Life Overseas, Michigan Basketball & Building the PERFECT Player | Nolan & Hobbs Ep 38

[From Crisler Center to courts around the world, they wore the maize and blue. And now they’re bringing you the game inside and out. Hail Media presents Nolan and Hobbs, the women’s hoop homecourt podcast, hosted by Maddie Nolan and Jordan Hobbs. All right, everyone. Hello and welcome back to the Nolan and Hobbs show with me, Maddie Nolan, and my co-host, Jordan Hobbs. Slight change of scenery for me. And you might hear some extra background noises today because I am officially moved into New York, which is so fun and so exciting. And we’re just working on figuring out the room situation, but it’s good so far. How has your first week been? Anything meaningful happened? Um, no. It’s just fun. Like, I have three roommates.

They’re super nice. Um, I’ve gotten to see a couple of my other Michigan friends. Um, one of them comes into town this weekend. I got to like go to my job orientation yesterday. So, just a lot of movement. Um, but that’s how I like it. So, nothing super crazy yet. I’m trying to think. No, just like navigating the subway, having a great time. Love that. Um, updates from me. Yeah, we played a team called Girona who is in the Euro League. They finished top six in the Euro League last year. They don’t have one of their best players, Anna Martin, who was drafted to the Valkyries, I believe. Um, I could be wrong on that, but she is one of Spain’s best players. She was not there, but we were down 14 in the fourth quarter with like eight and a half minutes left and we won by five.

So, that was pretty sick. I can’t believe we came back. Yeah. Wait, Jordan, have you noticed a big difference in the play between Italy and Spain? like how the teams play there and how play. Yeah. Yeah. Spain isn’t quite as physical like and the refs do call more, but it’s way faster in Spain. This is crazy. And I Maddie, you might know this, but the fans probably don’t. If the ball goes out in the front court, like if you’re on defense playing on that half court and the there’s a turnover or the ball goes out of bounds, you can just get the ball. You don’t have to pass it to the ref and you can just play. So, that is a very big change for me because first of all, I’m tired. Like, I need this little 15-second break that the ref gets the ball and then you pass it in.

And second of all, it’s just like an adjustment. I got to run back on defense if we turn it over or if if it’s in our advantage. I got to run on offense. So, it’s a new way to play. And I actually I think I like it more than I dislike it. So getting used to when I’m around the ball, if there’s a turnover, I got to take it out of bounds. But no, it’s it’s been fun so far. Um I So in France, that’s the rule, but only for U15. So when we brought the U15 girls over, that was such an adjustment for them. And I think we got like 20 points scored on us from that rule. So I I know what you’re talking about. It is crazy. You It’s such a change of pace, honestly. Um how have you been playing, Jay? Any updates on on that for us?

I’ve been playing pretty well. Um nothing crazy like 10 10point games um in our scrimmages. Good. Um yeah, just kind of our team is very cohesive and like there’s not really like one star on the team, so I honestly prefer it that way. I think it’s way more fun to play that way and and we share the ball really well. Um, so I have loved playing with this team so far. And um, we actually have our first like real game this weekend on Saturday. We play in the Super Cup which is like four teams from last year. Um, and they playing this like preseason tournament type of thing. So we start that on Saturday. It’s in Madrid and we play Leonese and then if we win we would play Valencia or um Zaragoza and actually Cam Williams is uh with Valencia so I would get to see Cam this weekend which I’m really excited about.

Wait, I love that. That would be so fun. Well, will you get to see her anyway because she’ll still be in the same tournament? Yeah, I’ll get to see her no matter what but could play against her. So either way, I’m so excited cuz I miss and love Cam so much. We need to get her on the podcast. I was just thinking that. Yeah. Wait, that would be so fun. Maybe we can do rapid fire with her when you see her. No, I’m just kidding. Well, let’s let’s we’ll try to organize that soon. Um, other worldwide Wolverine updates. Emily Kiser in Puerto Rico was just player of the game. She had 31 points, two assists, and six rebounds. They did lose by four. Um, but Emily continuing her dominance that she kind of started in Australia and has the world now has kind of been able to see, not just Michigan.

