The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543845
10 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2026 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ❱ Sitting Down With Michigan Basketball Graduate Forward Will Tschetter Michigan forward Will Tschetter went from an 8-24 team two years ago to a Big Ten Tournament cham- pion in 2025 and a contributor on this year's undisputed Big Ten regular-sea- son title-winning team. The energy player and "glue guy" talks about how far he's come and more in this Q&A, including postgame Illinois (Big Ten champs) with us and a sit-down with former U-M big man Tim McCormick. The Wolverine: You beat Illinois to end a nine-game losing streak to the Illini and clinch an undisputed Big Ten title after going 8-24 two years ago. Can you explain how this feels? Will Tschetter: "To be able to win in that fashion means a lot. It kind of cements all the sacrifice that I've had to be able to come back here and play for this team and be so fortunate to be around great guys. It makes it all worth it. … "Right away [when we started], our practices were just as intense as games, which is big for a great team. I'm super, super thankful and happy." The Wolverine: Has it sunk in how far you've come in just two years? Tschetter: "[Grad wing] Nimari [Bur- nett] and I were talking about it be- fore the game, how far we've come. We remember sitting in this locker room towards the end of the season two years ago, having a lot of questions. To come back from that and to clinch it like that with this group of guys is unreal." The Wolverine: You guys improved to 10-0 on the road with the win over Illinois, winning it for [Illinois transfer and Michigan sophomore forward] Morez Johnson Jr. What's the key to winning away from home, and how good was it to win for Morez? Tschetter: "We just have great connectivity. We're just together and have great connectiv- ity. We do it together, and credit Morez for keeping his composure and keeping it down. That's just the kind of guy he is." The Wolverine: How have you embraced your role as the energy and glue guy on this team? Tschetter: "Obviously, I was a naive freshman coming off averaging however many points my senior year [in high school]. Then, coming to Michigan, I thought, 'Oh, yeah — I'm going to be this big scorer.' Obviously, redshirt my first year, and then I'm going to go back to being a scorer. "I figured out that wasn't going to happen, so I was really just like, 'What can I do to find my way to the court?'" The Wolverine: What have you had to improve the most to see the court? Tschetter: "In high school, I could not defend whatsoever. I was an absolute cone, and my par- ents will be the first ones to tell you, I could not guard. So, my development from the defensive side has been a really big thing for me. "And then being able to move without the ball, that was another thing that I really had no knowledge of or experience with coming out of high school. I always had the ball in my hand, as do a lot of high school players that come out." — Chris Balas Tschetter cites his "development from the defensive side" as an area of great improvement during his time at Michigan. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL DID YOU KNOW? • Your address will be automatically changed to the mailing address on file with USPS? ALL addresses are cross-referenced with the USPS National Change of Address database. • It can take up to 7 days for the USPS to update your address in their database? To prevent missed issues, please notify them right away. • Your postal forwarding order expires in 60 days or less? Most forwarding requests expire in 60 days and DO NOT always include periodical mail. Issues are discarded at their discretion. • You should call your local post office to verify your delivery address? Don't assume the post office knows your vacation or moving schedule. Avoid Costly Delays & Replacements! Wolverine Customer Service: 1–800–421–7751 We are happy to assist, but due to privacy laws — postal address changes must be completed by you.