Will Tschetter reacts to Hunter Dickinson departure, Nimari Burnett commitment, says Michigan has to 'reestablish culture'
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball‘s roster has undergone a major shakeup, with junior center Hunter Dickinson entering the transfer portal and sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin and freshman guard Jett Howard declaring for the NBA Draft.
Forward Will Tschetter, who’s entering his redshirt sophomore season, replied to a tweet with a cryptic message after Dickinson made his surprise move to enter the portal.
At Saturday’s Valiant Management NIL Pep Rally, Tschetter said he still believes in the Wolverines, including the coaching staff, while also wishing Dickinson well.
“Hunter, great player,” Tschetter said of Dickinson, while declining to address his tweet specifically. “We obviously appreciate everything that he gave to this program. We wish him all the best going forward. We hope that he finds success, has a great year next year. But going forward, as [Michigan head coach] Juwan [Howard] said in his statement, it’s bittersweet. For the whole entire program, it definitely hurts us to the core, but we’re going to keep going and get better and come back ready to go next year.”
Michigan added former Alabama and Texas Tech guard Nimari Burnett through the transfer portal last week, helping boost the Wolverines’ numbers at guard/wing. Tschetter is elated at the pickup.
“Super excited for what he brings to the table,” Tschetter said. “Obviously, he has a lot to prove with being injured his first year, being on a really, really good team last year. We’re really excited for the energy that he brings — kind of that chip on his shoulder. Great dude, and we’re really excited to have him.”
Players are coming and going, and that’s likely to continue in the upcoming weeks, but Tschetter believes the Michigan team needs to stick together and work to improve, after the Wolverines missed the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2015.
“We have a great core group of dudes that are going to stay true to the program and are going to be here,” Tschetter said. “As that core group, we need to really step into the leadership role, reestablish the culture of Michigan basketball. Take a step back — how can we improve things going forward?
“As an upperclassman, I’ve been here, seen the ropes, what it takes to win, how hard it is to win in this league. Just continuing to be able to develop every day, make sure we keep a positive growth mindset, making sure that, what can we do to be able to win more games? That’s what it really comes down to, and how we’re going to do that.”
Something has to change for Michigan to win at a high level again, Tschetter acknowledged, with the Maize and Blue having come off five-straight Sweet 16 appearances and a 2021 Big Ten title in recent years.
“It’s an offseason where all of us need to look in the mirror and see how we can get better, not worry about things we can’t control, make sure we’re getting our work in as much as we can,” the Michigan forward said. “Really just trust that [the coaches] putting forward, how we can translate that into winning games next year. At the end of the day, it comes down to getting better — every single guy.”
What Will Tschetter is working on this offseason
The 6-foot-8, 240-pounder had an up-and-down first year of playing in games. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per outing, while shooting 49 percent from the field, 25 percent on threes and 58.8 percent from the free throw line. Early on in the season, he was in and out of the rotation and was even a healthy scratch some nights. Later on, due in part to an injury to junior forward Terrance Williams II, Tschetter was thrust into a starting role. He’s hoping to use the 2022-23 campaign as a springboard for more success to come.
“This year was a rollercoaster for me, but it was a really good learning experience,” Tschetter noted. “Obviously, the beginning of the year, not really playing at all, and then stepping into a bigger role as the season went on and going into a starting position.
“It may not have ended how we wanted, but overall I feel like it was a great learning experience, getting some games underneath my belt, gaining confidence, just to help the next three years to come.”
Tschetter took some time away after Michigan’s season ended in the NIT March 18, but is back working out and striving to improve.
“I took about a week off. I started working out with some of the guys on Monday,” Tschetter revealed. “Adding some weight, continuing to get faster, stronger, developing my body. Really dialing in my outside shot and getting confidence with that. And then, being able to develop a little bit of a driving game, being able to step out as a stretch 4.
“Overall, just polishing up all of the things I know I can do, the coaches know I can do, and being able to showcase that next year.”
Next season is a big one for Tschetter and the Michigan program as a whole.
