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5 thoughts on Michigan Basketball and Big Ten Media Days

By Chris Peterson

Oct 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, US; Michigan Wolverines men's head coach Juwan Howard speaks to the media during the Big Ten Basketball Media Days at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, US; Michigan Wolverines men's head coach Juwan Howard speaks to the media during the Big Ten Basketball Media Days at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball players and head coach Juwan Howard met with the media Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days and here are five thoughts from a Wolverines perspective. 

It’s crazy to think that we are less than a month away from the Michigan basketball season.  The Wolverines play Fort Wayne on November 7th, Eastern Michigan on November 11th, and then Pittsburgh on November 16th.

So before you know it, Michigan basketball season will be here and on Wednesday, Juwan Howard, Hunter Dickinson, and others met with the media. Here are five thoughts.

Better chemistry and a better team in 2022-23

Hunter Dickinson talked about it on Wednesday but this bunch of Wolverines seems to be closer than last year’s group. It was surely helped by the trip to Europe, which seems to have done wonders for team chemistry.

But also, according to Hunter, the pieces fit better together on this roster.

"“I think this team just fits a little bit better than last year. I feel like last year, we probably had more raw talent last year than this year. I think this year the pieces fit a lot better and don’t me wrong, we still have a lot of talent this year. We have Jett Howard who is definitely going to be an NBA player, and then we have two transfers in Jaelin and Joey that are going to be high impacts for us. This talent fits a lot better, and the guys play for each other a lot more this year, and I think it’s going to be a lot more successful season for us.”"

Juwan Howard also commented on the trip to Europe and how it helped a young team that’s trying to build itself around Dickinson, the 7-foot-1 All-American.

"“I thought it was a great trip for us,” Howard said. “It came at a perfect time. We have a team that pretty much only has one returning starter [Hunter Dickinson]. Bringing in five new freshmen and two transfers that have never played with these guys before. This is a perfect time for us to get a chance to get away and get to learn and know one another, and grow together.”"

We’ll talk about some of the new pieces as we go, but team chemistry is huge. Michigan basketball has really good chemistry in 2020-21 and nearly made the Final Four. I believe the Wolverines would have if Isaiah Livers had never gotten hurt.

The Wolverines need to solidify that culture and get the vibe back. Last year’s team still achieved a lot and came together at the end, but in 2022-23, it doesn’t seem like it will take until mid-January for this team to finally gel.

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