Michigan basketball: Hunter Dickinson, Terrance Williams chemistry key in 2022

Michigan freshmen Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan both opted to stay in the NBA Draft, leaving U-M looking for answers in 2022. Head coach Juwan Howard and his staff have continued to explore the portal, but they also have options to choose from on the current roster. 

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Guys like sophomore Isaiah Barnes will get a shot on the wing, and Will Tschetter at the four. Freshman Jett Howard will also compete at the wing, big man Tarris Reed at power forward. 

But a veteran might be one of the best options, assuming he continues to ascend. Junior Terrance Williams Jr. had some outstanding moments his first two years, and he’ll get a shot at both the three and the four. His putbacks in a round of 32 game against Tennessee helped the Wolverines upset the Vols, and his three-ball was critical in a win at Ohio State that helped U-M make the NCAA Tournament.

Williams and Dickinson have great chemistry on the court, and we might find out just how good in extended minutes this year. 

“You’re not competing against Caleb, not competing against Moussa,” assistant Phil Martelli said recently, before either even decided to stay in the draft. “You are a versatile player whose versatility has to be both offensively and defensively. There’s an internal competition more than external.”

In other words, he needs to control the controllables and not worry about his playing time. It’s about getting better and earning is spot on the floor, and there’s a significant way to do that this summer.

“His next step is on the defensive end. He did not have a very good year defensively,” Martelli said. “We would watch clips, and for the first time in his basketball life he was thinking about offense. I said, ‘yeah, that’s not why you’re here. You’re at Michigan because you make winning plays. That’s both ends of the floor.’

“He has become a more dedicated defender and a more versatile defender. If you have to guard here, you have to guard there.”

He’d like to see Williams and sophomore Kobe Bufkin both commit to more one-on-one this summer, he said, and concentrate on that end of the floor. 

“It will help both of them,” he insisted.

Especially since each will likely be called upon to play big minutes this year. 

Still Michigan center Hunter Dickinson’s team

But junior and center Hunter Dickinson is the focus of this team, and he’ll be the only returning starter. How players mesh with him will determine how much they play given he’ll be a 35-minute guy, and Williams has a leg up in that respect. 

Dickinson and Williams go way back, having played together for years on the AAU circuit. Dickinson has faith in his friend, but he won’t be easy on him or anyone else, Martelli. 

His impact goes way beyond what he brings to the floor.

“It’s also an off the court impact, too,” Martelli said. “He was vocal last year about coming back, said, ‘I’m coming to win championships.’ So, I think he has every right to be hard on himself in preparation, and also with his teammates.”

His next step, Martelli said, is to improve defensively, as well. His shot has come a long way — he was nearly 32 percent from long range and can get better — but he has work to do on the other end.

“I think there was growth this year, and now there’s another step,” he said. 

If Diabate had come back, he noted, it would have been, “how do we play off each other?” Now it’s going to be getting better passing out of the post and limiting turnovers against double teams. 

But he has to keep improving defensively, too, in one area in particular. 

“The ball screen, because that’s the next leap,” he said. “It’s a hell of a league, too, where you look around at the challenges.”

But much of Michigan basketball’s success will depend on him and his improvement on both ends. It’s a lot of pressure, but the seven-footer will have to live up to it now, more than ever given the roster turnover.