These three Michigan underclassmen have developed nicely throughout the season
It’s late-February, and Michigan Wolverines basketball has played 27 games already, meaning freshmen are no longer freshmen, per assistant coach Saddi Washington. With that, freshman forward Tarris Reed Jr. is playing his best basketball, one of multiple Wolverines who have made big strides throughout the season.
Reed is coming off his top performance of the season, registering career highs in points (8) and rebounds (10) in an 84-72 win over Michigan State Saturday night. He was active on the offensive glass, with 4 boards from Michigan missed shots, and had 3 blocks, including one that helped clinch the win with 1:30 to play.
Reed has had issues with fouls — he’s committing 6.4 per 40 minutes, the most on the team — and turnovers at different points throughout the season. He was 7 of his first 32 attempts from the free throw line but has made 11 of 15 since.
Things are coming together at the right time, proving to be a force as junior center Hunter Dickinson‘s backup and a complementary piece when the two are on the floor together.
“He’s been one of those young thunder cats that I’m sure came in with high expectations,” Washington said on the Inside Michigan Basketball radio show. “But as coach always says about the young guys, ‘Yeah, you think it’s easy when you come to a game sitting in the stands as a recruit, but once you get here, you can’t change the channel.
“To Tarris’ credit, man, the kid has just stayed the course, and he’s learned a lot from Hunter, and now with this combination, this ‘Thump and Bump’ combination, it seems to have something to it. The nights that it’s working, it’s been good for us.”
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The shot blocking and offensive rebounding are two things Michigan hasn’t had much of without Reed’s production.
“He has some instincts that you can’t coach,” the Michigan assistant coach said. “So like any freshman when they first get here, it’s that transition of learning a new system, new terminology and being held to those expectations, because before they get here, if they’re sloppy or loose with their habits, then they’re going to play anyway because they have to play in order for their team to win. Well, that isn’t always the case when they make that transition here.
“So there is a learning curve, but his timing and blocking shots and rotating over and stuff like that is something that’s all Tarris. That has nothing to do with us. We actually have to try to reel that in from time to time, because he gets so anxious when going after that ball where he puts himself into a position where he over-helps sometimes, and that puts us in some challenging spots.”
Will Tschetter and Kobe Bufkin bided their time and took steps forward in second season
Redshirt freshman forward Will Tschetter also contributed to the win over Michigan State, with 7 second-half points coming on 2 layups and a made three-pointer from the top of the key. He struggled in the first half but bounced back, and he’s played well in limited action this season. He’s started the last two games due to junior forward Terrance Williams II being out with an injury.
“Will’s been phenomenal,” Washingtons said of the Michigan redshirt freshman. “He’s a worker bee. That kid comes in and works, gets shots in and then after games he’s one of the first ones to text me trying to watch film breakdowns. Even today, I’m like, ‘Will, I don’t have it broken down yet, bro, you’ve got to give me 30 more minutes so I can finish the second half.’
“But when you have guys that have that kind of hunger to get better, it makes our job easier. He’s been diligent and he’s waited his turn. The energy and the passion that he brings to the floor every night, we need that with this group.”
Tschetter redshirted last season, which was frustrating for him at times, but he’s all the better for having gotten in the weight room and worked on his game.
Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin played in 28 games last season, averaging 10.8 minutes per night, but was never consistently in the rotation. While he did see some action, he was in a similar boat to Tschetter. He worked hard in the offseason and is now one of Michigan’s best players, averaging 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
His three-pointer that broke a 72-72 tie with less than two minutes to go against the Spartans was one of the biggest in the rivalry’s recent history.
“It’s those individuals who take the opportunity to sit back and learn from the older guys and from the vets,” Washington continued of Tschetter, before transitioning into touching on Bufkin. “Very much the same with Kobe Bufkin. He didn’t play a lot last year, either, but his growth has been awesome for us.
“I just believe that the basketball gods will reward you by just doing the right things, and Will is one of those kids that has been diligent about his work and he’s been patient, and now he’s starting to see some of the fruits of the labor.”
Michigan crosses the finish line against MSU
Those three and their teammates helped Michigan pull out a win over the Spartans after dropping two straight games, to Indiana and Wisconsin. Both of those losses came with Michigan flopping down the stretch, but that wasn’t the case Saturday. The Wolverines and Spartans were tied 72-72 with two minutes to go, before Michigan scored the game’s final 12 points.
“It’s not a mystery, it’s been a struggle for us to finish games,” Washington said. “So I was really proud of the guys to really, actually cross the finish line that night. But it was our attention to detail and just our level and commitment to the discipline of just following the game plan.
“We’re in the thick of things, trying to earn our way into postseason play. Every game matters, every possession matters. We got one the other night, and we’ve got a tough opponent in front of us on Thursday in Rutgers and it doesn’t get any easier after that.”
After taking on Rutgers in Piscataway, Michigan finishes with a home game against Wisconsin and road tilts at Illinois and Indiana, before the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. The Wolverines have a lot of winning to do to make the NCAA Tournament, but closing out a close game against the Spartans was a positive step.
