The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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14 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2023 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan men's basketball graduate wing Joey Baker was thought of as a potential one-and-done player with the program. However, the tide might be turning for the Duke transfer to spend a second season in Ann Arbor, and a sixth in college. During the television broadcast of U-M's 90-80 victory over Toledo in the NIT, it was reported that Baker was considering a waiver for an extra year in college, which was confirmed by Baker and head coach Juwan Howard during their postgame press conferences. Baker, who graduated from Duke with a degree in political science, already took advantage of the COVID-19 eligibility pause for a fifth college season. The hope is that he can get a waiver after playing four games late in the 2018-19 season at Duke following an injury to star Zion Williamson. Howard and the Wolverines want Baker back not only for his shot-making off the bench, but also the leadership he brought in one year with the program. "We're going to try hard, give it our best shot," Howard said. "We would love to have him back. Not just because of the shooting, but overall the person. He just fits in the locker room. The guys enjoy playing with him. He's now opening up and becoming a better leader. "There are times when you're new and you don't want to step on anyone's toes. It's hard to have those uncomfortable conversations with guys, because you want to be liked by them. But at the same time, he understands that at the end of big games now and this season, the guys trust him. We need his leadership, and it would be nice to have him back next season." Baker was dubbed "the wise owl" by freshman center Tarris Reed Jr. He played a key role this season as U-M's most seasoned veteran voice on the roster. "I sensed it for myself, the team was in need of [a leader] and I could offer it," Baker said. "So, I just kind of had to step up and start talking more, start doing whatever it took for the team. "I think coming in I had a lot to say and I didn't know how to present it. I didn't want to overstep, coming in guns blazing right away, I kind of felt it out. And as I've gotten more comfortable and just more confident in being a leader, I think that started to take off. That's been the past month, two months now where I've been more vocal and talking more. [I tried] to be more of a veteran leader." Baker averaged 5.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game this season. He played in all 34 games and made five starts in relief of freshman wing Jett Howard, who dealt with chronic ankle injuries throughout the year. — Anthony Broome Baker, who transferred from Duke last year, is seeking a waiver from the NCAA that would allow him to play a sixth season of college basketball. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL ❱ Student-Athlete Of The Month Men's Basketball Graduate Student Guard Joey Baker MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Men's track and field junior Dubem Amene: The sprinter earned a Big Ten title in the indoor 400 meters Feb. 25 after a big comeback in the final straight. He was in third place entering the final lap but pushed through and fin- ished with a time of 46.41 seconds. He also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as part of the Wolverines' gold medal-winning distance medley relay team. Men's swimming and diving freshman Eitan Ben-Shitrit: He collected 69 points with one sil- ver (800-yard freestyle re- lay), two bronze (200-yard IM and 400-yard IM) and one 12th-place finish (200- yard backstroke) at the Big Ten Championships Feb. 25, earning the conference's Freshman of the Year title. He was also named to the All-Big Ten second team. Women's basketball fifth-year senior guard Leigha Brown: She was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection, earn- ing the honor from both the coaches and media after be- ing tabbed as second team the previous two seasons. During the regular season, Brown led U-M in scoring at 18.2 points per game and assists with 5.7 per con- test, while adding 5.4 rebounds. She was one of two players in the country to average at least 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Ice hockey sophomore Luke Hughes: The de- fenseman was named to the All-Big Ten first team and a finalist for both the conference's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. In the Big Ten season, Hughes led the league's defense- men in scoring with 7 goals and 21 assists for 28 points, averaging 1.27 points per contest. In 35 games total, the No. 4 overall 2021 NHL Draft pick recorded 42 points (9 goals, 33 assists), ranking him second in the nation among defen- semen in points per game. Hughes was the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year and a second-team All-American in 2021-22. — Clayton Sayfie