Tim Hardaway Jr. : All posts

Zack Novak gives Michigan basketball stars Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. leadership advice: 'Be yourself'

Zack Novak remembers what it felt like to be told how to lead.

After taking over as captain of the Michigan basketball team as a sophomore in 2009-10, a young Novak listened to countless people inside and outside the program give him lessons on how he should lead his club.

"Everyone wanted me to be (former captains) C.J. (Lee) and David (Merritt)," Novak recalled. "They told us to be more like C.J. and Dave so much, and I don't think I ever became a good leader until I realized I didn't need to be C.J. or Dave.

"I needed to be Zack."

Tim Hardaway Jr. wants to have a 'Draymond Green' type of all-around season in 2012-13

Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. wants to have the same kind of year ex-Michgian State star Draymond Green had in 2011-12.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

But he really doesn't care.

When asked what he wants to accomplish next season for the Wolverines, the 6-foot-6 guard's best basis for comparison comes from the depths of enemy territory.

"I'm going to do whatever it takes to win," Hardaway told reporters Thursday. "I'm going to try to have a Draymond Green-type of year where you kind of do everything -- rebound, pass, steals, assists, post up, run the point a bit and make your teammates better.

"I know the fans might not like that, but (Green) was a dog out there."

Michigan basketball PG Trey Burke receives lofty praise at LeBron James Skills Academy

Michigan point guard Trey Burke was one of the top standouts recently at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

And recently, playing with a group of his college peers, Burke apparently stood out again.

Burke and fellow Michigan teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. both participated in last weekend's LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas.

Both players were given high praise for their respective performances, but Burke reportedly stood out above the rest.

Michigan basketball's Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. to participate in the LeBron James Skills Academy

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. aren't quite finished with their elite camp tour this summer.

The Michigan basketball standouts are scheduled to participate in this weekend's Nike sponsored "LeBron James Skills Academy" in Las Vegas.

Michigan basketball's official Twitter and Facebook pages confirmed the news, as the official rosters for the event -- which runs from July 6-9 -- have not been formally released.

Early 2013 NBA draft projections rate Michigan basketball's Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mitch McGary

Michigan point guard Trey Burke has already landed on a few 2013 NBA mock draft lists.

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com

The 2013 draft, though, could tell a different story.

Starting point guard Trey Burke nearly left, but eventually opted to remain in Ann Arbor for his sophomore season. Michigan also has interesting next-level prospects in Tim Hardaway Jr. and 6-foot-10 big man Mitch McGary.

Certain analysts have already started projecting next season's draft, and three Michigan players have landed on a few radars.

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. the best backcourt in the Big Ten? One scout thinks so

Michigan basketball wing Tim Hardaway Jr. drew high praise from scouts Sunday at a summer camp in Chicago, just as teammate Trey Burke did earlier in the weekend.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Burke spent time in Chicago at Brooklyn Net point guard Deron Williams' Skills Academy. Wolverine teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. is also in Chicago, showing his stuff at the Kevin Durant Skills' Academy -- a clinic for wing guards/forwards.

And after one portion of the event, scouting website ProBasketballDraft.com made a proclamation about both Burke and Hardaway.

“Michigan SG Tim Hardaway looked good today," the site wrote via Twitter. "Expect a big year. Should form Big10s best backcourt w/ Trey Burke. Both should be 1st rounders.”

4 questions surrounding the Michigan basketball team as it enters the offseason

John Beilein and the Michigan men's basketball team face enormous expectations next season. The Wolverines are coming off a share of their first Big Ten title in 25 years.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

With the ongoing construction at the Crisler Center and the William Davidson Player Development Center (which is now fully functional), John Beilein's bunch became nomadic when it came to offseason workouts.

They dressed in one spot, lifted in another and played pick-up in a third.

This summer, Michigan won't have that excuse, but it'll have just as much — if not more — work to do.

The entire 2012-13 roster won't be on campus together until June. And when everything falls into place, it'll face a few questions.