So, shout out Emily on the great performance. I don’t believe Leah’s playing right now. I’ve seen her in street clothes um on her team, but she is down in Puerto Rico. Um, and then Alyssa Crockett, I talked to her a little bit recently. Um, she’s played a couple game I don’t know if they’re actual games actually. I think Are they J? No, they’ve played scrimmages. Yeah. Um, but she’s playing really well and she said she’s just finding the joy in basketball and having such a great time. And, um, if you guys follow her on Instagram, she is doing a really good job of updating, as is Jordan, of their, um, excursions and journeys and adventures, which has been so fun to see. So, we’re just so happy for everyone.

Yes, it has been fun. And yeah, Emily killed it in that game. I saw it on Instagram and I’m just like, dude, you’re insane. The Puerto Rican League is, as Maddie knows, she played in it um for a couple a couple weeks or months. Weeks weeks. It was pretty They go fast over there. Yeah, they they play like every other day, so it’s it’s intense and fast and uh it’s only a couple short months of season, but they get their games in. That’s for sure. I think I was there for literally two and a half weeks. I played seven games. If I was there Yeah, that’ll do it to you. Yeah. When if I played seven games in France, it would have been two months in that same time frame. I don’t know. So true. It was crazy.

But it was such a fun league and there’s a lot of power five people that like we played with and against. There’s a lot of ex-NBA people in the league. Um, and a lot of the Puerto Rican players on their national team play in the league and they’re really skilled and really good. Um, so it was a really fun league to play in. It’s just very taxing on the body. Yeah, for sure. Um, all right. In terms of Michigan women’s basketball current players, current news, they start 20-hour weeks this week. For those who don’t know, in in season, which is from around September 25th until you win the NCAA minutestournament or the NIT or you lose your last game, you’re in 20-hour weeks, which means you have the staff has 20 hours to do their practices, do weights, film, all the things that they need.

travel doesn’t count towards it because that would just you would be at 20 hours with travel alone. But other times of the year, you’re an eight hour week. So, you only really have like four practices a week that are about an hour long and then you have four hours in the weight room. So, the schedule is going to get increased for these girls. And the three-hour practices are upon them. Maddie and I know what those are about a little too well. Um, but very exciting that it’s almost here. I can’t I could not believe 24 weeks are here and they’re going to be starting games sooner than we can even think. It’s so weird to think. I was just on the phone with Danielle and she’s like, “Yeah, official practice starts on Thursday.” And I was like, “Whoa.” And so, yeah.

Jordan, what do you think the biggest difference between OB other than the time change, but like the 8-hour to 20-hour weeks was like when you were playing? Yeah. Honestly, I think Coach Kim Barnes Arico does a really good job of maintaining intensity, even if it’s just an hour long or 3 hours long. I think she expects a lot out of her players. So, all of the practices, no matter the length, are very productive and are making you better and they’re preparing you for the first games. It’s not like you’re you’re doing stuff just like individually within those practices. It’s all team things. Um, I do think with 20-hour weeks, you do have just more time for your individual skill growth and you can work out with your your one-on-one or player development coach um more than you could have in the 8-hour weeks.

So, I always really enjoyed that aspect of it because um you know, you want to see yourself grow as a player individually as well. Um yeah, I mean you’re it’s tiring like that’s that’s like the number one thing. you’re just exhausted for the entire month of October and you just can’t wait until that first exhibition game and you finally like get to play someone else cuz you’ve been playing against the same practice guys and the same teammates the whole month. Um but I I always was pretty excited and pretty nervous for the first day of 20 hours, but um it it’s a it’s a fun time of the year. What about you, Maddie? Yeah, I feel like you did a great job of explaining that even in the summer when we were had hour hour and a half practices, they were still really intense.

I think it’s just it’s almost a more conditioning in the sense of like you were intense for an hour and a half. Now you have to be intense for like 3 to 4 hours consistently. Um, and especially, you know, that first week of practice, the first two weeks honestly, you don’t have an opponent. So, you’re really battling each other, battling like yourself to get better. And so, that’s like challenge. It’s odd because it’s not challenging because it’s kind of what you’ve been doing all summer, but at the same time, it’s like you’re in season, but you’re not having someone to like look forward to playing. So, it’s almost harder mentally sometime. Uh I don’t know. It’s like equal parts hard mental and physical.

