Michigan basketball: How Joey Baker has evolved as leader in lone season with Wolverines
Michigan basketball brought in graduate wing Joey Baker via the transfer portal for his experience and shooting ability. Butt it needed his leadership, too.
This team has lacked an identity and calming presence at points this year. After feeling it out, it was time for someone to step into a larger role from a leadership perspective. Baker, who is averaging 5.3 points in 15.6 minutes per game, has been key in that during Michigan’s 5-2 stretch in February.
“I sensed it for myself, the team was in need of [a leader] and I could offer it,” Baker said. “So I just kind of had to step up and start talking more, start doing whatever it took for the team.
“I think coming in I had a lot to say and I didn’t know how to present it. I didn’t want to overstep, coming in guns blazing right away, I kind of felt it out. And as I’ve gotten more comfortable and just more confident in being a leader, I think that started to take off. That’s been the past month, two months now where I’ve been more vocal and talking more. (I’m) just trying to be more of a veteran leader.”
Freshman center Tarris Reed has sensed it, too. He has even coined a nickname for Baker thanks to the effect he has on the rest of the team.
“I call him a wise owl,” Reed said. “He knows a lot, he’s been through a lot, he’s been through Duke. He’s seen the ins and outs of this college basketball program’s state.”
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Baker responded: “I’ve been in his ear a ton because he’s just full of potential. I don’t even think he understands how good he can be. I think he’s starting to get a taste of it. But defensively he’s a unicorn the way he can move his feet and, and block shots. He is just gonna keep on getting better as he learns what he can and can’t do, and keeps working with Hunter [Dickinson] and, and Coach Howard.
“I’m talking with him a lot and the rest of the guys. Whatever I see. I’ve gone through a lot of stuff and been around a lot of really good players, so just little nuggets that might benefit the others.”
Baker will be Michigan’s lone scholarship senior honored on Sunday, along with six student managers. The experience will be a first for him after electing to not participate in Senior Day at Duke last season.
In hindsight, he wishes he would have taken part in that experience.
“I think I would’ve liked to have it if I had known I wasn’t gonna be coming back,” Baker said. “But again, in my mind what I communicated was that I would be back. I four amazing years there and there are no hard feelings at all.”
Sunday’s game against Wisconsin tips off at 2 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised via CBS.
