The early-season women's college basketball menu is often overstuffed with a buffet of blowouts, as top-ranked teams fatten up on overmatched opponents, resulting in games that not only are uncompetitive and sometimes unwatchable, but also uninformative. (Hi, LSU!)
And yet, those gluttonous games are balanced by a few delicacies, when top teams please the palates of fans hungry for some high-level hoops.
No. 2 UConn's visit to No. 5 Michigan might be the most delicious early-season treat (6:30 p.m. ET, FS1).
Last season, the Huskies and Wolverines met in Mohegan Sun Arena late November, with Michigan giving UConn their toughest regular-season test in what turned into a thriller. Michigan, down 22-5 after the first, eventually rallied, cutting UConn's once 20-point lead all the way down to a single point before losing by three points, 72-69.
This season's top-five matchup, on Michigan's home floor, likewise projects an early barometer for both teams.
Can the Wolverines, who reached the door step of the sport's upper echelon with a trip to the Elite Eight last season, step through with a statement win over the Huskies? Or, will UConn, as is their wont, assert their longstanding superiority with a dominant victory?
Here are two players—one Wolverine and one Husky—who can swing the outcome of this top-five tilt. In the comments, let us know if you agree, or which Wolverines or Huskies you see as emerging as the X factors on Thursday evening.
Of course, it's Syla Swords.
A top-five matchup on national television? Those are the ideal conditions for a Swords masterclass.
The now-junior Canadian guard introduced herself to the wider women's college hoops world with an epic freshman debut against No. 1-ranked South Carolina, dropping 27 points as the Wolverines sent a shiver through the Gamecocks.
In last season's aforementioned game against UConn, Swords, again, was on one, serving as the engine of Michigan's comeback with 29 points, including eight 3-pointers.
Swords' tendency to elevate her play on the biggest stage can make her game difficult to analyze.
Seemingly poised for a leap as a sophomore , her overall production remained modest, with her efficiency from the field and from 3 actually dropping from her freshman season. She also struggled with consistency, with 20-point games followed by single-digit ones. (Although, as long as the talented Wolverines win, that's not necessarily a real problem.)
But if Michigan is to not only announce themselves as a real threat with a win over UConn, but also maintain that status through a Big Ten regular-season gauntlet, a more efficient and consistent Swords will be a must.
The Wolverines have yet to play this season, making Thursday's showdown the first chance to see what Syla has in store.
Over two years ago, our Łukasz Muniowski interviewed Jovana Popvic , talking with the then-17-year-old about her play in the top women's basketball league in Serbia, where she won Finals MVP as she helped ZKK Mega MIS Beograd win the league title.
In the interview, Popovic comes off a shy and soft-spoken, humbly crediting her teammates and coaches for her success.
Her game, however, can be loud, as UConn fans already have discovered. In her debut, the now-19-year-old Popovic posted 19 points in her 22 minutes, going 8-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3.
The jumper is pure, as she drained buckets from off the dribble and off the catch, showing comfort in the midrange and behind the arc. She also can make her way to the hoop with apparent ease, recognizing openings in the defense and gliding to the rim.
Popovic profiles as the kind of point guard that the Huskies lacked last season, with her ability to run the offense and set the table for others enhanced by her own scoring prowess.
The likes of Swords or Mila Holloway will provide much more resistance than Popovic saw against Cornell, as UConn romped to the 100-35 win on opening day. However, considering Popovic also scored 22 points in an exhibition game against No. 6 Texas, in addition to notching seven rebounds and five assists, it might be unwise to think she's going to experience a "Welcome to the NCAA" moment.
Rather, the pro-polished Serbian superstar might use the official top-five test to cement herself as THE piece who, wearing No. 13, is poised to help the Huskies capture title No. 13.
