Michigan basketball's DeVante' Jones did not travel for game with CSU

INDIANAPOLIS — DeVante’ Jones did not make the trip for Michigan’s NCAA Tournament game with Colorado State Thursday, a team spokesman confirmed. They are hopeful he will be able to travel if Michigan advances.

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Rumors swirled Tuesday of a possible injury to the veteran point guard, but there was nothing from U-M. On Wednesday, Michigan basketball SID Tom Wywrot confirmed he was in protocol for a concussion.

Jones has been one of the Wolverines’ best players over the last half of the season. He’s averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and put up 25 points in a loss to Illinois, 21 with nine assists in a win at Ohio State March 6.

The Coastal Carolina transfer said Sunday he was looking forward to the first NCAA Tournament game of his career. He was one who seemed the most excited when Michigan’s name was called.

“I was telling [point guard] Frankie [Collins] just a minute ago, I’m going to try not to cry because I feel like when I get home, I might cry,” Jones said. “As a kid, this is something you pray about.

“I definitely was nervous. I’m not going to lie. We let a lot of games slip that we weren’t supposed to let slip. I didn’t know how the people that actually are making brackets would perceive us or if they feel like we should be in it.”

They did, but it appears Jones won’t be part of it in game one, at least. Michigan would play the winner of No. 3 Tennessee and No. 14 Longwood Saturday.

Watch for more on this development in the days to come …