The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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20 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2020 He knows there was more out there, on both fronts. "I do, but I try not to let it … obvi- ously, you have to use it as a posi- tive, motivating, self-confidence fac- tor," Livers mused. "But then again, it is what it is. I got hurt, I didn't get to play these games, I didn't get a chance to display in the Big Ten. But I had an early season for people to watch and see what I'm capable of." They saw, without a doubt. He nailed four three-pointers on his way to 22 points in an impressive early season win over Creighton. He tossed in a career-high five threes and 21 points in U-M's championship-game victory over Gonzaga in the Battle 4 Atlantis. In short, when Livers is at his best, so is Michigan. "I'm grateful for those games, win- ning in the Bahamas," he said. "I'm so grateful to even be playing right now. Most guys would want to be sitting out and thinking of something … else. "I've thought about it and thought, that's not right. I want to be here for my team. I'm trying to be the most impactful guy I can be right now." Something else isn't a small consid- eration these days. Football players think about something else when they shut it down late in a regular season or take a hard pass on their team's bowl game. Basketball players with a pro op- portunity certainly think twice before going out and risking yet another in- jury. Although the NCAA cancelled its postseason tournaments, Livers fully planned to suit up with his teammates. He talked about the process with his coach, who's no stranger to the delicate dance between college bas- ketball and professional dreams. "Anybody who is a junior in school and thinking about playing at the next level is thinking about how these injuries could affect those outcomes later," Livers said, before the NCAA called off March Madness. "Coach Howard, he's been through all of it. He's my mentor. I talk to him about it. "He told me to control the control- lables for now and worry about the rest later." If he returns to Michigan basketball next fall, rest assured, the injuries and having something to prove will play a significant role. "Yeah, definitely," he said. "Like I'd left something. I want to come back here and show the people watching — not just fans, but myself — that I am capable. That I didn't get the chance I wanted to get. I'm definitely going to take that into con- sideration." If he goes, it certainly won't be be- cause of Michigan's new head coach. Livers distinctly recalls getting the word on John Beilein's departure, his Instagram blowing up with 50-plus messages involving the seismic shift for Michigan basketball. In the end, Livers noted, he felt no regret over the man who brought him to Ann Arbor departing before he did. "Coach Beilein is a very talented coach, a guru in the basketball world," he noted. "He's just an un- believable guy. I was happy for him, honestly, to get that opportunity. "To get the closure of seeing what the NBA is, compared to college. He came from high school all the way to the NBA. It's a great story." The next story arrived quickly. More than half-a-hundred current and former NBA players vouch- ing for Howard's character caught Livers' attention. He also found it "weird" having a coach whose im- age he used to manipulate on video games growing up. Livers knew he would remain a Wolverine no matter what, but it's natural to wonder what's up next. One sit-down conversation with the new boss put any reservations to rest. "When I had the conversation with him, it was like, this is the guy," Livers assured. "I wanted to stay here with him. He said all the right things." Livers was at his best against U-M's top opponents this season, scoring 22 in an impressive win over eventual Big East co-champion Creighton and 21 versus Gonzaga — which was ranked in the top 10 all season and finished No. 2 — in the title game of the Battle 4 Atlantis in November. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL