Michigan basketball forward DeShawn Sims says his role is changing

After he hit 5 3-pointers against Houston Baptist on Nov. 20, DeShawn Sims said his 3-point percentage would shock people this season. Michigan basketball coach John Beilein said the senior forward essentially has carte blanche to shoot from the outside.

Michigan basketball forward DeShawn Sims, left, goes up a shot in front of Alabama's JaMychal Green during the second half in the Old Spice Classic tournament on Sunday. Alabama won 68-66. (Photo: Associated Press)

Less than 2 weeks later, Sims’ role has changed for Michigan (3-2). This isn’t to say the 6-foot-8 Detroit native isn’t going to shoot from the outside. He will.

But he’s taking a bit of a switch to how he’s approaching things. Now he’s vowing to become more of a “glue” guy the rest of Michigan’s season, which continues tonight in the 11th annual Big Ten-ACC Challenge with a 7:30 p.m. home game against Boston College (4-2) that will be shown on ESPN2.

“It’s something that I feel I just have to take,” Sims said. “I took it in the Alabama game, and I loved it so it’s been, that’s been the reason I want to take it. It’s been so much fun, me playing, inside of the game having fun, hustling and knowing I am giving my all.

“It just is giving everything in my game more confidence.”

Sims scored 16 points and had 6 rebounds in Michigan's 68-66 loss to Alabama on Sunday. For the most part, Sims struggled from the field in the Old Spice Classic. He took at least 10 shots in each of Michigan’s 3 games. Yet he wasn’t content with his percentages, missing shots from both outside and inside the 3-point line.

Still, he’s looking to become more, well, more like sophomore Zack Novak, a guard who plays more like a post player with his diving and aggressive rebounding.

“I’m going to become more of a, I don’t know what they call them, but garbage guy,” Sims said. “I’m definitely taking Zack Novak’s role. We’re going to have to share that one.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.