SYRACUSE -- There is no doubt Nicole “Slinky” Michael is the poster child of the SU Women’s Basketball Team, you only need to see the SU Athletics media guide or head to a game to figure that out. But her influence on the team goes beyond simply being a senior leader. Michaels started a trend of talented New York City players heading to play at SU for Head Coach Quentin Hillsman, a trend she hopes will continue for years to come.
“There’s a lot of city players here and I knew pretty much all of them, they all came because I was here, and that’s a great honor, I’m just happy to know that I started something here.”
Meanwhile, there is no question Michael is a huge reason why the Orange are off to their best start since the 1974-75 season. They are ranked # 22 in the country, a perfect 10-and-0 as they head towards their next game with Delaware State University next Tuesday. And as important as Junior Guard Erica Morrow’s talent has been to the team, even she credits Morrow as the reason why they’re in the position they are in this season.
“She was one of the people that started putting Syracuse on the map,” says Morrow, “and I can say she’s one of the reasons why I came to Syracuse.”
And Head Coach Quentin Hillsman knows from experience that Michael will not let the pressure get to her when push comes to shove. “She understands that we need her to win,” says Hillsman, “and we need her to do a lot of things on the floor.”
