Michigan basketball: Hunter Dickinson talks 'regret' from last season, desire to build legacy

Seven of Michigan Wolverines basketball‘s 13 scholarship players are newcomers, including five freshmen, one of whom is from the Middle East and joined the team in August. In an offseason of roster turnover, junior center Hunter Dickinson remains a constant.

He’s the media’s pick as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and has led Michigan in scoring and rebounding each of the last two seasons. He’s now added captain duties to his plate, alongside classmates Jace Howard and Terrance Williams II.

Dickinson is outspoken, playing the role of villain both on social media and in away venues. He’s been described as “goofy” off the court, too. But now, he’s one of the oldest players — and the best player — on a young squad. This offseason, head coach Juwan Howard and his staff asked him to be more of a leader, and to this point, he’s answered the call.

“Over my years at Michigan, I’ve kinda become more vocal,” Dickinson said. “My freshman year, I was in the role of following in the footsteps of the older guys and the guys that were here before me. I was blessed to have a team of great leaders and have a really experienced team to guide me along and help me out. Guys like Eli [Brooks], Mike [Smith] Isaiah [Livers], Chaundee [Brown], Austin [Davis] — guys that came here before me and tried to give me all their knowledge. I think I took a lot from them.”

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That 2020-21 team, which won the Big Ten championship and was a few bounces of the ball away from the Final Four, was filled with leaders. Last year’s team, which went 19-15 before making an impressive run to a fifth straight Sweet 16, was not.

Brooks was the lone captain on a young squad. And while he had grown into that role throughout his career, that’s a lot of responsibility for one man.

Dickinson, in hindsight, knows it.

“Then last year, Eli was obviously the leader of the team,” the Michigan center continued. “I didn’t think I did a good enough job of helping him out. This year, I feel like now that it’s my turn, I’m trying to lead the younger guys. I’ve tried to do a good job talking to them as much as I can and try to be that vocal leader that Coach Howard wants me to be.”

Michigan’s season was filled with ups and downs. At one point, it looked like the Wolverines wouldn’t make the NCAA Tournament. The Maize and Blue were 7-7 in mid-January. Even when they turned things around, they — impressively, in a way — couldn’t string together two straight wins over the last month of the season heading into the Big Dance.

Brooks’ numbers were up and down, too, a bit surprising for such a normally consistent player and leader. As Dickinson mentioned, he had a lot on his shoulders.

“There was so much on Eli,” Dickinson stated. “I could see it throughout the season how much — not stress, but how much  was asked of him.”

Dickinson feels some remorse for not stepping up more as a leader for his Michigan team. Now, he’s ready to make it right this season.

“I just didn’t embrace the role as much as I should’ve,” he said. “It’s something that I regret, but now that it’s my turn, I’m trying to take the reins and trying to make the best of that and make the most of the opportunity and what the coaches have bestowed upon me.”

Hunter Dickinson focused on ‘motor,’ wants to build legacy

A word Dickinson mentioned when he decided to return for his junior season at Michigan was “legacy.” He accomplished a lot during his first two seasons — including being named an All-American and two-time All-Big Ten honoree — and now his goals are simple. He wants to win championships and become one of the Wolverines’ best all-time players.

“When we work out in Crisler, I always see the jerseys that are up there,” Dickinson said.

Michigan has five jerseys hanging in the rafters — No. 22 Bill Buntin, No. 33 Cazzie Russell (retired), No. 35 Phil Hubbard, No. 41 Glen Rice and No. 45 Rudy Tomjanovich.

“That’s obviously motivation for me and something that I’ve thought of, especially with coming back for a third year,” the Michigan center said. “That legacy is something that I would definitely like to accomplish when my time is done at the University of Michigan, and something that I will hopefully be able to achieve.”

One of Dickinson’s top goals is to play with more intensity on a consistent basis. It wasn’t a weak spot in his game in the past, and it’s important to note he played 75.7 percent of Michigan’s minutes a year ago, but he feels he can reach a higher level.

“The biggest thing for me is my motor — playing hard all the time,” Dickinson revealed. “That’s something that I really tried to work on, especially in practice at the beginning of the season. It’s something that I really look to try to continue and try to implement in the season this year.”