The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1438965
40 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2022 MICHIGAN BASKETBALL going to be, at the right time. "It's all been helping me a lot, and I'm just thankful for my teammates for trusting in me." Freshman point guard Frankie Collins has shown flashes throughout the year, leading some fans to call for the young- ster to take over the starting role. Jones has heard his critics and understands the fans' concern, but hasn't let the noise faze him. "I'm just even-keeled," Jones ex- plained. "I've been in college for a while now, so I know how this stuff goes. I know that when I have a bad game, it's going to be, 'Oh he looks really bad.' I know it's all about me staying confi- dent in myself, my teammates and my coaches." Jones has 18 assists and just two turn- overs in the last two games as of Dec. 19, so the film and extra work has paid off in that sense. He feels like the performance against the Thunderbirds is something he can build from. "Offensively, just getting everybody involved, I felt like this was something I could keep doing," Jones said. "Keep elevating everybody." — Clayton Sayfie POINT GUARD OF THE FUTURE FRANKIE COLLINS IS GROWING Frankie Collins did not enter the men's basketball program as the crown jewel of the 2021 recruiting class, but he is still a former top-50 prospect with high expec- tations. Ann Arbor has become a bit of a point guard factory over the years, and the freshman has seen the college game become more digestible each time out. "The more I get out there, the more it slows down," Collins told the media in early December. He has been putting in the work with the coaching staff and "point guard whisperer" Howard Eisley. They want him to stay patient and protect the basketball. "We've studied a lot of film," Collins said. "We talk a lot. The main thing I've focused on is keeping my dribble alive as I go in the paint. Being patient, and being the point guard and the coach on the floor." Collins was pressed into action ear- lier than expected with grad transfer and starting point guard DeVante' Jones dealing with foul trouble in nonconfer- ence play. Staying in the moment and rising to the occasion has not been an issue early in his career. "It's not too big," associate head coach Phil Martelli said of Collins. "He does carry himself in a way, even with the way he walks into practice, the way he goes through practice. I think the insistence with him is, last year when people saw him play in those national settings in high school games, I think one of the things that came out was that he was relentless on defense. We need that. He has been told that. Not criticizing but let's take this up to another level. Let's not be safe. 2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent Result/Time* (TV) Nov. 10 Buffalo W, 88-76 Nov. 13 vs. Prairie View A&M% W, 77-49 Nov. 16 Seton Hall# L, 67-65 Nov. 19 vs. UNLV^ W, 74-61 Nov. 21 vs. Arizona^ L, 80-62 Nov. 24 Tarleton State W, 65-54 Dec. 1 at North Carolina$ L, 72-51 Dec. 4 San Diego State W, 72-58 Dec. 7 at Nebraska W, 102-67 Dec. 11 Minnesota L, 75-65 Dec. 18 Southern Utah W, 87-50 Dec. 21 Purdue Fort Wayne 7 p.m. (BTN) Dec. 30 at Central Florida 7 p.m. (ESPN2) Jan. 4 at Rutgers 7 p.m. (BTN) Jan. 8 Michigan State 2:30 p.m. (FOX) Jan. 11 Purdue 9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Jan. 14 at Illinois 8 p.m. CT (FS1) Jan. 18 Maryland 7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Jan. 23 at Indiana 12/3:30 p.m. (CBS) Jan. 26 Northwestern 6:30 p.m. (BTN) Jan. 29 at Michigan State 12:30 p.m. (CBS) Feb. 1 Nebraska 9 p.m. (BTN) Feb. 5 at Purdue 2:30 p.m. (FOX) Feb. 8 at Penn State 9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Feb. 12 Ohio State 6 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Feb. 17 at Iowa 6 p.m. CT (ESPN/ESPN2) Feb. 20 at Wisconsin 12 p.m. CT (CBS) Feb. 23 Rutgers 7 p.m. (BTN) Feb. 27 Illinois 2 p.m. (CBS) Mar. 3 Iowa 9 p.m. (FS1) Mar. 6 at Ohio State 12:30 p.m. (FOX) Mar. 9-13 Big Ten Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis * Times in ET unless otherwise noted; % Coaches vs. Racism in Washington, D.C.; # Gavitt Tipoff Games in Ann Arbor; ^ Roman Main Event in Las Vegas; $ Big Ten/ACC Challenge After averaging 6.4 points and 3.5 assists per game through the first eight contests, fifth-year senior transfer DeVante' Jones has upped those clips to 10.0 and 5.7, respectively, over the next three outings. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL