Tarris Reed becomes even more important for Michigan … and he has a message for the fans

Michigan freshman center Tarris Reed Jr. had to be talked into taking a break to refresh his body after a long, grueling first year. That’s how committed he is to his craft and ensuring he and his team come back with a vengeance this fall after a disappointing season. 

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Reed confirmed with Michigan play-by-play man Brian Boesch he’d be here for the spring and summer sessions to work with strength coach Jon Sanderson. He’s still recovering from a grueling freshman season, however. 

“We have to take our time, recover, be patient with it,” Reed said. “We have to wait until next September, November, wherever we start the season to go out there and dominate. Looking at the new roster now, we’re going to be pretty nice next year. I’m looking forward to having a great next year.

“But I’m staying here for the most part. I talked to my father. He told me it would be best to stay here and grind for the offseason, so I have all the tools and resources I have here. I can take advantage of it while I’m up here in Ann Arbor, so that’s the plan moving on for the summer.”

Now, he said, he knows exactly what to expect — and what to do — to prepare for the season. Every workout, every drill is leading toward the team reconvening in June in preparation for atonement for a season in which they failed to make the NCAA Tournament. 

“Now, I literally know 100 percent, this is what we’re going to do — this is what I have to do to get here,” Reed said. “It all starts the first day of workouts in June. We have to be together as a team, vocalize on the defense end, be together on the offensive end, and that’s going to carry over into March.”

Defensively, Reed, said, is where he was most comfortable last year and confident in his ability — being able to switch and guard 1 through 5, switch and hedge ball screens, and block shots. 

Offensively, though, Reed wasn’t as confident, he admitted. Talking to head coach Juwan Howard and assistant Jay Smith, he’s formulating a plan to add to his scoring arsenal. They’ll really need it if junior center Hunter Dickinson moves on, as it now looks like he will after entering the transfer portal. 

Reed didn’t discuss his teammate other than to say he learned a lot from him.

“Definitely touch around the rim, being more comfortable [is an emphasis],” he said. “Playing behind Hunter and watching him this year really helped me. I’m glad I took a year to watch. I really idolized his game. His touch around the rim is amazing, It’s so elite. 

“That’s one thing I can take for me to be a great player. I have to have great touch around the rim. That’s something I’m really focusing on this offseason.”

All of it, of course, is to improve the team. That’s his No. 1 focus. 

Watching March Madness from home was a kick in the gut for him and his teammates, but it’s motivated Reed and the rest of the Wolverines. 

“Because of what happened last year — the season didn’t go how we wanted last year, but I know we’re competitive … for competitors only,” Reed said. “I know we’re going to work, grind, scratch, and going to be the toughest team on that court for last year because of what happened. Nobody wants to miss March Madness. Now, us freshmen — Me, Dug McDaniel, Gregg Glenn — we understand that feeling now. 

“People like T-Will [junior Terrance Williams], he said it was the worst feeling not making March Madness. Now we know what it feels like not making it, seeing teams you played against getting beat in the tournament. Now you know this is what we need to have to lock in from day one in order to make that tourney, go deep in that tournament. That’s going to be pretty big in the offseason.”

He has full confidence, though, that they’ll be back and better than ever … starting with him. 

“I’ve got my trust in Coach Howard,” he said. “We’re going to be fine — we’re going to be okay. I’m really not worried about the future, or tomorrow. I’m going to take it day by day, focus on the present, what I’m doing right now.”

Reed finished with a message for the fans.

“Trust the process,” he said. “If you trust in Michigan basketball and believe in us, like I do — I’ve got trust in my team, trust in Coach Howard, trust we’re going to bounce back next season and make that tournament. 

“Just believe.”