Wolverine TV: Phil Martelli, Michigan players discuss exhibition win over Northwood
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball associate and interim head coach Phil Martelli, graduate forward Olivier Nkamhoua and freshman guard George Washington III met with the media following their team’s 92-45 exhibition win over D-II Northwood Friday night at Crisler Center.
Watch video of Martelli in the player at the top of the screen, and the players in the embeds below.
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Olivier Nkamhoua
George Washington III
Michigan sophomore forward Tarris Reed Jr. had a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) in 11 first-half minutes and did not appear in the second half. He asked to be held out due to a minor groin ailment suffered five or six days ago, per Martelli, but it’s not serious. Michigan head man Juwan Howard is still recovering from a heart surgery but has been around the program in a limited capacity in recent days. Martelli credited Howard with a lot of Reed’s development.
“I think that Tarris is a byproduct of the laboratory that Juwan Howard creates,” Martelli said. “And Juwan was obviously with us and with Tarris from July 1 on to September [15th] of his surgery. And then Jay Smith has taken that over.
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“Tarris is a very confident young guy, and now it’s a different situation. So, when Hunter [Dickinson] made his decision [to transfer to Kansas], Tarris was aware of, ‘oh, you know what, a lot goes onto my shoulders.’
“I think there are small things. He’s catching the ball better. His foul shot looks better. Still could be cleaned up. He was rushed a little bit, I thought, early. And he’s doing a sensational job with his left hand. And, who knew that he was medical enough to tell me that he didn’t think he could go in the second half? That’s pretty impressive for a guy that’s not pre-med.”
Michigan has four scholarship newcomers after losing its top three scorers from last season. Martelli thinks the team has come together well but still has a ways to go.
“For as many knocks as the NCAA takes, the fact that they allow you time with your players in the summer, you can get up to speed quicker. So, we get four hours, eight weeks, during the summer. And even though [Michigan graduate forward] Olivier [Nkamhoua] was away, we can get these guys into how we’re going to play, how we’re going to practice, how we’re going to teach terminology. So, when you do start practice on Sept. 25 or whatever, the idea is to make progress. And if we’re not better Sunday, then everything up to now is a waste of time. To me, it’s a progression. We’re now in the world of building teams, as opposed to building programs.”
