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5 reasons to be optimistic about Michigan basketball this season

By Chris Peterson

Michigan forward Olivier Nkamhoua speaks to reporters during media day at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.
Michigan forward Olivier Nkamhoua speaks to reporters during media day at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. /
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Michigan forward Tarris Reed Jr. practices during media day at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.
Michigan forward Tarris Reed Jr. practices during media day at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. /

The development of Tarris Reed Jr.

Another guy who made a big impact in that win for Michigan basketball over Michigan State was Tarris Reed.

People tend to forget this, but Reed was actually Michigan’s highest-ranked recruit in the 2022 class — not Jett Howard who was a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Reed is that talented. He also got an offseason with Juwan Howard, as well as an offseason in Camp Sanderson. Phil Martelli told the media how he has improved his free throw shooting too, which will be critical this season.

Reed has to avoid fouls. He also has to be a good enough free throw shooter to avoid being a target at the end of games for a hack-a-Shaq-type strategy.

The center has the potential to be an elite defender. His low-post game should be much-improved this season and much like Dug, if Reed becomes an impact starter for the Wolverines this season, the ceiling will be much higher in 2023-24.

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