Michigan Basketball gets good news with Jett Howard injury

There was concern over Jett Howard’s injury against Minnesota but Michigan basketball got some good news on that front. 

The 2022-23 Michigan basketball season hasn’t gone quite as expected and the Wolverines nearly suffered another bad loss on Sunday against Minnesota.

Star wing Jett Howard left the game with an injury and there were concerns that it was going to be a serious injury.

Michigan basketball won and is hosting No. 1 Purdue on Thursday night and while Howard might not be able to play in the game, the Wolverines announced that Howard was day-to-day, which is really good news going forward for Michigan.

Howard didn’t practice on Tuesday so it’s still possible that he doesn’t play against Purdue in a huge game for Michigan basketball, but it’s not ruled out yet either according to what Juwan Howard said on the Defend The Block Podcast.

"“I’m praying, and I know he is too, that it’s nothing serious. And so far the X-rays … [they’re] negative,” Juwan Howard said. “Now we’ve got to see what the swelling will look like. Jett’s down because he wants to be out there and help his teammates. He’s a big part of our team on both ends of the floor, and not having him out there on the floor, yes … we miss it a lot. But now it gives guys an opportunity to step up. We’re going to need Joey Baker as well as Isaiah Barnes. They’re going to get opportunities.”"

Michigan basketball needs Jett in the short and long-term

The Wolverines have a huge opportunity against No. 1 Purdue on Thursday night and it’s the kind of win that could propel Michigan basketball to a NCAA tournament run.

Yet, there are more opportunities for key wins down the stretch so there is no reason to hurry Jett Howard back if he’s not ready.

Howard has a bright future as a projected first-round pick. He’s averaging 14.5 points per game and is shooting 38 percent from 3-point range, as well as making 2.6 treys per game.

So obviously, it would help to have Howard in the fold for Thursday night, because the Wolverines desperately need a win.

Michigan should just wait to get Howard back to 100 percent because if they are going to make any serious run, they are going to need him at his best.