Newsstand: Naz Hillmon talks Michigan women's basketball's Sweet 16 berth
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Michigan women’s basketball made its first ever Sweet 16 last season and is headed back to the regional semifinals this year, after beating Villanova Monday night at Crisler Center. That game marked senior forward Naz Hillmon‘s last contest inside the Michigan home venue, which is a sad reality, but the fact that the Wolverines advanced in the NCAA Tournament made it pretty sweet for the All-American.
“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Hillmon told Brian Boesch on the Defend the Block podcast. “But my first reaction was to celebrate with the crowd. They really showed out for us this entire season, and just how much they had been around us and supported us and putting so much effort into Michigan women’s basketball, that was my first thing, and then a little bit of realizing that would be my last game at Crisler. But I really wanted to celebrate.”
Michigan athletics is having immense success this spring, with both basketball teams in the Sweet 16, the women’s gymnastics squad winning the Big Ten title and other sports showing out. There was a debate a couple years back on whether Michigan is a football school or basketball school, but sixth-year senior tight end Joel Honigford said there’s no reason for a debate.
“Basketball, obviously very exciting to watch,” he said. “Wrestling and hockey, it’s fantastic. Gymnastics. We’ve been able to watch it here and there. When we’re not in here, we try to catch up on the rest of them.
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“It’s exciting, because people like to look at Michigan and, say, for example, the 2020 season — ’oh, Michigan’s a basketball school.’ Things like that. Well, Michigan is an everything school, and it’s pretty cool to be a part of that. I think I saw a stat that it was football, men’s and women’s basketball, obviously gymnastics and stuff … the Sweet 16, the top 16 schools in the country, we’ve been a part of that — this year, alone, all of us have been a part of that.
“It’s exciting to see because we all support each other and we all have each others’ backs, and it’s cool to see.”
Michigan football held its 10th practice of the spring and has four more to go ahead of the April 2 spring game.
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“I think he would do amazing at Michigan. I think he liked the atmosphere and had a great time overall. He’s a big man that’s only going to get better. The world hasn’t seen his full potential. He can easily be a 260- or 270-pound defensive end that’s very speed and athletic. He’s good with his hands. I don’t think it would be hard for him to play at Michigan. He’s from Ghana, so he’s a warrior. He’s already physical and is going to get even more physical.”
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