Um just staying in the grind of it and really focusing on how you can contribute to not only like build the team better, but how you can continue to improve to try and help yourself get some more playing time. But they are not for the week. That is for sure. And one thing about Coach Kim Barnes Arico is she is going to make anything a competition. So that just elevates the practice even more. Like you are fighting tooth and nail for every single thing. Whether it’s the warm-up drill or a five on five scrimmage. Like everything in between that is a competition. And sometimes you’re fighting against your own teammates or sometimes it’s all of you together and you have to beat the practice squad and if not you’re running sprints.

So, she creates a really intense and competitive environment, which I think made it easier to like lock in and minutesfocus, but it also is really like mentally draining when you’re done with practice and you realize you’ve just been focusing super hard and intensely and trying to help, you know, the younger girls as well um for 3 hours. Yeah. I think what people maybe don’t understand when you start 20-hour weeks you were at the gym usually from about 1 pm 2 pm depending on your class schedule until 8 7 or 8 depending on cuz so let’s just like lay it out for everyone so you know usually a lot of people will come to the gym as soon as you get done with your classes so I believe practice usually started around 2:30 I can’t remember now I feel old yeah 2 2:30 2:30 so you try to get there around 1:00 if possible.

Your classes sometimes end at 1:00, so you got to be quick. Um, you get to the gym, usually do some um, what would you call? Prehab. Yeah. Okay. You get to the gym, usually do some prehab with Miss Chris, who is very, very, very good at her job. Um, get ready for practice, whatever that might be for you. It looks different for everyone. For me, a lot of times it was doing like strengthening stuff for my knee. Um, other people might be stretching. Some people cold tub and hot tub. So, you’re in there for anywhere from like 10 to 30 minutes. Uh, then you have to be out on the court at least like usually 15 to 20 minutes before practice starts. You get shooting, you get warmed up, and you go through a warm-up with Jamie, and then you practice from anywhere.

When we were there, I think it was like three, three and a half hours depending on the day in preseason. Um, and then after on the day, you lift for an hour. Then you have training table which is so nice because you’ll get fed. Then you’re eating with everyone and then after that you go to do rehab with Miss Chris. So depending on you know what that looks like for you. You’re at the gym for yeah 7ish hours and then maybe you want to get extra shots up. You just it’s really so much of a time management thing once 20-hour weeks start. Um, so that’s I also think is a really big shift of just making sure you’re getting your stuff done and really being super organized, which now looking back on it has helped me tremendously in my day-to-day life, honestly.

Yeah. No, it’s it’s definitely a job on top of being a student. Um, so I I think they’re they’re earning all their keep. So, but Miss also just released their schedule finally. Um, I’m sure they were waiting on a few things from from the Big Ten and whatnot, but it’s exciting to have it all laid out. We kind of had an idea of what the non-conference or some of the bigger games were going to look like, but Maddie, if if you had to tell the fans five games that they had to watch. Okay. What are your Do they have to be in a row from one to five or just scatter scatter them? No, just just five. All equal levels playing fields. Perfect. Um, so obviously UConn, the home and home with them is gonna be so fun, especially Jordan and I talked about last time.

Um, kind of like hopefully a revenge game from last year being so close. Um, and then so this might be some recency bias of me moving to New York, but Columbia and Oklahoma games because they’re in New York and I’m so excited to see everyone and get to see them not once but twice in New York City. So I’m very excited about that. Um, and then I think you obviously have to go with USC. I’ve seen them preseason ranked usually between one and two obviously. JuJu is back. Jazzy Davidson is going to continue and then they have the number one um 2026 recruit in Sia Hall. Um and then they had a lot of pieces last year, really good role players and just continue to build off of that. So I think that’s going to be a really fun game and it’s in LA.

So those are always I mean as we saw last year those are always really tough trips. I was going to say UCLA, but honestly, I think I’m gonna go with Ohio State, obviously, for the rivalry factor, but also they’ve just been a really good team. I think the Olivia Olsen verse um Galani Cambridge is really fun. And I know they’re completely different, but they’re in the same grade. It’s kind they’ve kind of been battling against each other for like freshman of the year. Obviously, they were co- freshman of the year and then Big Ten player of the year they’re going to be battling for. So, I think that’s always um something fun to look out for. What about you, Jay? I agree on all of those. I was going to say Columbia, too, because Columbia has a special place in my heart because when I interned in New York City between my junior and senior year, I got to train at Columbia and play pick up against their girls.

