AUSTIN DAVIS

Juwan Howard is shooting to win a national championship, an achievement that has eluded him as a coach and player at Michigan.

The Michigan men’s basketball program held its media day at Crisler Center on Friday (Oct. 15). Along with interviews with head coach Juwan Howard and select players, media was allowed to watch 45 minutes of practice. It was the first look at the 2021-22 Wolverines and first time seeing the program in action since March, when Michigan lost to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. During the open portion of Friday’s practice, most of the time was spent on mid-range shooting. Of the 17 players on the roster, three did not participate in practice: Eli Brooks, Zeb Jackson, and Brandon Wade.

Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. has been left off the team’s roster for the AL Championship Series against Boston, a huge blow to a team looking to advance to the World Series for the second time in three seasons.

Christian Vázquez tripled home the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox moved to the brink of a postseason berth with a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals.

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss his next start.

Michigan guard DeVante’ Jones has withdrawn from the NBA draft.

Michigan freshman center Hunter Dickinson has entered the NBA draft while giving himself the option of staying in school.

Michigan senior Isaiah Livers is not returning for an extra year of eligibility.

In most years, Tuesday’s NCAA Tournament loss would have, definitively, been the final college game for Michigan’s men’s basketball seniors. Michigan has five scholarship seniors: Eli Brooks, Chaundee Brown, Austin Davis, Isaiah Livers, and Mike Smith, all of whom started at some point this past season. Whether any of Michigan’s seniors take advantage of this one-time rule remains to be seen. Michigan’s seniors, who, as of Tuesday, would have normally been a part of the program’s past, will be making decisions that influence the program’s future. More Michigan basketball content:Even without ultimate prize, Michigan basketball had a remarkable seasonWhat went wrong for Michigan, especially in crunch time, vs. UCLA‘We’re winning now’: Michigan’s transfers Smith and Brown have been the perfect additions

FINAL: UCLA 51, Michigan 49The Wolverines’ tournament run ends after they went the final 5:22 without a made field goal. 0:19 – UCLA 50, Michigan 49Jaquez Jr. missed a corner 3 and Michigan comes up with the rebound. 0:35 – UCLA 50, Michigan 49Cody Riley, a key starter for UCLA has fouled out. HALFTIME: UCLA 27, Michigan 23FIRST HALF0:00 -- UCLA 27, Michigan 23The Bruins heated up offensively in the last 4 minutes to grab the lead. 11 seed UCLA square off in an Elite Eight matchup at 9:57 p.m. Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and MLive will be providing live updates throughout.

Michigan’s achievements will come as no surprise, however, during the Senior Night ceremony following Thursday’s home game against Michigan State. That’s fair, considering just two other Big Ten teams have more than four seniors, with Wisconsin having the second most, behind Michigan, with seven. The added wrinkle is that this season does not count towards eligibility, meaning any senior could return for another season. Late in a game early last season, Wilson threw a long-distance bounce pass to Ozuna-Harrison for a layup. Even with last season being cut short and this year’s abbreviated schedule, Michigan’s seniors have a chance to become the program’s all-time winningest players.

Liddell during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. After six ties in the second half, Michigan pulled away in the final minutes and then held off Ohio State 92-87 Sunday in a meeting that showcased two teams aiming for No. Ad“I thought his length and size bothered us," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann acknowledged. Ohio State and Michigan both are projected to be No. Ohio State: At Michigan State on Thursday.

7 Michigan relied on a staunch defense to beat Purdue 70-53 on Friday night. Purdue made its first two 3s in the second half and cut the deficit to 42-32 with 14:58 to play. But the Wolverines answered with six straight points. Purdue: While the Boilermakers had been the Big Ten's hottest team, they sputtered without Stefanovic on the perimeter. ... Livers has had six straight games in double figures.

ANN ARBOR -- Everybody on the Michigan bench was standing and cheering, watching in anticipation as the possession unfolded, the seconds ticking off the clock. The TV broadcasts (not to mention social media) are not lacking for content from the Michigan bench. “In this type of year where we don’t really have fans, I think that’s very important that you have energy coming from the bench. Chaundee Brown's putback had the Michigan bench going crazy 😅 pic.twitter.com/zKUMxwIZ1a — ESPN (@espn) January 13, 2021This is true for walk-ons as well as the starters when they’re subbed out of the game. “Their bench was a little bit more energized and you could feel that energy,” Wisconsin guard D’Mitrik Trice said.

Michigan started the season at the very back end of the top 25, picked to finish in the middle of the Big Ten. Wisconsin (10-2, 4-1 Big Ten) is coming off a double-overtime win over Indiana on Thursday. He torched Michigan for 28 in last season’s lone meeting, a Wisconsin win in Ann Arbor on Feb. 27. Brooks lost a tooth in Michigan’s last game, Tuesday’s rout of Minnesota, but will be ready to go against Wisconsin. How Michigan basketball became a ‘kick-ass defensive team’Wolverine Confidential podcast: Michigan basketball teams remain red-hot

Dickinson already had a major role, but the changes were necessitated by an injury to starting center Austin Davis. Davis said after Sunday’s game that Dickinson has had a “learning mindset” from the time he arrived on campus. “I owe it to Austin Davis,” Dickinson said of his early success. He’s the future of the program and I just see what he has and what he can be. “He wants to improve in all areas of his game,” Howard said.