Here are four to watch leading into a crucial offseason:

Notebook: Tim Hardaway Jr. all in for Michigan, Jon Horford healthy and John Beilein talks schedule

Immediately following the Michigan basketball team's NCAA Tournament loss to Ohio last month, Tim Hardaway Jr. emphatically declared he'd be returning for his junior season.

A week later, in an interview with the Detroit News, Tim Hardaway Sr. (currently working as a scout for the Miami Heat) reaffirmed the point, saying his son "wasn't going anywhere."

Just in case anyone hadn't gotten the point yet, minutes after teammate Trey Burke announced his plans to return for his sophomore season, Hardaway told reporters he didn't even seek information with regard to his NBA draft status.

That came as no surprise to Michigan coach John Beilein.

"Not at all," Beilein said. "Tim and I talk about this all the time, and his dad and I talk about it on occasion as well."

Grading the 2011-12 Michigan basketball sophomore class

Tim Hardaway Jr. slumped during January, but found a way to come back to life over the final month of the season.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The Michigan basketball team's crop of sophomores took a hit last week when Evan Smotrycz announced his plans to transfer from the program.

That doesn't mean John Beilein's sophomore group is lacking.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jordan Morgan are major keys to Michigan's future, and if Jon Horford can recover from his foot injury, he may well be adding his name to that list.

A look at how the sophomores fared last season:

Michigan basketball stars Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. say they'll be back; focus on leadership roles

Michigan sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr., right, is greeted by Jon Horford and Zack Novak as he exits the game after a second-half foul. Hardaway and freshman point guard Trey Burke both said they'd return to Ann Arbor next season and pick up the leadership slack left by graduating senior captains Novak and Stu Douglass.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If there was any lingering doubt whether or not the Michigan basketball program would have its two biggest stars back next season, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke put an end to it Friday night.

Asked if he'd look at the possibility of leaving school early for a shot at the NBA, Hardaway gave a quick retort.

"No, I'm coming back next year," the sophomore wing said after Michigan's 65-60 NCAA Tournament second-round loss to Ohio on Friday. "I'm coming back."

Burke, who earned the co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year award this season and finished the year as the team's leading scorer, was right in step with his teammate.

"I'm definitely coming back," he said. "I'm just going to learn from this loss and get ready for next season."

And when both Hardaway and Burke do return next season, their roles on the club will increase drastically.

Not only will they be asked to shoulder the scoring load, but they'll also be asked to lead.

Michigan's 'Lamborghinis,' Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. making the difference in March

Michigan sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. celebrates a play in the second half of the quarterfinals at the Big Ten Tournament at Banker's Life Fieldhouse on Friday night. He and freshman Trey Burke combined for 50 points in a 73-69 overimte win against Minnesota.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- After he and fellow captain Stu Douglass were dubbed "foundation players" recently, Michigan basketball senior Zack Novak offered a different description for young guns Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.

If Novak and Douglass are the foundation, then Burke and Hardaway were the giant living room and the 60-inch television set.

On Friday, though, after Burke and Hardaway combined for 50 points in Michigan's 73-69 overtime win against Minnesota in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, Novak upped the ante.

"They were the (Lamborghini) with the super model in the front seat sitting out in the driveway today," Novak said. "That was impressive."

Tim Hardaway Jr.'s new attitude key to Michigan basketball team's postseason success

When everything began to reach a low point this season, Tim Hardaway Jr. did what his instinct told him to.

He shelled up and tried to go it alone.

And he may as well have been fighting through quick sand.

"I was just trying to deal with it in my own head," the Michigan basketball sophomore said. "And that was bad on my part, because it brought my game down to a whole other level."

Notebook: Trey Burke the Big Ten Freshman of the Year? You won't hear John Beilein campaigning for it

Whether or not Trey Burke is the best freshman in the Big Ten Conference isn't a concern of John Beilein's.

The Michigan basketball coach said Friday he's glad to have Burke running the point for his club, but in no way will he campaign to earn postseason recognition for him.

"I pay so little attention to that, and I would never push (for it) in any way," Beilein said. "We're such a team, team, team attitude here.

"Maybe it's a weakness, but we don't concern ourselves much with that."

Grantland.com: Tim Hardaway Jr. tells reporter he doesn't plan to leave the Michigan basketball program

Michigan basketball sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. is regarded as a player with potential for a career in the NBA one day.

