Michigan basketball: Saying goodbye to Hunter Dickinson is bittersweet

The Michigan basketball team recently was forced to say its goodbyes to a long-time standout player, one who was adored by Maize and Blue fans, yet hated by just about everyone else. He loved to play the villain, helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title, a Sweet 16 appearance, and more, and is universally known as one of the top players in college basketball today. Of course, I am talking about former Michigan basketball star Hunter Dickinson, who committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks yesterday morning.

Saying goodbye to Michigan basketball star Hunter Dickinson will be bittersweet for the fans

For Michigan fans, saying goodbye to Hunter Dickinson has its pros and cons. On the one hand, Dickinson was a fan favorite for quite some time, leading the Wolverines through their ups and downs and always being one of the best players wearing the Block M on the roster. That being said, he had his ups and downs, and after months of drama following his initial decision to enter the transfer portal, many fans are ready to move past that chapter of Wolverine hoops.

During his time at Michigan, Hunter Dickinson turned heads nationally and cut down nets as the Wolverines’ top player. He was a pro trash talker, a team leader, and an elite-caliber player at many points. Throughout his three years, he became the most recognizable Michigan basketball player of the Juwan Howard era when it comes to the college game alone (Franz Wagner is likely better known due to his standout play in the NBA).

In his most recent year at Michigan (the 2022-2023 basketball season), Hunter Dickinson proved to be a vital asset to the Michigan Wolverines, leading the team in both points and rebounds per game with an impressive average of 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds, respectively. Not only did he demonstrate his offensive skills, but he also showcased his defensive prowess, leading the team in blocks with an average of 1.8 per game.

The ups and downs are all a part of the Hunter Dickinson experience

Throughout his three-year career with Michigan, Dickinson established himself as a force to be reckoned with, recording an impressive 1,617 points, 787 rebounds, 148 assists, and 149 blocks. His unwavering dedication and consistent performance during his time as a Wolverine solidified his place as one of the program’s top players in recent history.

Still, his antics, including wearing a ski mask before the Wolverines’ loss at Wisconsin, grew old after a bit, and fans appeared to be disgruntled towards the end of his Michigan basketball career. While Michigan fans will likely have hard feelings at first due to his abrupt exit, Hunter Dickinson will likely still go down as a Wolverine legend in hindsight and was a core member of Juwan Howard’s past three squads during his time in the Maize and Blue. For every ski mask moment, Michigan basketball star Hunter Dickinson matched it with a clutch buzzer-beater type moment — it’s just who he is.

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