Who: Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1) at Michigan Wolverines (5-0)Where: Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan)When: Sunday, December 13, 2:03 p.m. Outside shooting is the first thing Michigan coach Juwan Howard mentioned when asked about Penn State. Michigan and Penn State are scheduled to meet again on Jan. 9 in State College. More Michigan basketball content:Michigan’s Austin Davis out ‘extended weeks’ with foot injury; Hunter Dickinson readyWhere Michigan basketball stands entering Big Ten playThe best conference in college basketball? A look at the Big Ten as league play kicks offFor Michigan basketball, playing during pandemic is difficult, crazy but also a blessing

Michigan will be without its starting center for at least the near future. Austin Davis suffered a plantar fascia injury in his right foot in Michigan’s most recent game, Wednesday’s win over Toledo, and will be out “extended weeks,” according to head coach Juwan Howard. Freshman Hunter Dickinson, already averaging nearly twice as many minutes as Davis, figures to replace Davis in the starting lineup. Davis left Wednesday’s game, a 91-71 victory that pushed Michigan to 5-0, with 16:08 left after suffering the non-contact injury. He’s played that spot for brief stretches during his career, including this season.

ANN ARBOR -- The game may have been scheduled at the last minute, but Toledo did not surprise Michigan on Wednesday night. The Wolverines looked well prepared, attacking Toledo inside early and raining 3s late in their 91-71 victory at Crisler Center. The cancellation didn’t happen until Monday, with Michigan and Toledo connecting later that day. Michigan is scheduled to begin Big Ten play on Sunday at home against Penn State. The Wolverines went up 35-21.

ANN ARBOR -- There were many reasons not to start Hunter Dickinson right away this season. Dickinson is already playing more than the starter at his position: 22.3 minutes per game compared to Austin Davis’ 12.8. For the season, Dickinson is at plus-75 while Davis is at a modest plus-11. Davis has taken Dickinson under his wing; Dickinson goes out of his way to show his appreciation when speaking with reporters. Swapping Davis and Dickinson would hurt the bench, but Brown has proven he can be the scoring leader for the second unit.

ANN ARBOR -- There was Isaiah Livers before Michigan’s season opener on Wednesday, taking a knee during the pregame national anthem at Crisler Center. Livers, a senior forward, was the lone player in the game to take a knee. It was no surprise that Livers, along with redshirt senior Austin Davis, were named as Michigan’s captains for this season. Michigan publicly announced its captains the day of the game; the team was informed by head coach Juwan Howard about a month ago. More Michigan basketball content:Michigan transfers Chaundee Brown, Mike Smith make quite the first impressionInside Crisler Center for a strange, quiet Michigan basketball season openerTwo former Michigan basketball stars sign NBA deals

Michigan cruised past Bowling Green 96-82 at a mostly empty Crisler Center in the season opener for both teams. Mike Smith, a graduate transfer from Columbia who started at point guard, scored 16 and handed out a game-high eight assists. The Falcons kept it close; Michigan led 43-36 at half, with Livers and Smith combining for 25 points. Both teams returned three starters from last season, though there were questions as to how Michigan would replace point guard Zavier Simpson and center Jon Teske. Smith more than held his own in the opener at point guard; Davis and Dickinson fared well at the center spot.

Michigan State’s Rocket Watts made the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team last year. Michigan assistant coach Phil Martelli spoke about Dickinson and his classmates at length on Wednesday, one week before Michigan hosts Bowling Green. Per Martelli, he’s shot the ball well from outside so far but turnovers have been an issue. More Michigan basketball content:Michigan basketball to hold intra-squad scrimmage to prepare for seasonMichigan’s 2020-21 schedule released‘Welcome to the Michigan family!’: Juwan Howard details his No. 1 recruiting classNo fans, just cutouts, at Michigan basketball games this seasonMichigan’s Zavier Simpson signs with NBA champion Lakers

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Although there may still be an adjustment period, Juwan Howard has an experienced roster for his second season as Michigan’s coach. “I would say the strength of our team is we have experience on all levels at all positions,” Howard said. Guard Franz Wagner, who averaged 11.6 points per game as a freshman last season, is back. Last season, the Wolverines dropped to 28th, and Michigan now has to replace a defensive standout in Simpson. Smith averaged 22.8 points a game last season at Columbia, and Brown averaged 12.1 points for Wake Forest.

Under first-year head coach Juwan Howard, Davis played double-digit minutes in 16 games after reaching that mark just twice previously. It’s been a long road to recovery.”Davis thanked his doctors and the Michigan basketball staff, including trainer Alex Wong and strength coach Jon Sanderson. After watching film from last season, Davis is aware of his weakness. (That would have been 20 feet, 9 inches, and 745 pounds of Michigan basketball player on that boat.) He knows his strengths, and with some refining, they could be valuable for Michigan this season.

Last week, Isaiah Livers predicted that Michigan’s starting lineup, if the season were to start then, would include redshirt senior Austin Davis. But he’s skillful, he can score, and he has a bright basketball mind.”Martelli added that Dickinson welcomes and accepts coaching, something Davis mentioned as well. But Hunter is just naturally funny.”Dickinson’s former AAU teammate Terrance Williams II is another Michigan freshman. “When you look at these four freshmen, where they come from is evident,” Martelli said. More Michigan basketball content:Mike Smith adjusting to give Michigan basketball the point guard it needsMichigan football staffer’s ‘pocket dial’ to recruit among school’s recent NCAA violationsIsaiah Livers ready to be ‘top dog’ for Michigan basketballMichigan basketball All-Decade team: The star-studded 2010s

The Big Ten Tournament was canceled minutes before Michigan was supposed to tip off and the NCAA Tournament followed suit. Michigan only has one other true big man on the roster, and he’s a freshman (more on Hunter Dickinson below). It remains to be seen if Brown will be allowed to suit up for Michigan this season. Howard said last week that Brown has an “amazing personality” and he “fits the Michigan culture.” Livers agrees. “We’re trying to teach him the ways of Jon Teske,” Livers said of Dickinson, adding that Davis has taken the freshman under his wing.