Dickinson, Diabate battles setting physical tone for Michigan basketball

Michigan basketball has a target on its back heading into the 2021-22 season as reigning Big Ten champs. However, there is no bigger target than the one players are putting on each other.

The Wolverines are emerging from a physical camp with no shortage of busted lips and black eyes. Iron is sharpening iron in Ann Arbor. Sophomore center Hunter Dickinson and true freshman big Moussa Diabate have matched up in some of the biggest showdowns in the preseason.

“Our practices have been physical,” Dickinson told the media on Thursday. “They have been ramping up as we get closer to the season. I love going up against Moussa every day. He is a great competitor. High motor, really works hard and makes me work hard on the defensive end. He makes me better every day, so I really appreciate him for that. I try to give him the same thing when he’s guarding me. I’m trying to get him ready for Big Ten basketball. Seeing a lot of growth over the couple of months we have been together. He’s going to be a big factor and really help us.”

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Head coach Juwan Howard has watched Dickinson and Diabate’s battles closely, but the tone has been set to the entire team.

“They’ve both been competing hard in practice but that’s what I expect,” Howard said. “There has not been a focus on the two of them battling against each other. We have a great front line with Hunter, Moussa, Brandon Johns, Terrance Williams plays a little bit in that front line as well. You can mix Jace Howard in there as well as Jaron Faulds. We’ve had some very competitive practices from top to bottom on that, not just by position in the front line, but overall in general with the entire team.

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“I left a lot of days, as I’m driving home leaving the building, thinking like, ‘wow, our guys are really competing and beating up on each other.’ I can’t wait until we get an opportunity to play against another opponent to see what it really looks like when we play against a team other than the guys they see every day in that locker room.”

Physical tone extends to Michigan basketball guards

Transfer guard DeVante’ Jones has embraced the rough-and-tumble Michigan practices. He takes pride in delivering the blows as opposed to receiving them.

“It’s amazing coming out of practice knowing you gave them a busted lip,” he said. “Brandon Johns came out with a black eye. It gets really physical in our practices. Everybody wants more playing time, so everyone is competing for a rotational spot. I love it. I love competition knowing that if I go in and I do not bring my best, I’m going to get outworked. That’s something I can’t live with.”

Michigan basketball kicks off its 2021-22 season on Friday at Wayne State in an exhibition game. The regular season begins on Nov. 10 at home against Buffalo.