The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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64 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2023 ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS "The three-time Pro Bowl defensive end has seen his sack production dip, but he remains an active and impactful pass rusher," Mike Jones wrote. "He had 5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits last sea- son for the Chiefs, and this year turns 30. But in the right situation, he could make his presence felt." Clark helped the Chiefs win two Su- per Bowls over the last four seasons, including this past year's game. He's the NFL's all-time postseason sack leader with 10.5. ❱ The NBA Through March 26 • Moussa Diabate (played at U-M from 2021- 22), F, Los Angeles Clippers: Played in 19 games with one start for the 39-36 Clippers, who stand fifth in the Western Conference … Averages 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest … Is on a two-way contract and appeared in 18 games with the G League's Ontario Clippers, putting up 15.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per outing. • Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Maver- icks: Appeared in 66 games with 40 starts for the 36-39 Mavericks, who are 11th in the West … Reg- istering 14 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per night, while shooting 39 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range … Three of his 16 20-plus point outings have come in March. • Caleb Houstan, (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic: Averaging 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, and connecting on 37.6 percent of his shots from the field and 34.9 percent of his looks from long range in 45 clashes with two starts … The Magic are 32-43 and 13th in the Eastern Conference. • Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers: Opened 28 of his 70 games for the fourth-place Cavaliers, who have a 48-28 record … Posting 12 points, 3.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per tilt, while shooting 42.5 percent from the field and a career- best 38 percent from beyond the arc … Enjoying his best full month of the season, with 13.9 points per game (he put up 14.7 points per contest in October, but that month only featured six games). • Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Detroit Pistons: The second-year pro has started 17 of 47 outings for the 16-58 Pistons, who are last in the East and have secured a bottom-three overall NBA standing … Notching 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game … Connecting on 41 percent of his field goal attempts and 35 percent of his tries from deep. • Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State War- riors: Averaging career bests in points (20.4) and assists (4.6) per game in 76 appearances with 42 starts for the 39-37 Warriors, who sit sixth in the West … Shooting 42.8 percent overall and 33.3 percent from three-point range. • Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat: Played in eight outings since returning from a fin- ger injury that required surgery and has seen time in 26 contests this season, averaging 16.1 minutes per night … Putting up 6.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists, while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range. His three-point shooting percentage is the worst since his rookie season in 2018-19 … The Heat are 40-35 and seventh in the East. • Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic: The two-time Rising Stars Challenge participant is second on the Magic at 18.7 points per game, add- ing 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists (fourth on team) a contest … Started in all 74 games in which he's appeared and is shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 36 percent from range. • Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic: Has seen action in 52 games with 17 starts, averag- ing a career-high 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per clash … His 64.4 two-point field goal per- centage is the second-highest on the team among those with 2 or more attempts per game, and he's shooting 30.8 percent from behind the arc … Scored in double figures in eight of his last 10 games. ❱ The NHL Through March 26 FIVE STARS OF THE MONTH 1. Quinn Hughes (played at U-M from 2017-19), D, Vancouver Canucks: Third among NHL defen- semen with 69 points (5 goals, 64 assists) in 69 contests, with his 1 point-per-game average also slotting third … His 69th point came March 26 against the Chicago Blackhawks, breaking the fran- chise's record for most assists by a defenseman in a season (he previously held the record at 68) … It took him 264 games to reach the 200 career-assist milestone, the fewest of any defenseman in NHL history. 2. Kent Johnson (2021-22), C, Columbus Blue Jackets: Scored a 'Michigan Goal' in a 5-4 overtime win over the New York Rangers March 24 — lifting his puck onto his stick, moving the stick to the corner of the net and making the close-range, lacrosse-style wrap-around shot … That occurred 27 years from the day of former Michigan forward Mike Legg's goal that created the term 'Michigan Goal' to beat Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament en route to winning the 1996 national title … John- son has 15 goals and 23 assists in 69 games. 3. Owen Power (2021-22), D, Buffalo Sabres: Second among first-year Atlantic Division defen- semen in assists (24) and points (24) and first among NHL rookies in average ice time (23:44) in 69 games. 4. J.T. Compher (2014-16), LW, Colorado Ava- lanche: Recently had a four-game point streak, totaling 2 goals and 3 assists from March 18-24 … Racked up 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games for the season. 5. Kyle Connor (2016), LW, Winnipeg Jets: Leads his team and ranks tied for 24th in the NHL with 75 points, registering 28 goals and 47 assists in 74 outings … Scored 8 points in his last 12 games. ❏ Jordan Morgan • Basketbol Süper Ligi The AYOS Konyaspor forward surpassed the 1,000-point milestone for his career March 17, taking him only 69 games to accomplish the feat. His 18.4 points-per-game average ranked fourth in the Turkish League as of March 27. Derrick Walton Jr. • NBL The Sydney Kings point guard earned the Larry Sengstock Medal as the Most Valuable Player of the NBL Championship Series, with his team defeating the New Zealand Breakers in five games. He averaged 17 points, 6.3 assists and 4 rebounds a game over the last three to help Sydney capture the title. Zavier Simpson • NBA G League The Lakeland Magic point guard ranks second in the G League with a 47.4 three- point field goal percentage (45-of-95), after shooting just 31.4 percent from deep during his Michigan career, including 36 percent in his final season of 2019-20. He also ranks third in the league with 9 assists per game. — Clayton Sayfie HEADLINERS Former Michigan athletes in the news this month In March, Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks broke the single-season franchise record for most assists by a defenseman. PHOTO COURTESY VANCOUVER CANUCKS