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Update on Michigan basketball's DeVante' Jones for Tennessee game

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•03/18/22•

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Michigan basketball guard DeVante' Jones is playing in his first NCAA Tournament. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS — DeVante’ Jones is in Indianapolis and practiced with the Michigan basketball team Friday. There were even rumblings Thursday night (and reports Friday) he’d play Saturday against Tennessee.

Jones practiced with the team Friday after spending the last several days in concussion protocol for an injury suffered in practice.

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Head coach Juwan Howard confirmed Wednesday that Jones took a blow to the nose. He caught an inadvertent elbow driving to the rim during a competitive Tuesday practice.

Frankie Collins started for Jones and played well in a Thursday win over Colorado State, notching 14 points. He also scored five straight in the first half to cut a 15-point deficit to 10.

After the 75-63 win, Howard said they hoped to get Jones back “soon.” He wouldn’t confirm a report that Jones would play against the Vols Saturday.

“DeVante’ was present today for our morning practice … it’s a game time decision,” Howard said of Jones. “I’ll be on my knees praying tonight that he’ll be ready to go for tomorrow. Because we’re going to need all hands on deck.”

Tennessee the No. 3 seed, opened as a 5.5-point favorite. Michigan will need an entire healthy team to pull the upset.

“It was great, obviously, to see a familiar face, someone we’d been in the trenches with all year … it was great to see him back [at practice],” sophomore forward Jace Howard said of Jones Friday. “It felt like a full team again and just made us ready to play tomorrow even more.”

Jones has been one of the Wolverines’ best players over the last half of the season. He’s averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. The veteran also recently put up 25 points in a loss to Illinois and 21 with nine assists in a win at Ohio State March 6.

The Coastal Carolina transfer had been waiting for years to suit up for March Madness, he said when U-M made the tournament.

“To have the ability to play in March Madness, that’s something everybody can’t do,” Jones said. “I’m going to take it seriously and take advantage.”

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