Michigan basketball: Is Tarris Reed ready to take control at center?
Michigan coach Juwan Howard and his staff are still finalizing the 2023-24 roster, but some positions seem set in stone — two, anyway. Sophomore Dug McDaniel will be the Wolverines’ point guard, and his classmate, center Tarris Reed, is going to have to fill the void left by Hunter Dickinson’s defection to Kansas.
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All reports are that both are working hard in the offseason to get it done. Reed averaged 3.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and blocked 31 shots last year. He shot 51.7 percent from the floor and was one of the keys to a win over Michigan State with 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 2 steals.
The best is yet to come, associate head coach Phil Martelli insists.
“I marvel at his feet. I think his feet belie his build,” Martelli said. “I think he can do some things defensively that can be expanded on. Obviously, offensively, I think a little bit less is going to be a little bit more with him. I thought there were times even in practices where it was overdone.”
And, of course, there’s the issue with his free throws. He shot only 40 percent from the line last year, even though he has a nice shot and was much better than that in high school.
“He’s got to clean up his foul shot, but I actually walked by and saw he was out there with a couple managers, so he’s working,” Martelli continued. “I think the Sandman [John Sanderson] has to do his thing with his body. I think he has to look tight.
“But he’s obviously very strong. I thought he was just borderline of being an outstanding rim protector. That’s different than Hunter. Hunter didn’t really give you rim protection — I think Tarris can give you rim protection.”
Now, though, he’s going to get more one on one time with Howard. That’s proven to be a winning formula with several of the Michigan big men over the last few years.
Martelli needs to see it on both ends of the floor.
“He’s also a guy that now that he’s been in this and he’s going to be in the lab with Juwan, I think we want him to take on a vocal role defensively,” he said. “That was a difference when he was a high school kid. He talked. When you hear a guy talking then whoa … this is different.
“I would want the same thing. Just anecdotally, we went to dinner one night with a recruit’s family. He’s so mature. He’s engaging. He’s not like a humorist in any way, shape or form, but very good natured.”
He also had a great semester academically, focusing on it even with all the travel and the wear of being a Big Ten freshman.
“All that, the disappointment with not making the NCAA Tournament, and he performed like a young adult,” Martelli said. “That’s what I want to continue to see.”
That, and huge jumps in scoring and rebounding, would be a huge shot in the arm for Michigan basketball this season.
