Michigan guard Nimari Burnett: 'Guys in our locker room have a chip on our shoulder'

Michigan Wolverines basketball missed the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2015. The returning players have something to prove after that disappointment, but there’s also another dynamic brewing. Head coach Juwan Howard brought in three transfers in Nimari Burnett (Alabama), Tray Jackson (Seton Hall) and Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee), and each has a chip on their shoulder this year as well.

Burnett and Jackson played smaller roles than they would’ve liked at their previous stops, determined to show they can do more. Nkamhoua was a standout at Tennessee but is hoping to be developed further into an NBA talent by Howard and Co. at Michigan.

Michigan is flying under the radar heading into the 2023-24 season, but the Wolverines are working hard behind the scenes to change the narrative.

“I felt the energy honestly Day 1 — Day 1 of even before practice, just Day 1 of me being here,” Burnett explained on the ‘Defend The Block’ podcast with host Brian Boesch. “I felt the energy of the guys that are really serious. It wasn’t immature — no immaturity has shown whatsoever. And seeing that these guys are serious about winning and improving from last year and just improving in general individually, I think that’s a big thing for us as a whole, and it’ll show this season.”

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Burnett averaged 5.6 points and 2 rebounds per contest last season, shooting 32.1 percent on threes and 46.3 percent from inside the arc. He dealt with a wrist injury that limited him, and mostly came off the bench for an Alabama squad that won the SEC regular-season and tournament titles and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling in the Sweet 16.

He’s entering his fourth season at his third stop (he began his career at Texas Tech) as a college basketball player and has more experience than many on the Michigan roster. While he’s new to the team, Burnett has found himself taking on a leadership role early on.

“I’ve already spoken up and told the guys what is very possible for us to have a huge year,” Burnett said. “One of those things is defense. [If] we take pride defensively as a team, we can be one of the best teams in the country.

“That, as well as a lot of guys in our locker room have a chip on their shoulder, looking to prove themselves, including me. Having that and then a group of everyone — Juwan is very, very intentional about everyone being a leader and everybody can be a leader in their own way. We have 15 guys on our roster right now; every single [guy], one through 15, can be a leader.”

On top of improving as a leader, Burnett is working on being more of an effective on-ball player offensively, something he didn’t have to do much of at Alabama (40.5 percent of his offensive possessions were spot-ups last season, per Synergy) but will be asked to do more of at Michigan.

“Just being more comfortable with the ball in my hands,” Burnett said of what he’s working on. “I haven’t played much with the ball in my hands over the past few years, and I feel like I’m very capable of that.”

With a lot to prove this season, Burnett believes he will up his game and bring a lot to the 2023-24 Michigan Wolverines, on both ends of the floor.

“Nimari Burnett the basketball player is a guy who takes pride in defense, who takes pride in helping his teammates get better, who can do multiple things — whether it’s shoot, get down hill, play in the mid-range,” the Michigan guard said. “Many people haven’t seen that yet, but that’s a big part of my game that I’m looking to show and improve and that I’ve worked so hard on.

“Just someone who will come with a great, relentless effort and focus throughout the entire year that is all about winning.”

The Wolverines ranked 47th nationally in Kenpom’s adjusted defensive efficiency last season and 74th the year prior. Burnett can be a big part of the squad turning around their fortunes on that end.

Burnett has only been at Michigan for several weeks, and there are still 112 days until the start of his first season in the maize and blue. But he’s already confident he made the right choice in choosing the Wolverines, who he strongly considered out of high school.

“It’s absolutely beautiful, the transition I’ve had, the people I’ve met,” Burnett said. “Just getting a feel for everything. I love the culture and the feeling here inside the arena and the facilities. It’s just a welcomed feeling, and it feels like guys are ready to work and are really serious about having a good year. That’s what I look to bring this year and be a part of something special.”