The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2021 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Sitting Down With Michigan Basketball Forward Terrance Williams II Michigan second-year freshman Terrance Williams II didn't put up huge numbers in his first year, but he was a great practice player and instrumental in some U-M wins. The 6-7 "hybrid forward" (accord- ing to the program) answered several questions on Michigan basketball media day Oct. 15. The Wolverine: You clearly lost some weight in the offseason. What's your weight now, and how are you feeling? Williams: "Last year when I came in and played, I felt like I was tired after three minutes, four minutes of coming into the game. I was like, 'Nah — this can't happen next year,' because I feel like I'm going to play more and I'm going to need to get in better shape. "… It's all paying off now. I feel lighter and I'm moving way better." The Wolverine: You only made 1 of 12 three-pointers last year, but you were a much better shooter than that in high school. How do you improve upon that? Williams: "Last year, as a freshman, I really wasn't that confident. I worked on it and was still in the gym a lot, but after I missed a couple, I started overthinking a lot. It's that freshman mindset — 'I don't want to mess up and make mistakes when I come in the game.' "Now, [head coach Juwan Howard] is letting me play a little bit more free. He's not really saying a lot on my jump shot because it has been forming a lot in practice." The Wolverine: Have the mechanics changed at all, or are you still shooting it the same way? Williams: "It's more just repetitions. I feel like — and all the coaches feel like — it really wasn't mechanics. I had a good base. It's more picking up reps for me, continuously flicking the wrist so it's never really short. I shot a lot of threes last year, and my jump shots in general were just short. "I feel like that's the main thing. My basic mechanics I don't think I changed a lot, really. It's just repetition." The Wolverine: You've said you feel most comfortable at power forward, but you've also played on the wing and at center in practice. What's your goal this year and where do you see yourself? Williams: "I'm still trying to get into a flow, playing with different lineups in practice — not just with set lineups. It's whatever the coaches need on the court, I'm going to try to fill that role. Whether it's scoring, whether it's me playing the 'three' or the 'four,' I just feel like I fit any type of role and I'm going to continue to work on that." The Wolverine: What have you seen from the freshmen to make you believe they'll contribute in games? Williams: "I feel like I've seen a lot from them in practice playing against us, like the skill set they bring. I feel like it will translate to games. They're not working on anything they're not going to do in a game, because Juwan wouldn't let that happen. "I feel like I have seen enough to where I feel it will translate — I know it will." — Chris Balas Williams played in 21 games off the bench last year, and averaged 7.6 minutes, 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL NINE MEN'S HOOPS ALUMS MAKE NBA OPENING NIGHT ROSTERS The 2021-22 NBA regular season tipped off Oct. 19 with nine former U-M men's basketball players making open- ing night rosters. This season's list of Wolverines in the pros is headlined by a pair of players who received big-money contracts dur- ing the offseason. Forward Duncan Rob- inson received a five-year, $90-million extension from the Miami Heat, making him the highest-paid former undrafted player in NBA history. Guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. returned to the Dallas Mavericks after signing a four-year, $72 million contract over the summer. The best story arguably comes in Franz and Moritz Wagner's reunion with the Orlando Magic. The German brothers have the opportunity to play pro basketball together after Franz was selected No. 8 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Moe rejoined the Magic in free agency after ending last season as a member of the team. Other alums on opening night NBA rosters included forward Ignas Brazdei- kis (Orlando Magic), guard Trey Burke (Dallas Mavericks), guard Caris LeVert (Indiana Pacers), guard Jordan Poole (Golden State Warriors) and forward Isaiah Livers (Detroit Pistons). — Anthony Broome Forward Duncan Robinson became the high- est-paid former undrafted free agent in NBA history when he signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Miami Heat this summer. PHOTO BY ISSAC BALDIZON/NBA PHOTOS