The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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42 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2022 BREAKOUT PLAYER Junior forward Terrance Williams II U-M has leaned on Williams as a bench contributor that brings shooting and en- ergy, but now it needs him to be more. He should slide in right next to Hunter Dickinson at power forward and could be a player that finds consistency with starter minutes and an expanded role. He may not take as big a leap as Isaiah Livers did from his sophomore to junior year, but something close would be a huge development for the Wolverines. MOST IMPROVED RETURNEE Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin There is a massive hole on the roster from both a leadership and production perspective with Eli Brooks graduating. There are a number of ways U-M could go at shooting guard, but any configuration is going to rely on an improved Bufkin. He spent the offseason getting shots up and putting on 20 pounds of weight in lean muscle. Michigan needs improvement from the former top-50 recruit. UNSUNG HERO Junior forward Jace Howard The eldest of Juwan Howard's two sons on the roster was voted a team captain ahead of the 2022-23 season. He aver- aged 4.6 minutes per game last season but should be in for an expanded role as one of the de facto leaders on the team. Howard will be called upon as a spark plug off the bench and a player that can play on the wing or even as a small-ball center in emer- gency situations. SURPRISE IMPACT Freshman point guard Dug McDaniel The Wolverines have used the transfer portal three times in the past three off- seasons to grab their next point guard. That might stop with McDaniel (No, 83 in the On3 Consensus), who is the team's only other true point guard on the roster this year aside from grad transfer Jaelin Llewellyn. Michigan thinks it has a future star here, and that he is playable in a big role early. LIKELY ROTATION Point Guard: Jaelin Llewellyn, Gr. (15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game; 44.7% FG in 2021-22 at Princeton) Shooting Guard: Kobe Bufkin, So. (3.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 38.7% FG) Small Forward: Jett Howard, Fr. (No. 40 overall in On3 Consensus) Power Forward: Terrance Williams II, Jr. (4.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.5 apg, 45.5% FG) Center: Hunter Dickinson, Jr. (18.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 56.3% FG) THREE TOUGHEST NONCONFERENCE CHALLENGES 1. vs. North Carolina (AP Preseason No. 1), Dec. 21, Charlotte, N.C. Depending on the outlet, UNC is either the favorite to win the national title or near the top of the list. The Tar Heels re- turn four starters from last year's national runner-up team with the new face a fa- miliar one in former Northwestern for- ward Pete Nance. U-M's showdown with the Tar Heels will take place in the Jordan Classic in Charlotte, hardly a neutral site. 2. vs. Kentucky (AP No. 4), Dec. 4, London, England Like U-M, Kentucky got its star big man back in Oscar Tshiebwe thanks in part to NIL and the chance to compete for a national title. The Wildcats rank fourth in ESPN's preseason top 25 and will take on the Wolverines in the London Showcase at The O2 Arena. The game was originally scheduled for 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the contest. 3. vs. Virginia (AP No. 20), Nov. 29, Ann Arbor This season's ACC/Big Ten Challenge fea- tures Michigan hosting the Cavaliers, who return five starters from last season and ranked 18th in ESPN's preseason rank- ings. Head coach Tony Bennett's "pack line defense" often turns games into bar fights not at all unlike what the Wolver- ines see when they play Wisconsin. This will be a contest that tests U-M's grit. 2022-23 Quick Guide An Inside Look At The Michigan Men's Basketball Program BY ANTHONY BROOME Junior forward Terrance Williams II is poised and ready for a breakout season. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Junior forward Jace Howard was voted as one of the team's co-captains this year, along with classmates Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Williams II. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS