Michigan's Kobe Bufkin Declares for 2023 NBA Draft; No. 14 on B/R's Big Board
Apr 2, 2023
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 09: Kobe Bufkin #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drives to the basket against Cam Spencer #10 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half of a Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Second Round game at United Center on March 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Michigan basketball announced today that sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft.
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) April 2, 2023
Bufkin is rated No. 14 on B/R's Big Board and is coming off of a season where he averaged 14 points and 34 minutes for the Wolverines. This news comes shortly after Hunter Dickinson entered the transfer portal.
This all comes after a disappointing season for the Wolverines, who finished eighth in the Big Ten and missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015.
Bufkin, a four-star recruit and consensus top-50 player in the class of 2021, came primarily off the bench for the Wolverines in 2021-22 before asserting himself as a starter in 2022-23. He was named to the all-Big Ten third team in his sophomore season.
He possesses a 6'4", 195-pound frame and splits time between shooting guard and point guard. He notably earned increased playing time after a torn ACL sidelined Jaelin Llewellyn for the season.
Bufkin's decision means that the Wolverines will be without their top three scorers from this past season. Dickinson and Bufkin are joined by Jett Howard, who declared for the draft last week.
Bufkin was slated to go to the Oklahoma City Thunder at pick No. 14 in Jonathan Wasserman's most recent mock draft ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan's Hunter Dickinson Enters Transfer Portal amid 2023 NBA Draft Speculation
Mar 31, 2023
ANN ARBOR, MI - MARCH 14: Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) dunks the ball during the first half a first round college basketball game of the National Invitational Tournament between the Toledo Rockets and the Michigan Wolverines on March 14, 2023 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson will enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
Dickinson has been either first- or second-team All-Big Ten in each of his three years with the Wolverines, averaging 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game during his career.
Michigan coach Juwan Howard discussed the latest news:
The 7'1" player considered leaving for the NBA draft last season before returning for his junior year in 2022-23.
Dickinson once again considered leaving for the NBA draft after this season, discussing the situation in February on the Michigan Insider podcast (h/t Brad Crawford of 247Sports):
It is really tough, I really do love the University of Michigan. There's a reason why so many alums come back to it. They really do miss the experience here. Of course, the basketball side, having Juwan — it's a super-fun experience for me. I know, for me, my draft stock kind of depends on my team's success and how far my team goes and stuff like that, so I've never really been able to make decision before the end of the season because I've just been weighing on how my team does and how I perform at the end of the season because that's when you're draft stock can raise the highest.
It ended up being a disappointing finish to the year for Michigan, which missed the tournament with an 18-16 record. It was a major change for Dickinson, who helped the squad reach the Sweet 16 last year and the Elite Eight during his freshman season.
The center will now look to make an impact with a new team next year, potentially getting back into the NCAA tournament while improving his stock for the NBA draft.
Dickinson showed improvement as a shooter this past season, finishing 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) from three-point range. He was also better defensively, finishing with a career-best 2.0 defensive win shares, per Sports Reference. Further growth in both areas could help him get drafted after he sat outside of most NBA draft projections this year.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman didn't have Dickinson within his top 50 heading into the NCAA tournament.
Regardless of his NBA potential, the transfer will be a significant one at the college level:
Hunter Dickinson immediately becomes the best transfer on the market and ... I think? ... the most jarring move of the portal era.
After Michigan guard Jett Howard declared for the draft, the Wolverines could have a difficult time contending in the Big Ten next season.
Michigan's Jett Howard, Juwan's Son, Will Declare for 2023 NBA Draft
Mar 23, 2023
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 09: Jett Howard #13 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half of the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center on March 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
University of Michigan star guard Jett Howard is set to declare for the 2023 NBA draft, ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Thursday.
The 20-year-old freshman is the son of former NBA All-Star forward Juwan Howard and will look to follow in his father's footsteps, going from Michigan to being a lottery pick. The elder Howard just wrapped up his fourth season as the Wolverines' head coach.
"This was a great learning year for me," Jett told ESPN. "It's what I needed. It taught me how to play within a pro-style offense and be effective, to get out of my comfort zone and play with other good players."
Although Howard was ranked as the No. 43 player in the class of 2022, according to 247 Sports' composite list, he took a lot of people by surprise with an excellent year. He averaged 14.2 points and 2.0 assists per game en route to being named to the All-Big Ten third team and the league's all-freshman squad.
His best performance came in an overtime loss at Iowa in which he lit it up for 34 points on 54.5 percent shooting from the field. He showed off the level of shot-making that has him projected as a borderline lottery pick in Jonathan Wasserman's most recent mock draft.
One thing to monitor with Howard is his health, as he dealt with ankle issues on both legs, although the extent of the injuries aren't quite clear. They were enough to keep him out of the Wolverines' two NIT games after he talked to an ankle specialist.
He is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready to go once it's time to work out for NBA organizations.
The draft is set to take place in Brooklyn on June 22, and the NBA combine will be May 15-21 in Chicago.
After opening the 2022-23 season as a projected high-end Big Ten contender, the Michigan Wolverines endured a frustrating year ending without a trip to the…
Hunter Dickinson Criticized as Dirty Player After Michigan's Loss to No. 3 Virginia
Nov 30, 2022
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 29: Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines posts up against Kadin Shedrick #21 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half at Crisler Arena on November 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Star Michigan center Hunter Dickinson came under fire on social media Tuesday night when an elbow to the face of Virginia forward Kadin Shedrick somehow resulted in a foul called on Shedrick.
The questionable call gave Dickinson two free throws with one minute, 41 seconds remaining, and while he made one of them to give the Wolverines a 66-65 lead, the Cavaliers came from behind to secure a 70-68 road win.
Dickinson was excellent in defeat, finishing with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, plus seven rebounds, but all most could talk about on Twitter was the belief that he was a dirty player after the elbow on Shedrick:
Although Michigan is unranked this season, Tuesday marked a huge challenge for a Virginia team that is already battle-tested after beating ranked squads in Baylor and Illinois.
Tuesday's win was perhaps the most impressive one yet for the Cavs this season, though, as they weathered the storm from a top player like Dickinson and beat a talented Wolverines team on the road.
Now, the No. 3 Cavaliers are a perfect 6-0 on the season, and they have put themselves firmly in the conversation to be the top team in the nation when the next set of rankings come out.
Guard Jayden Gardner was the hero for Virginia against Michigan, as he hit the go-ahead jump shot with 43 seconds remaining to give the Cavs a 67-66 lead, while Reece Beekman and Kihei Clark put it away with free throws.
Dickinson is the unquestioned star and go-to guy for Michigan, whereas Virginia thrives thanks to its depth and production throughout the lineup.
Five players scored in double figures for the Cavaliers on Tuesday, and none of them finished with more than 18 points.
Four Virginia players are averaging between 11.3 and 11.8 points per game this season, and six are averaging at least 8.5 points per contest, underscoring the type of team basketball the Cavs used to take down the Wolverines in a hostile environment.
Michigan's Hunter Dickinson Slams 'Coward' Mark Adams in Deleted Tweets
Apr 29, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 19: Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) celebrates on the court during the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Championship Round 2 game between the Michigan Wolverines and Tennessee Volunteers on March 19, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson called out Texas Tech coach Mark Adams for allegedly holding back the transfer of Terrence Shannon Jr. in since-deleted tweets:
Aaaaand someone got to Dickinson REAL quick. What we have here is one of the biggest stars in CBB calling out the HC at TTU for allegedly hindering Terrence Shannon Jr. from being able to easily transfer to Michigan. Instead, Shannon just committed to U-M's rival, Illinois. pic.twitter.com/LmQh0SNebn
Shannon spent three years at Texas Tech before announcing his intention to transfer this offseason. Despite taking a visit to Michigan, the guard instead announced Friday he will transfer to Illinois:
Dickinson alleges that Adams prevented Shannon from taking summer classes that would have allowed him to graduate before transferring, as Zach Shaw of 247Sports further explained.
Shannon still managed a transfer to a Big Ten school instead of returning to Texas Tech.
The rising senior with averages of 11.0 points and 3.6 rebounds during his collegiate career is expected to be an impact player. The 6'6" guard shot 38.4 percent from three-point range last season and contributed to a defense that ranked No. 1 in the nation in efficiency, per KenPom.
He started all three NCAA tournament games to help the Red Raiders reach the Sweet 16.
David Cobb of CBS Sports listed Shannon as the No. 3 transfer available this offseason.
It represents a major boost for an Illinois squad looking to improve upon back-to-back second-round exits.
Michigan could have also benefitted from the addition of Shannon after losing guards Eli Brooks and DeVante' Jones.
Dickinson still gives the Wolverines a shot at contention in the Big Ten after his surprise return amid NBA draft buzz.
"If you would’ve said at the beginning of the year, asked me if I would’ve come back for another year, I would’ve told you, no way," Dickinson said on the Defend The Block podcast (h/t Clayton Sayfie of On3). "But I think with NIL, that door definitely opened it up for me to come back, and I’m really happy and excited for another year under Coach Howard."
