The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1194003
JANUARY 2020 THE WOLVERINE 41 the coaching change, staying open to new ideas delivered in a different fashion. He's taken the toughness challenge all the way through, and averaged a solid 9.5 minutes a game through Michigan's opening 11 contests this year. In that time, he produced an av- erage of 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Those included back-to-back dou- ble-figure games in scoring — 14 in a home win over Houston Baptist and 10 against Iowa State in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. Teske has also been through it. He averaged 3.4 points per game as a sophomore while growing into the force he is as Michigan's senior big man. The 7-1 center insists he sees his earlier self in the developing post player. "Definitely," Teske confirmed. "I know my freshman year and his freshman year, we didn't hardly play. Making that sophomore jump is huge, with getting that year under your belt. For me, going from junior year until now, I definitely see that in Colin. "He's making that jump now. He's only going to get better from here. I can see it. He's improving each and every day. His teammates know that, coaches know that. It's just a matter of time before he really starts to blow up." Castleton's coach quickly witnessed plenty to like in the Floridian he inher- ited. The two shared a Sunshine State connection, with Howard spending three seasons as a player and six more as a coach with the Miami Heat. Howard points to a number of ele- ments in Castleton's game that can help the Wolverines, now and in the future. "Colin is very skilled for his size," Howard said. "We focus a lot on low post play, as well as on facing the bas- ket when he catches it in the post, taking his time. He has great footwork for his size. "He's a learner. When you talk to him, he's always listening. He asks great questions. You can just tell that he wants to get better. "Colin can shoot the ball. He proved it this summer when I watched him in player development. When there was a session that happened to be a three- on-three or a five-on-five setting, he proved that he can shoot the ball from the outside. He's been working on it, in practice and on his own." Castleton himself says shooting more and better, and finding his groove on the offensive end tops his list of priorities for the rest of the year. He also wants to play more aggres- sively, and give the Wolverines a lift off the bench whenever possible. The Teske link isn't lost on him, ei- ther. "We talk a lot on the court, and sometimes off the court, about dif- ferent things — things I can work on, things I see that he can work on," Castleton noted. "He's been a tremen- dous help over the past year. "He has developed like crazy over his four years at Michigan. There's a lot of work he's put in, and it shows with how much better he's gotten — as a leader as well." That's the door swinging wide open for the sophomore over the next two and a half years of basketball. How- ard stands ready for that rise. "Colin is going to be a big reason for us moving forward," Howard said. "Not just putting pressure on him, but all the guys. But we're really going to lean on him a lot." Castleton insists he and his team- mates are ready for that challenge. "The main thing the coaches have preached since day one — before we even had our first game — was don't listen to the outside noise," Castleton said. "We can only control what we can control. What we do in the locker room, film sessions and practice is what we do. "We're 15 strong, and all the coaches are there to help us, all the managers. We try not to listen to what the outsid- ers say, and we focus on what we can control. I feel like we're doing a good job of that." ❑ Castleton's solid start to the season included back-to-back double-figure games in scoring — 14 in a home win over Houston Baptist and 10 against Iowa State in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL