Michigan basketball needs shooters at the '4' — here are options

On3 imageby:Chris Balas03/28/22

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Michigan’s offense struggled with consistency in 2021-22, especially shooting the ball. Head coach Juwan Howard had to play Hunter Dickinson and Moussa Diabate together when Brandon Johns struggled, and it made the offense ‘clunky’ at times. 

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There had been talk of bringing Johns back (or at least inviting him) for a fifth season, but given how he finished the year (10-for-34 from three, 36.1 FG percentage overall), that might not be the right move. And if Diabate returns for his sophomore year, he should play the five, his rightful position. 

Sophomore Terrance Williams improved and shot 38.5 percent from three-point range. Caleb Houstan could play more power forward if they go small and he gets stronger. You are who you can guard, though, and that could create some match-up issues on the other end. Though he struggled shooting the ball away from home, Houstan’s got the stroke to improve dramatically in 2022-23. 

Michigan is looking at players in the portal, too, having reached out to St. Joseph’s Taylor Funk. The 6-8, 215-pounder wants to play one more season of college ball to get stronger, a recommendation from pro scouts. 

Funk averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds and shot 37.3 percent from long range last year. There’s an ‘in’ there, of course, with former St. Joe’s coach and current Michigan assistant Phil Martelli. 

Freshman Gregg Glenn needs to improve his shot, and there aren’t many who believe he’ll be an immediate contributor. 

Michigan redshirt freshman one to watch closely

So that brings us to Will Tschetter. After a year of redshirting and learning the system, the 6-8 Tschetter will get his shot. He’s been extremely receptive to coaching, continues to get bigger and stronger and he can shoot. 

He’s also an extremely coachable kid, head coach Juwan Howard said this year. 

“You never have to worry about Will not coming in and getting in extra work,” Howard said. “When his time comes, I expect for him to be ready to come out and compete. I trust that he’s going to give it his all. 

“I could see Will becoming a captain for the University of Michigan because his entire makeup is built on [being] a Michigan man.”

But can he play? 

We’ll find out. But Martelli has been one of his biggest fans since the recruiting process. 

“His sponginess – his taking this all in and being able to stake a step back and watch him be coached by Juwan Howard, and this kid has joy in his heart because of that,” Martelli said. “It’s rare for any person to say, ‘I don’t have all the answers.’ We all have all the answers. We don’t know all the questions, but we know all the answers. 

“This kid came in with wide eyes, hasn’t changed, has just served an extraordinary role on the team in that … I’m trying to rack my brain now to make sure. He’s Ron Harper [in practice]. Pretty high praise. During his recruiting I have said, if he can play, this is the stuff of movies, right? Football quarterback, decides to do the discus, wins the state championship. 3.9999 [GPA], [lived in] China third and fourth grade, or fourth and fifth.”

But his legacy depends on what he does on the court, and he’s got a chance. Martelli sees his potential as a Big Ten starter. 

“There are guys I want him to be like. Can he be Kyle young for Ohio State?” he said. “Can he be a versatile power forward? 

“Clearly, there’s been growth in his game. Guys that serve on this scout team get an awful lot of basketball information … different styles, things like that. But I think we’re in for casting a movie here by the time he’s done.”

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