Michigan basketball: How Hunter Dickinson's leadership role has evolved this summer
Michigan basketball will have seven new faces on the roster this season, but a few stalwarts remain. Among them is junior center Hunter Dickinson, who spurned the pros to keep profiting off NIL in Ann Arbor and soak in his college experience.
Dickinson’s return to Michigan gives the team a focal point to build around. They know they can rely on him for 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game (averages from last season), but his leadership role might be what makes him most valuable.
“He’s stepped up and taken on more of that leadership role,” head coach Juwan Howard told the media this week. “That’s leadership as far as being vocal and also leadership when it comes to how he goes about his work. That work involves with how he steps foot in this gym, he’s dialed into getting better. He comes in, he works hard. He wants to add more to his game, prove that he’s improved each year and each year he has added more to his game.
“That’s what I’ve been so impressed with Hunter, first year as a freshman when he got his opportunity, he came in and delivered off the bench and proved he could play with his back to the basket. He got into the starting lineup and just took off from there.”
Dickinson finds stride with confidence
Dickinson hit the ground running when he arrived at Michigan in 2020 and has never lacked charisma. Basketball confidence is another story and that has steadily improved throughout his time in Ann Arbor.
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“He gotten more comfortable and confident in himself, and always had a basketball mind,” Howard said. “Second year he came in wanting to stretch the floor out facing the bigs, showed that he could add outside shooting for the team. He put in the work in and was one of our guys who scored inside and outside. That extended all the way to three-point land. This year, stronger, leaner, quicker. Added more lateral quickness, and explosive jumping. High motor. Those are the things you have to admire and respect. As a teammate, when you see a guy that is getting himself more comfortable and he’s doing it a level to help his team be a winning team, everyone else can follow suit. Doesn’t mean you’re doing the same thing but making sure they’re doing their part but upping their game.”
Michigan locks in on defensive improvements
Dickinson’s play will go a long way in determining Michigan’s ceiling. From a team perspective, the Wolverines have to improve on the defensive end of the floor. The Wolverines were 74th in the nation in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency last year, a steep drop from fourth in 2020-21. Even with new faces on the roster, Howard is focused on defensive improvement.
“That’s our goal,” Howard said. “That’s going to be our goal. One of the big areas that we would love to improve on. Wasn’t too happy with the defensive numbers last year. That’s something I take and don’t give all the blame to the players. I’m the first person, that’s something I can do a lot better to prepare them whether it’s defensive schemes, teaching or technique and also preparation.”