And none of them are there anymore that I played with, but I love the that university and and it just like some of those girls I still talk to. So, I really like them. And Columbia is historically a very good team. So I think it’s going to be a good game. It’s kind of like a Harvard game or like they’re a really good Ivy League team. So like can’t be taken lightly and I think could surprise some people within the year. The Ivy League in recent years has not only had the one auto bid that all the conferences get, but they’ve also had an at-large bid and sometimes they’ve had two and Columbia is a big reason for that. So I think that in addition to it being in New York for me is going to be super fun.

Yeah, I think though the Ohio State game, I’m gonna change that to the away Michigan State game. I think Michigan State might not have the the team that they had last year, but it’s always so hard to play in East Lansing. And I think it’s just a rivalry like it’s it’s such a big rivalry with the women’s basketball community, too. So, uh, I think that’s a a mustsee. But there are so many games on the schedule. Some of the non-conference games you probably can can skip or watch the first half. I think they’re going to blow some people out maybe, but when it comes to the conference games, there’s nothing you can really miss in the Big Ten. Everyone is so competitive and so good and there’s upsets all the time.

So, I think it’s going to be a really exciting season to be a women’s basketball fan, but especially a Michigan women’s basketball fan. I completely agree. And I think in the upcoming weeks, Jay and I are going to break down maybe some not only just in the Big Ten, um, but overall women’s basketball, maybe some sleeper picks, um, and then who else to continue to watch just so you can grow your women’s basketball fandom. Obviously, Michigan will always be number one, but it’s also really fun to be able to watch some some big matchups um throughout the different conferences throughout the year. So, we’ll be breaking those down for you guys here soon, too. We have a quick shout out for our sponsors.

Um first, Valiant Apparel. The apparel is up and running online for Hail Media. Still working on Nolan & Hobbs, but we’re hoping to have that soon. I know we keep saying that, but we’re trying our hardest. So, make sure you guys check out the Hail Media merch on Valiant Apparel. minutesAlso want to shout out Sher Winrub with A2 Homegirl with eXp Realty whose primary focus is working with Unich parents on investment properties for their current students. So, if you are interested in some property, you know who to contact. Queen. Also, shout out of course to OLIPOP. some of our favorite soda. I just went and got some from the store actually, so I’m really excited. And they have a new caramel apple flavor for autumn just in time.

First day of fall. Happy fall, everyone. Um, so super excited to hopefully try that one soon. I miss OLIPOP. I need it in Spain. Anyway, lastly, thank you to our sponsor Knight’s. Ann Arbor institution since 1952 has been hosting some of the podcasts at the restaurant. So, been super fun to to have Hail Media stationed at Knight’s Steakhouse. Yeah, we love that. For our next segment, we’re going to play a little game. Uh, basically, we are going to do traits of a basketball player and Maddie and I are going to choose who from the team we want that trait up. So, for instance, if I say, “Okay, build your perfect basketball player shooting.” And then we say Syla, we want her shooting abilities and this is going to build the the perfect basketball player.

But you can only use each player one time and there are seven trades. So you need seven different players. Are we doing only current players? Yeah, only current. We’re also going to add a rule where we can’t choose the same player for the same trait. And we’re going to switch off who gets to go first. So the first category is shooting. Maddie, who are you choosing? Um, Syla. Yeah, that’ll that’s a good one. I’m going to choose Dallas Loughridge. Okay. I’m writing them down so we can compare at the end. Maybe maybe put them on the screen, but then also so we don’t Yeah. do the Wait. Jordan shooting Dallas Loughridge. Natty. Whoa. Mine’s a cat. Okay. What’s next, Chad? All right. Passing. I get to go first on this one.

I’m taking Mila. Obviously, she’s she’s going to probably break like the assist record at Michigan by the time she’s all said and done. I’m gonna take Dallas because I mean we haven’t seen her play in a Michigan uniform yet, but when Jordan and I got to cover her like transferring in, she was averaging I can’t remember at least five assists I’m pretty sure a game in the really the NBL, so I’m taking her. That That’s a good choice. Next is scoring. Maddie gets to go first. I think my player is going to win. I have Olivia Olson. I do too. You can’t take her. I already have her. Um, you said Olivia. I Sorry, it cut out, I assume. Yeah, I’m going to take Te’Yala. I like that. Okay. Okay. Next, we have size.

