Michigan basketball: DeVante’ Jones, Caleb Houstan are the keys for U-M

Michigan players and coaches have taken some heat this year for what some perceive as an underachieving season (to date). The Wolverines are 15-12 overall, 9-8 in Big Ten play with three games remaining, needing at least two to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. 

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They’re playing more consistent basketball over the last month or so, though the record doesn’t necessarily reflect it. They’re 5-4 in their last nine games and get the next two at home against Michigan State and Iowa before heading to Ohio State. 

Improved backcourt and wing play has been key to their success. Transfer point guard DeVante’ Jones is coming off his best game in a Michigan uniform, a 25-point, 10-assist double-double against Illinois. He’s been on a tear since Feb. 1 with seven double-digit scoring games in nine contests, three double-doubles and two 10-assist games. 

“DeVante’ the last several weeks, and certainly in this last week, has been very connected … very connected with [assistant] Howard Eisley, very connected with me,” associate head coach Phil Martelli said. “His eyes are expressing what’s in his heart — that he’s looking for these opportunities and these challenges.”

They saw an opportunity for him in the midrange game against the Illini, and he responded.

“It wasn’t like DeVante’ had to get by his guy and then go into a crowd. We felt that he if he could get leverage on his man, he would be able to play the in-between game,” Martelli said. “I thought he did it extraordinarily well. And walking up to the foul line, 7-for-7, yeah — it’s nice to know [he can make them].”

He made two of six triples, too. While he’s only shooting 31.7 percent from long range, he’s made some big ones when he’s been open. 

They’ll need more of that from him this week and in the Big Ten Tournament. The game has slowed for him, and his numbers (10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists) continue to rise. 

Houstan, though, is really the key to the offense. His shot creates the room needed to operate the offense through Hunter Dickinson. When he hits from long range, the Wolverines usually win. 

The Michigan freshman is coming off back-to-back 21-point games in which he played well at both ends. He made five of nine triples against Rutgers and two of three against the Illini, including a big one in transition that cut a five-point deficit to two with two minutes remaining. 

He’s starting to get it, and his Michigan team is benefiting.

We had an interesting conversation this morning when we were watching film. I said, ‘All the guys that can get dressed for this game are shot makers,’” Martelli said. … “You all think you’re shot makers but what you really are, are shot takers. And I’m not just saying our players. Every player in every locker room throughout this country at every level of basketball. ‘I’ll shoot it!’ Okay …, but you’ve got to be a shot maker. 

“… Caleb is a shot maker. He came in here as a shot maker. He’s worked his tail off. Everybody knows he’s a kid that’s coming in and shooting once, twice a day and then practicing. And Howard Eisley is putting him in positions. Juwan never told him not to take a shot, nor any of them not to take a shot. And we’ve just carried that on to say, ‘Shoot it, man. Shoot it.’”

He has, and he will. The Michigan frosh is now shooting 46.2 percent from three-point range at home and is a legitimate weapon.

He’ll need to continue to be if the Wolverines are going to make the Tournament and potentially make some noise. But his coaches and teammates believe in him. 

“He has a brilliant stroke,” Martelli said. “But he hasn’t been beaten down by, ‘Oh my god. You know, they don’t think I’m that anymore.’ Or … ‘They’re questioning this.’ He puts in an awful lot of work on his own.

“The only thing that’s important for Caleb Houstan-level shooters is the next shot, not the last shot. And for long periods of time this year — you’ve all watched him — it’s the last shot, even in practice. The last shot. No — let the ball go. Let the ball go.”

Starting tonight against Michigan State in what’s the most important game of the season, to date.