But will that day come sooner rather than later?

In an interview with Grantland.com recently, Hardaway was asked if this season would be his last at Michigan.

"No. We don't know yet. I'm not sure," Hardaway said. "We have to let the season play out. I'm not answering that question, but I can tell you I don't plan on leaving."

Michigan basketball top guns Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke clicking at the right time

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke, there was no concrete come-together moment.

After the Michigan basketball team's top-scoring duo combined for its worst performance of the season during a double-digit loss at Michigan State last month, Hardaway remarked how his on-court chemistry with Burke needed work.

The freshman point guard didn't disagree.

"We knew we both had bad games," Burke said. "We performed under our level. But after a loss, we always come back."

There was no formal discussion between Burke and Hardaway about improving their on-court flow. And after Thursday's performance in a 72-61 victory at Illinois, perhaps there never needed to be.

Saturday (9 p.m., ESPN): A must-win game for the Michigan basketball team? It's pretty close

The phrase "must win" rarely, if ever, enters Michigan basketball coach John Beilein's vocabulary.

Especially when it comes to a regular-season contest.

But Saturday against No. 6 Ohio State? Well, that's about as close as it comes.

"There's a lot of basketball to be played before you say this is a must win," Beilein said Friday. "But it certainly (would be) advantageous (for us) to get a win.

"But you'll probably never get me to say the word must win, never, ever, ever. Unless it was the NCAA Tournament when you tell me we have to win this game, or we don't get to play tomorrow."

Michigan basketball's Tim Hardaway Jr. dunk nominated for play of the year

Michigan basketball sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr.'s high-flying antics have received national attention.

Hardaway's alley-oop dunk from Trey Burke during a 68-56 home win over Indiana on Feb. 1 has been nominated for the Geico Play of the Year.

Michigan basketball roommates Evan Smotrycz and Tim Hardaway Jr. share a breakout game

Sophomore forward Evan Smotrycz scored 13 points against Illinois.

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com

Food, a bathroom, bills and even a few laughs.

But a shooting slump?

In the case of Michigan basketball sophomores Evan Smotrycz and Tim Hardaway Jr., apparently so.

Though, as the Wolverines found out Sunday, the duo that lives and struggles together, also seems to bounce back together.

"We tried not to talk about it, because it's really a mental thing," Hardaway said after Michigan's 70-61 victory against Illinois on Sunday. "But now it's a good time to start heating up.

"And this game really helped me out, and it helped Evan out as well."

With Tim Hardaway Jr. buying in, the Michigan basketball team's less-is-more-approach leads to a win

LINCOLN, Neb. — Tim Hardaway Jr. sat alone on the bench after halftime Wednesday.

With his teammates hoisting warmup shots after one of their more abysmal halves of the season, the Michigan basketball sophomore standout did nothing but watch.

Hardaway had already gone 0-for-7, and the team was 8-for-25. He didn't need to shoot anymore. The time had come for a change.

And enough, was finally enough.

"After that Michigan State game I felt really bad about myself," said Hardaway, who finished 1-for-10 from the floor in a loss to the Spartans on Sunday. "I didn't want to hurt my teammates (more). This is Zack (Novak), Stu (Douglass) and Corey Person's last season.

"I want to just give it all I've got, and make a concerted effort to just do the little things."

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein ordering lots of 'sunshine' for struggling Tim Hardaway Jr.

Michigan coach John Beilen on sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr., above, and his recent struggles: "He really wants to be the ultimate perfect player, and no one is."

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

John Beilein has never once wavered from his stance regarding the on and off play of star sophomore wing Tim Hardaway Jr.

On Tuesday, the Michigan basketball coach kept that trend going.

"He really wants to be the ultimate perfect player, and no one is," said Beilein, whose team will visit Nebraska on Wednesday (8:30 p.m., BTN). "He's a young man. Still 19 years old, and he's been starting since the day he (walked in) here. And there's a lot on (a player) with a father with a tremendous legacy.

"So, we just keep building that young man (up) and give him a lot of sunshine."