The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan graduate student center Vlad Goldin earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media this year (and second-team from the coaches) and has been a huge part of U-M's remarkable turnaround from last year's 8-24 season. He recently saw his parents in person for the first time in five years when they visited from Russia. They got to see him play in a loss to Illinois at Crisler Center March 2. Goldin talks about his family reunion, basketball in Ann Arbor and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: What was it like seeing your parents again in person for the first time in so long? Vlad Goldin: "When I saw them, I was speechless for a good amount of time. But then we started talk- ing, it felt like they've always been here … [until then we would] FaceTime all the time. There are specific hours I can call them, so we'd just FaceTime multiple times a day. "I take pride in how great of a relationship we have. They've always supported me. Win or lose, it doesn't matter. It's something bigger than that." The Wolverine: You proposed to your girlfriend [Cam- ryn Vogler] after the home loss to Michigan State. How about the timing on that, and how did she hit it off with your parents? Goldin: "I decided it doesn't matter if we win or lose … this is something that's more than basketball. … "They actually communicated pretty great. She knows a little [Russian], but my dad speaks Russian to them so confidently. They don't really understand each other, but I try to translate it as best as I can." The Wolverine: You scored 20 points in front of your parents, but you lost. Were you able to take pride in your personal performance? Goldin: "It makes it pointless. Even if you score 40 points, it doesn't matter when you lose. At the end of the day, everybody [likes] people who win. If you don't, individual performance means nothing. "We were winning games when I was scoring 2 points at the beginning of the season, and I felt more than great. All I want is to win. If it means I need to score less points, I'll score less points. If I need to set more screens, I'll set more screens. It depends on what it takes. … I'll be more than happy to provide." The Wolverine: What's it been like getting used to the "three bigs" lineup with you, Danny Wolf, and Will Tschetter on the floor together? Goldin: "We probably need a little [better] communi- cation, because it takes time for us to understand what [Tschetter] wants to do, I want to do, Danny wants to do. Just communicate, because we have size and ath- leticism in this kind of lineup. … It's good, but we need a little more connection with each other." The Wolverine: Have the stakes of competing for a championship added pressure to you guys down the stretch [during a losing streak]? Goldin: "Yes and no. You can say it doesn't affect you, but you can't lie to yourself. It's going to get nervous, winning championships. Teams who can fight it off, get over that, those are the teams that usually win championships." — Chris Balas ❱ Sitting Down With Michigan Basketball Graduate Center Vladislav Goldin Goldin, a grad transfer from Florida Atlantic, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and second-team recognition from the coaches this season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL ODDSMAKERS PROJECT U-M FOOTBALL AT 8.5 WINS IN 2025 Michigan finished the 2024 season unranked in the Associated Press poll for the first time since 2020, posting an 8-5 record. The Maize and Blue were 5-5 before winning their last three games over Northwestern (50-6), Ohio State (13-10) and Alabama (19-13). With spring practices underway, the page has been turned to 2025, and U-M is working toward a bounce-back season. Las Vegas oddsmakers believe the Maize and Blue will at least be in contention for the College Football Playoff. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Michigan has the 12th-best odds to win the national championship, checking in at +2800. The Wolver- ines stand behind Ohio State (+600), Texas (+650), Oregon (+650), Georgia (+700), Penn State (+800), Notre Dame (+1200), Tennessee (+1600), Alabama (+1600), Clemson (+1800), LSU (+2000) and Ole Miss (+2500). The Wolverines have the fourth-best odds among Big Ten teams, behind only Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State. FanDuel released its win total projections for all 18 Big Ten teams, and Michigan's over/under line is 8.5 wins. That slots tied for fourth in the conference with Indiana, behind Ohio State (10.5), Oregon (10.5) and Penn State (10.5). The Big Ten placed four teams into the CFP last season (Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana), meaning Michigan is in the range to com- pete for a bid in the 12-team field. The Wolverines have a manageable schedule, avoiding playing Oregon, Penn State and Indiana, three of the other four squads at the top of the projected win total list with U-M. Here's a look at projected win totals for each Big Ten team, according to FanDuel's over/under betting line: — Clayton Sayfie Team Win Total Ohio State 10.5 Oregon 10.5 Penn State 10.5 Indiana 8.5 Michigan 8.5 Illinois 7.5 Iowa 7.5 Nebraska 7.5 USC 7.5 Washington 7.5 Minnesota 6.5 Michigan State 5.5 Rutgers 5.5 Wisconsin 5.5 Maryland 4.5 UCLA 4.5 Northwestern 3.5 Purdue 3.5 Underwood and Fresno State grad transfer Mikey Keene are expected to battle for the starting job this fall. On3's Ari Wasserman planted his flag on the U-M quarterback battle, stating he be- lieves Keene will win the job early on before passing the baton to Underwood. "Michigan's football program took a massive step forward in November when it landed a commitment from five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood," Was- serman said. "Undeniably the future of the program, Underwood served as what seemed to be an immediate solution to the Wolverines' inept quarterback play from last year. But then head coach Sherrone Moore went into the trans- fer portal and got Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, a reliable quarterback who has thrown for nearly 6,000 yards in his career. "Because of that move, it seems likely that Keene will start. But Underwood is the type of talent that can't just sit on the bench. We'll see plenty of him this year," Wasserman predicted. ❑