Hunter Dickinson needs to step up for Michigan basketball

The Wolverines are facing a huge crossroads in the 2022-23 basketball season. Tomorrow, Michigan will travel to College Park, MA to face off against the 11-6 Maryland Terrapins. So far this season, Hunter Dickinson has been one of the best players on the Wolverines’ roster; however, U-M needs more from Dickinson if they expect to turn the season around.

On paper, Hunter Dickinson is playing fine

So far this year, Hunter Dickinson is having a season that is nearly identical to his 2021-22 season; in fact, his numbers are ever so slightly better so far this year. Dickinson is shooting better from the floor (57.2 percent), better from 3-point range (36.8 percent), averaging more rebounds (8.9), more blocks (1.7), more steals (0.6), and less turnovers (1.9) per game than he did a year ago. (ESPN)

That being said, Dickinson is averaging 0.8 PPG less than he did last season, shooting 13.1 percent worse from the free throw long, and averaging 1.1 less assists than he did last season. Additionally, what Michigan is truly lacking right now is leadership — something Hunter Dickinson needs to do a better job of.

In 2020-21, Dickinson had far more slack than he does right now as one of Michigan’s veteran leaders. The Wolverines will only go as far as he does, and right now, U-M clearly needs more than what it is getting from Dickinson on the floor and in the huddle.

Going forward

As we enter the second half of the 2022-23 season, Hunter Dickinson must demand more attention on the floor. Look for Hunter to make fewer mistakes and demand more attention in the paint. Dickinson needs to become a force on the court in order to free up some space for Michigan’s shooters such as freshman Jett Howard.

When surrounded with NBA-caliber talent in 2021, Dickinson was the talk of the town. Despite still being on of the nation’s best players, Hunter Dickinson needs to step up more as we enter the second half of the season if Michigan basketball expects to turn its 10-7 record into an NCAA Tournament berth.

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