The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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men's basketball to think too hard. "Thirty-some games in, with more games to come, guys have learned a lot of lessons. They're smart. They can apply information and get better. That's been the mindset. That's what Coach B. stresses — just get better today." What kind of progress have you seen out of Tim Hardaway Jr. this year? Jordan: "He's enjoyed a lot of mental growth. Everything doesn't depend on his shot going in or not going in. That's a mental growth, from freshman Tim to sophomore Tim to now. He doesn't get flustered if the shot is not falling. He knows he brings a lot more to this team. "He understands it. He knows he's going to have his moments where he's making them like crazy, and some days they won't go in, but he rebounds, he's a communica- Jordan said of Trey Burke winning Big Ten Player of tor on 'D,' and he knows his the Year, "He's worked, and he's invested, and he's value to this team." learned how to be a coach on the floor." photo by per kjeldsen What is the greatest area of growth in this team, from the beginning of the season to now? Jordan: "I think it's the valuing of each possession. Trying to think of winning a whole game, or winning the championship, is overwhelming. It's just understanding, hey, control what you can. "Eliminate the distractions, so that we can keep tunnel vision. You grow through that. There is only one way to teach experience. That's to go out there and sink or swim, and learn lessons. We've been swimming, sometimes treading water, but guys just have to go through it. There's nothing you can really do as a coach to speed up that process." — John Borton