Last week, Associate Head Coach Phil Martelli gave us a wide-ranging look at the Michigan

men's basketball program here in the month of August. We talked mindset, motivation,

individuals, all of that. And the word that stood out during that lengthy conversation came

in a response to a question about the post-Hunter Dickinson era and could be attributed to the

departures of NBA

first rounders, Jed Howard, and Kobe Buffkin, too. That word was different. So much about this

program will feel different in 2023, 2024. And as Martelli reinforced several times,

it doesn't necessarily mean worse, but this program will be different, very

different. And it's why, to me, the range of realistic outcomes for this team is as wide as can be

for this coming season. This week, we get a similar lengthy perspective, but from a players' point

of view, while there will be plenty different for Michigan

this season, Jace Howard will be a familiar face, a familiar presence. He's entering his fourth

season, same as fellow 2223 captain Terrence Williams II. Those two do not have to be the top

two scores on this team, the two top stat stuffers on this ball club. They likely will not be.

But each of those young men have seen this program at its peak in the Joanne Howard era,

that Big Ten championship during the bubble season, and also at its lowest valley, which came last

year. With all that Michigan is replacing on and off the floor,

these two have to step up and help others do it too, both on and off the floor. Not going to be

easy, and as Jace will talk about here in a bit, this program has gotten the memo that most

outside the program outside of Ann Arbor believe it could be another tough year for Michigan.

But that hasn't caused the prep to deteriorate.

It might be helping matters.

...