wake-up call wasn't as rude for Goree as it is for some players, but she hit a few bumps in the road that could've derailed a person who wasn't as mentally tough as she was. Instead of getting down about being hurt and facing adversity, Goree took a different approach that she thinks made her into the player she's become. "Freshman year, I was still getting a feel for all of the transitions and then I tore my ACL," she explained. "Then Coach [Kim Barnes] Arico came in during my sophomore year. I was still coming back from the injury that year and trying to find my rhythm on the court while getting adjusted to Coach Arico's playing system. "But I actually enjoyed it. I was able to learn basketball from a dif- ferent angle. I learned more about scouting and film and things like that outside of just playing. That al- lowed me, by the time I was a junior, to step up and be ready when my number was called." When her junior season rolled around and her number was called, she was certainly ready. Goree fin- ished as an All-Big Ten second- team performer after averaging 12.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Her production surprised everyone, including her head coach. "When I first got here, Cyesha was coming off of the knee injury and she was out of shape and had gained a little weight, and I remem- ber thinking, 'I don't know how this girl is ever going to play for us,'" Barnes Arico said. "She worked in- credibly hard in the offseason and got herself in incredible shape and she proved me wrong. She came back and was All-Big Ten last year and she just had this chip on her shoulder. "She made a believer out of me and I know that anything she puts her mind to do she is going to be able to achieve. She came from not getting a minute to being an All-Big Ten player. Not many people can say that." Goree herself didn't even expect to succeed the way that she did. "I don't think anybody expected it," she said with a laugh. "I was enjoying the moment and taking advantage of the opportunity that I had. I was just going out there and playing basketball the only way that I know how to play. I was in better