DeVante' Jones reveals why he wasn't surprised by Frankie Collins' play

Michigan advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament after an up-and-down regular season. Led by transfer guard DeVante’ Jones in the backcourt all season, his absence in the first and second round seemed big but did not keep the Wolverines from advancing.

Ahead of a Sweet 16 matchup with Villanova, DeVante’ Jones provided the latest on his injury status and gave his take on why freshman guard Frankie Collins was able to step into his shoes during the most important games of the season.

“I can’t say too much,” Jones said about his injury. “I just wasn’t feeling my 100 percent self, and I didn’t want to be selfish to the team because I knew we had a guard like Frankie Collins who come in and get the job done, and that’s what he did.”

Expanding on why Collins was prepared to fill the gap, he pointed to all the attributes that make him one of the top young guards in college basketball.

“I knew it, and I tweeted it the day or two before that he’s going to get the job done,” said Jones. “He’s a great point guard. He’s young, but he understands his role on the team, you know, athletic, quick guard who can get downhill and score for himself or make plays for others. And he’s very good on defense as well. So he’s all around a great guard for us.”

Collins averaged just 2.9 point and 1.7 rebounds this season, but scored 14 with six rebounds in the First Round win over Colorado State.

Juwan Howard on team chemistry

Juwan Howard also addressed the potential return of DeVante’ Jones after a difficult week of injuries derailed his NCAA Tournament dreams and forced Frankie Collins to step up.

“We’ve been through it before with injuries, with COVID,” said Howard. “It’s already embedded in the culture, and our guys understand with injuries we make no excuses, but we trust that every guy that’s in that roster will get an opportunity to go out there, and when they do play, they’re going to give it their best.

“Fortunate enough, when DeVante’ went out with his injury, Frankie Collins stepped up, but it wasn’t a surprise to his teammates, it wasn’t a surprise to me or the staff because the work he’s put in in practice, the work he’s put in when he’s not at practice. The kid loves basketball. He has a basketball mind. He’s been through some competitive moments before throughout the season. But on the big stage in the NCAA Tournament, he didn’t look like a freshman. He looked like he belongs, which he does.”