TheWolverine.com CHAT: Michigan football fall camp notes, more

On3 imageby:Chris Balas08/18/22

Balas_Wolverine

Our weekly noon chat. Today, we answer all your questions related to Michigan Wolverines football, basketball, hockey, recruiting, and more. 

JOIN US HERE: TheWolverine.com Noon Chat

RELATED: Jim Harbaugh: Michigan QB battle ‘pretty tight,’ still too close to call

RELATED: How the Michigan football defensive line is faring against elite O-line

Michigan continues fall camp relatively healthy, and several are standing out. Veterans Ronnie Bell and Cornelius Johnson are leading the way at receiver. The quarterbacks continue to battle it out, with Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy both playing extremely well. Head coach Jim Harbaugh noted the Big Ten analysts saw it for themselves Aug. 17, when they were in town for practice.

The offensive line has a chance to be better than last year’s, and we predict it will be. We’ll have more on that in tomorrow’s Inside the Fort. But the defense is holding its own, as well. BTN’s Dave Revsine, in fact, said he expected the offense to get the better of the defense, but “that wasn’t the case” in the live team portion they witnessed.

Overall, this team is deep and talented — probably the deepest team head coach Jim Harbaugh has had since he arrived at Michigan. We talk about camp standouts, injuries, the schedule, and much more in today’s chat.

Discussing Michigan basketball

Michigan basketball is headed overseas for a European trip in which the Wolverines will face a trio of pro teams from France and Greece. Head coach Juwan Howard is excited to see what he’s got with his young team.

“I know the first team we play in France, and I do not want to say their name and mispronounce it,” he said. “But I know they have four players who played in the NBA. I think that’s great. We’ll get a chance to play against professional men, which we pretty much faced last season at the college level. It was a lot of older men seeing that we had a young team last year.

“Looking at our roster, we have a lot of young guys this year with five incoming freshmen. That’s why this summer is a big time for us to add to our culture … family being first. And when you’re away from your main family members and you get a chance to be with your extended family, your brothers, that’s the best bonding you could ever get.”

The team will be led by Michigan senior big man Hunter Dickinson, who averaged 18.6 points per game a year ago.

“He’s really stepped up that leadership role. That’s leadership in being vocal and leadership with how he goes about his work,” Howard said. “When he steps foot in this gym, he’s dialed into getting better. He works hard. He wants to add more to his game and prove that he’s improved each year.

“Each year, he has added more to his game. That’s what I’ve been so impressed with in Hunter.”

Princeton transfer Jaelin Llewellyn figures to start at point guard. After that, it’s a battle for the other three starting spots.

Howard and his coaches have a few months to figure it out before the Michigan 2022-23 season begins.

You may also like