I I got to be strategic here. I think I am going to go with Jessica Fields. Okay. Are we Whoa. Now I’m thinking about it. So, we’re like basically combining all of these to make one player. But will it always work? Like will they be able to like move? Well, do you get what I’m saying? Yeah. Like all these things are like it’s their best. I want to change my size to Ashley. I want Ashley’s body. Okay. Wait, that’s that’s different than size. Okay. I want her size. Sorry. Her like height. Yeah. I want her height. You know what I’m saying though? Yeah. Okay. Well, we’ll do height. We’ll do height. Okay. Then I’m taking Fope Ayo. Is that how you say her name? She’s like 6’5. Yeah. Is that how you say your name?

Yeah, that’s how you say it. Okay. Next, we got defense. And I get to pick first, right? Yeah. Dude, I think I’m kicking your butt in this. I’m taking Tala. I want I want Jess’s defense. Jess lowkey can defend. Okay. Oh, is that why you switched to Ashley Sofilkanich’s height? I see you’re smart. Yeah. Okay. Uh, next we got rebounding. I’m going to go Kendall Dudley. Okay. Ooh, that’s good. I think Wait, I want to change my answer. I want to go with Fope Ayo. I want Fope Ayo because I want Kendall on the next one in Pennsylvania. I don’t know what the next one is. Oh, well, you get to go first anyway. Oh, okay. But what if I was going to What if because now you took um Fine, I’ll take Ashley for rebounding.

That’s good. Okay, next is athleticism. So, I get to go first. Wait, I have to write down who did you take for defense? You took Jess. And then for rebounding, you have Fope Ayo. Okay. I took Fope Ayo and then I took Ashley. Okay. Mine’s aism. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I mean, you know what could be a fun one? just to like switch it up cuz obviously Kendall is a great choice but I feel like Jess is super athletic cuz her brother also plays in the NFL so they just have like super athletic jeans. So maybe I’ll just be I’ll be different and not pick like the obvious choice. You know what? I’m taking Jess and you can have Kendall. Jess is really athletic. Honestly, if you would have chose Kendall, I was going to go with Courtney.

I haven’t seen Courtney play yet, but I just I feel like she’s really athletic. I was thinking based on some of stuff. Yes. I was honestly debating that, but I was thinking maybe because I don’t know what the next category is, unlike you, that driving or some like strength factor was coming soon. So, I was going to take her for that. Wait, so you That was the last category. So, yes. I’m so sorry. But leave in the comments who you think won. Wait, wait. What’s No, no. Who are you taking for strength then? For strength? Yeah. You want to add strength? Oh, is that not the last category? No, we didn’t have it. That was seven, but Oh, I see athletic last category. Okay. Yeah, I think we should strength.

Yeah. Okay. Um, then I want Ciara Byars. That’s good. I’m taking Courtney like I said I would. Um, okay. Yeah. Comment who you think won. I I think I mean, yeah, everyone’s going to say Maddie. Uh, I think we got I don’t know. I mean, cuz we would probably have picked the same people for if we didn’t get to do the opposite. Maybe we’ll play a different version of this game and you can pick first next time. I think that Syla shooting and Olivia scoring, no one is stopping that player. So, no. No. Listen, think about this. If we’re really getting into it, I’m 6’5. I can shoot it like Syla. I pass like Dallas Loughridge. I score like Olivia. My defense is Te’Yala. My rebounding is Ashley. And I’m as athletic as Jess and as strong as Courtney.

Dude, be so for real. Like I That’s basically like I actually don’t know if there’s a player comp like that. Napheesa Collier maybe. Yeah. Breanna Stewart. Yeah. M maybe Breanna Stewart. I don’t know. 65 is crazy. 65 is crazy. That’s like a Yeah, that’s like a cheat code. But I think Syla can shoot it better from three than Breanna Stewart. So, I still don’t think there’s a cop. And same same with Napheesa. That’s why I was like, “Wait.” Yeah. I know. I was just trying to think if there was anyone realistically like that. Yeah. No, cuz my player’s so good. That’s all we got today. Thanks for tuning in. Make sure to I think now that we’re all settled into our areas, we will be on a more consistent schedule and there will be a lot more updates coming in the next month because Michigan will start playing soon.

So, we are very excited for what’s to come with the Nolan & Hobbs podcast. Make sure to tune in next week and as always, go blue. Go blue. If you like this kind of content, please like, share, follow, and subscribe. And as always, go blue!]