It’s probably something that not many Michigan fans expected heading into this season, but the Wolverines will be starting a true freshman at point guard Wednesday night when they take on North Carolina in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
The three-man race originally seemed to be won by sophomore guard Zavier Simpson, but it has been freshman Eli Brooks that has started at point guard the past three games and will continue to do so.
“It’s been great, being able to play alongside my teammates and just being out there,” Brooks said. “Just trying to make the best of the opportunity, not step out of my game and keep playing the way I was.”
Michigan coach John Beilein has said that the offense flows the best when Brooks is in the game because he makes all four other players on the court better. He told Brooks he’d be the starter in the film room with the entire team out in Maui.
Brooks said he thinks he earned the spot by simply continuing to play solid basketball, not running the ball over and keeping the offense moving.
“He has an understanding of how to play and a feel for the game,” fifth-year senior forward Duncan Robinson said. “He has poise out there and knows when the ball needs to move and when he needs to pick his spots. He’s done a good job of feeling that out.”
This season, Brooks is averaging 3.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He’s turned the ball over just four times — the fewest of Michigan’s three point guards.
“I haven’t been shooting that well, they’re open shots I just need to knock them down,” Brooks said. “I feel like I’m rushing a couple shots.”
Michigan junior forward Moritz Wagner said he loves Brooks’ ability to shoot.
“He’s a really good shooter,” Wagner said. “He hasn’t shown that yet, I think he’s made three or four threes. He’s an incredible shooter, we’ll see that in the future. He has a very high IQ. It’s almost like when you’re on the court, he doesn’t make any mistakes. The offense really clicks, there’s a certain flow with it when he’s on the court. He plays easy basketball.”
Wagner added that he wants Brooks and the other point guards to shoot more.
“I love when they shoot,” Wagner said. “As a big guy, it’s tiring to run up there and set screens three times, defense is going under. Just shoot it man, I rolled already and will get the rebound if you miss. That’s the mentality as a big man. You want your point guard to be confident whoever it is.”
Brooks has been able to learn from both Simpson and fifth-year senior guard Jaaron Simmons, who transferred in from Ohio. He said Simpson has great basketball knowledge and passing ability, while Simmons has the leadership and experience.
Between all of that, he’s hoping to hold onto the starting role — and playing well against the defending champions is one way to do that.
“It’s always been a dream to play [at North Carolina],” Brooks said. “My dad grew up a North Carolina fan, so he’s going to have to change a little bit and root for Michigan, but it’s going to be great to play in Chapel Hill.”
He said he’s never visited UNC.
“It’s a big game, but I’m not one to get that nervous for games,” Brooks said. “We treat every game as a big game. We’re trying to treat it like another game with a lot of talent on the floor.”
He recalls watching the Tar Heels on TV last season and finds it a little weird that now he’s going to be playing against them, but he knows that next year it could him that people have seen on TV and now are playing against.
The chemistry building has been going well for the freshman, who said he realized how much time the whole team spends together while out west.
“It’s been great,” Brooks said. “I love everybody on the team, they’re great teammates, they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t great teammates. Going to Hawaii really brought us together and being able to hang outside of basketball in a cool place like that really helps.”
Michigan is 6-1 on the season and will tip-off in Chapel Hill at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night. North Carolina comes in ranked No. 13 with a 5-1 record.
“I think there’s something very bonding about going into a place where 14 or 15 guys are unanimously hated,” Robinson said. “There’s a cohesive component to that which I thoroughly enjoy.”
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