Defend the Block: Hillmon Focused on Expanding Skills, Leadership
11/2/2021 6:22:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Features
With the women's basketball season on the horizon, "Defend the Block" podcast host Brian Boesch chats with star senior Naz Hillmon about the differences in her game and her surroundings heading into this season, her teammates' skills and improvements, and the enhanced attention around the program and women's basketball as a whole.
By Erin O'Hara
Leadership can come in many forms, and for University of Michigan women's basketball senior Naz Hillmon, it has always been in her nature to lead by example. She can sense when her team is down and needs someone to lead the way.
This lead-by-example nature and her competitive spirit have given the Wolverines that extra push when they need it an abundance of times. Whether that be a 50-point, 16-rebound game against rival Ohio State -- or going all out to give the women the push they needed in an effort to beat the men's basketball team in a heated dance battle.
During the U-M basketball teams' preseason "Michigan Madness" event last month, Hillmon sensed the women's team was falling behind in the showdown and, in true "do-what-it-takes-to-win" spirit, she stepped into the middle and dropped down into the splits, immediately igniting Crisler with energy.
Get you an All-American who can do this. @nazhillmon #goblue pic.twitter.com/zOnzrndeHE
— Michigan Women's Basketball (@umichwbball) October 22, 2021
However, this year the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year is looking to take on more of a vocal leadership role on the court, in addition to her leadership by example.
"It's hard getting out of myself and getting to my teammates vocally," said the three-time team MVP on this week's edition of the "Defend the Block" podcast. "As long as you are going out there and giving 100 percent, you can still ask and demand that from your teammates."
Leadership isn't the only area in which she is working to develop. Hillmon is looking to add to her toolbox and move from the inside the paint where she dominates both offensively and off-the-ball, and expand her outside game this season.
"My main bread and butter is in the paint, but (this year I'm) taking those opportunities that I didn't in the past on the outside," said Hillmon.
Hillmon has been working with assistant coach Carrie Moore, one of the three new Michigan assistant coaches on staff this year, to develop her skills in the post while trying to expand her outside shot.
"It's amazing," Hillmon said of the past few months with the new group of coaches. "They bring amazing energy to our team and you can tell that they are super excited to be here. They are doing exactly what they love. For me, this is my third position coach. I always say I have taken something different from each one of them. As the season continues on, I am looking forward to learning a different aspect of the post game from Coach Moore."
These outside skills will be on full display for fans when the Wolverines return to Crisler this Thursday (Nov. 4) for the first time in over a season for an exhibition contest against Grand Valley State before opening the season on Nov. 9 against IUPUI. "I'm super excited to have Crisler filled back up," said Hillmon.
This will be an emotional season opener for her, as it will be her first start as a senior for a program she has helped take to new heights since she arrived in Ann Arbor.
"I think that will be a very emotional day for me, just because it will be the first game at Crisler of my senior year, which is just crazy in itself," Hillmon said. "I continue to say it's crazy, even though I have been a senior now for the last three months (in school). My biggest thing this year is just taking everything day by day. I am really trying to not get ahead of myself."
With the increased support and attention behind the women's team after its NCAA tournament run last year and Hillmon's 49 points en route to the Sweet 16, this energy could help push the Wolverines to another strong season led by Hillmon.
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