One veteran, one up-and-comer shining in Michigan hoops workouts
Michigan coach Juwan Howard has a lot of talent to replace, having lost four starters from the 2021-22 Sweet 16 squad. There are several candidates vying for those spots, but two standing out in sophomore Kobe Bukfin’s eyes.
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Bufkin is a prime candidate to start at the shooting guard spot, having added 20-plus pounds to his frame and improving his jumper. He’s been working diligently with a couple of his teammates in preparation for the season, and he believes both have a great shot to start in 2022-23.
“I’ll leave you with two,” Bufkin told Michigan play-by-play man Brian Boesch when asked for some offseason standouts. “First, Tw-Will (junior Terrance Williams). “T-Will is kind of like my workout partner during the spring. Seeing his percentages even in the offseason while shooting just skyrocket from the three-point line was crazy to see.”
He made huge strides in that area last year, shooting 38.5 percent from long range after making only seven percent of them in limited duty his first year. He was much more comfortable and confident in averaging 4.7 points in 15.1 minutes per game and had some big moments, including two huge cutbacks in a round of 32 win over Tennessee.
How he defends will help determine how much he plays, though. Assistant Phil Martelli noted Williams struggled on that end last year, and he informed his forward he’d need to improve this coming season.
“His next step is on the defensive end. He did not have a very good year defensively,” Martelli said. “We would watch clips, and for the first time in his basketball life he was thinking about offense. I said, ‘yeah, that’s not why you’re here. You’re at Michigan because you make winning plays. That’s both ends of the floor.’
“He has become a more dedicated defender and a more versatile defender. If you have to guard here, you have to guard there.”
He’s come a long way, Bufkin said.
The other they’re eyeing — redshirt frosh Isaiah Barnes. He’s had a tremendous offseason and could provide key minutes at the three.
Martelli noted his finishes at the rim have been outstanding, his athleticism off the charts.
“Isaiah Barnes, in the weight room and on the court,” Bufkin said. “His attention to detail on the court and in the weight room has made his physical abilities skyrocket. It’s good to see that.”
He’s gotten much more comfortable over the course of the year.
“His motor and I think his IQ has really improved,” assistant coach Phil Martelli told The Wolverine last month. “And I think the back end of the year he was much more of a shot-maker. At the beginning of the year, he was a shot taker. And his body changed. He got stronger. So, he can go, now.
“When he gets on a run and is scoring, it’s impressive. And again … when you flip it, who he’ll guard …”
Barnes is still working behind the scenes to improve physically and on defense. It is way too early to tell if he will be able to work his way into the Michigan rotation.
“I’m not saying no, not saying yes,” Martelli said. “It’s a different setting when you’re scout team because the other team might run a drop coverage in ball screen [for example]. But he’s very explosive at the rim. Very explosive at the rim. He can really finish and can dunk it.”
He’ll have a chance, competing with incoming Michigan frosh Jett Howard and others, to make his mark.
