The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531518
10 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan men's basketball freshman guard Justin Pippen has seen his minutes rise as he's gotten more comfortable with the college game, and there's a good chance he'll be in the rotation even more the next few months. Pippen seems ready for the challenge — here's what he said in this month's Q&A. The Wolverine: What's the biggest difference in your game since you first got here this summer until now? Justin Pippen: "Getting more comfortable. A lot of prac- tices — a lot of games and practices, getting more comfortable and confident with and without the ball. Being in the right spot … my teammates find me a lot. We have good sets, so I'm open a lot of the time, and knocking down a couple shots makes me more comfortable." The Wolverine: What's it like playing Big Ten basketball as a freshman next to another frosh in L.J. Cason? Pippen: "It feels good when L.J. and I get in the game [to- gether]. As freshmen, you know you're probably not going to play a lot, or as much as you'd like. It's just getting in the game and making the most of it." The Wolverine: You've spent time at both guard spots in the early going. Which do you see yourself playing most or prefer, and what's the most important focus? Pippen: "I'll probably play point the most … that's what I play most in practice with the second group. Point or two — it doesn't really matter to me. I played mostly point in high school. "I'd say making the right reads [is priority] … coming off the ball screen, knowing when to pass, when not to, play- ing with brakes when I get in the paint — not just going off one foot and having a turnover. Just being smarter with the ball." The Wolverine: You had a groin injury that slowed you this summer. How much did it set you back, and how did you manage? Pippen: "I knew it was kind of going to be tough. I tried to stay positive. I knew at one point I was going to be back to myself, be more confident. I was just stay- ing in the lab, working, getting more comfortable throughout practice. [In mid-December], I felt like myself, was moving well." The Wolverine: What's your goal when you get into a game? You've said you pride yourself on defense … Pippen: "Just being the energy man when I get in. Trying to guard the ball, just turn the defender — make the play a little erratic for the other team. "Then, awareness. Putting myself in uncomfortable situa- tions [to prepare]. A lot of live stuff like ball screen coverages, all that stuff. Live situations, so in the game I'm ready for those. Doing uncomfortable dirty work, you're going to be good." — Chris Balas ❱ Sitting Down With Men's Basketball Freshman Guard Justin Pippen Pippen says he tries to be "the energy man" when he gets in games. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan's men's basketball team took a happy flight home from Los Angeles, even if it was a red-eye that disrupted sleep patterns immediately following a game against UCLA. The Wolverines swept USC (85-74) and UCLA (94-75), and they rode home with a four-game win streak. Michigan left Los Angeles 12-3 overall and the only 4-0 team in Big Ten play, plus the betting favorite to win the regular-season conference crown … one year after finishing dead last in the league with a 3-17 mark. The goal for the 2024-25 season in the immediate aftermath of Juwan How- ard's firing was to get off the mat and be competitive. Most fans didn't envision competing for the Big Ten title as realistic, but here they are. Dusty May's 12-3 start through Jan. 7 was tied as the second-best for a Michi- gan men's basketball head coach in his first full season at the helm, with George Veenker (1928-29), Ernest McCoy (1948-49), Bill Frieder (1980-81) and Brian Ellerbe (1997-98). Those individuals stand only behind Steve Fisher, whose Wolverines began the 1989-90 campaign 13-2 and finished up 23-8. Fisher, of course, took over the Michigan team the prior season, 1988-89, just before the NCAA Tournament. The Maize and Blue won six straight games to claim their first-ever national championship, so he actually went 14-1 in his first 15 contests as head coach, including the magical run. KenPom.com predicts the result of every D-I college basketball game and projects that Michigan will finish 23-8 overall in May's first season, as of Jan. 9. If that prognostication comes true, May would become the third U-M head man to conclude his first full season with 20-plus victories, joining Fisher (23-8 in 1989-90) and Brian Ellerbe (25-9 in 1997-98). — Clayton Sayfie Here's a look at how every Michigan head coach has done in his first 15 games and season: Coach Season First 15 Games Season Record George D. Corneal* 1908-09 1-4 1-4 Elmer Mitchell 1917-18 5-10 6-12 E.J. Mather 1919-20 8-7 10-13 George Veenker 1928-29 12-3 13-3 Frank Cappon 1931-32 9-6 11-6 Bennie Oosterbaan 1938-39 9-6 11-9 Osborne Cowles 1946-47 9-6 12-8 Ernest McCoy 1948-49 12-3 15-6 William Perigo 1952-53 5-10 6-16 Dave Strack 1960-61 4-11 6-18 Johnny Orr 1968-69 8-7 13-11 Bill Frieder 1980-81 12-3 19-11 Steve Fisher^ 1989-90 13-2 23-8 Brian Ellerbe 1997-98 12-3 25-9 Tommy Amaker 2001-02 7-8 11-18 John Beilein 2007-08 4-11 10-22 Juwan Howard 2019-20 11-4 19-12 Dusty May 2024-25 12-3 — *Only coached five games at Michigan ^Began his tenure in 1988-89, but his first full season was 1989-90 Dusty May Off To One Of Best Starts In Michigan History