The center was hoping for more help alongside him, but Michigan did at least add Princeton guard Jaelin Llewellyn, as he announced Friday on Twitter.
No. 2 Villanova Beats No. 11 Michigan, Advances to Elite 8 in South Region
Mar 25, 2022
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats drives between Caleb Houstan #22 and Moussa Diabate #14 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at AT&T Center on March 24, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
In a rematch of the 2018 national championship game, Villanova yet again emerged triumphant.
The Wildcats moved on to the Elite Eight by defeating Michigan 63-55 in Thursday's South Regional Sweet 16 matchup in San Antonio.
Two current Villanova players, Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels, played in that 2018 championship contest, so it didn't come as a big surprise that the two graduate students played significant roles in Thursday's proceedings.
For Michigan, only Eli Brooks made an appearance in the 2018 matchup.
This wasn't the prettiest game. Both defenses were stout, with Villanova shooting just 37.3 percent from the field while Michigan shot only 34.4 percent. But while the Wildcats were 10-of-12 from the charity stripe, Michigan was just 7-of-14. And Villanova's team defense mitigated Michigan's size advantage inside, with the Wolverines only out-rebounding the Wildcats by a 41-38 margin.
The two schools entered this year's showdown with far different storylines surrounding their NCAA tournaments. The second-seeded Wildcats were supposed to be here and posted composed victories over Delaware and Ohio State.
And the 11th-seeded Wolverines were looking to continue an improbable run after beating sixth-seeded Colorado State and third-seeded Tennessee.
But similar to that 2017-18 team—also an underdog when they faced the Wildcats—the road ended with Villanova.
Key Stats
Jermaine Samuels, NOVA: 22 points, seven boards
Collin Gillespie, NOVA: 12 points, six rebounds
Justin Moore, NOVA: 15 points, four assists, four boards
Hunter Dickinson, MICH: 15 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks
Eli Brooks, MICH: 14 points, five rebounds
Devante' Jones, MICH: Seven points, four boards, four assists
Villanova's Balance Is So Tough to Overcome
The Wildcats may not have a superstar, future top-five NBA pick on their roster, but they have multiple players who can—and will—beat you on any given possession. And that was on full display against Michigan.
Samuels and Moore led the way scoring the rock. Gillespie had a tough shooting night (4-of-14) but turned the ball over just once and hit the dagger three that all but put the game away.
Sunday, Ohio State played hard. In the end, Collin Gillespie made the game-winning plays. Tonight, Michigan played hard. Wolverines were in it. And yet, once again, Gillespie put it away. The altar boy assassin doesn’t want his career to end. This is why he came back.
Caleb Daniels has been the X-factor for Villanova offensively this half. Has been able to get to the rim and finish against Michigan's bigger players, made a terrific move against Brandon Johns a few minutes ago, just hit the layup-and-foul. Physicality has helped defensively.
Somebody always seems to hit a big shot for these Wildcats or come up with a key defensive stop. They are disciplined and poised, and on Thursday, they slowly and methodically wore the Wolverines down on both ends.
Jay Wright has another legitimate contender on his hands.
Dickinson and Brooks Couldn't Lead Michigan Past Its Shooting Woes
There were points in this game where it felt like there was a lid on the rim every time Michigan attempted a layup. It was just one of those nights for the Wolverines, though Nova's tough defense certainly played a part.
After not getting the ball to Hunter Dickinson for most of the first five minutes of the second half, Michigan is now consistently getting the ball to the block ... and not finishing. Four straight missed layups at the rim.
That sequence prior to the Gillespie 3 has been the story of the second half -- Villanova getting into the lane and finishing through contact, Michigan getting a look at the rim and layups not falling.
The 2021-22 season has come to an end for Michigan men's basketball after Thursday's 63-55 loss to the Villanova Wildcats in the Sweet 16...
No. 11 Michigan Upsets No. 3 Tennessee to Advance to Men's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Mar 20, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 19: Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines drives past Uros Plavsic #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 19, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Michigan Wolverines' difficult regular-season schedule continues to pay off in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament, as they are moving on to the Sweet 16 after a 76-68victory over the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday.
Michigan's 14 losses during the regular season were the most by any team coming into the tournament.
Expectations were high for the Wolverines coming into the year when they were ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, but things never materialized because of injuries and poor performances.
Tennessee had been riding high coming into this matchup with 13 wins in its last 14 games dating back to Feb. 1. Its 32-point win over Longwood in the round of 64 was the program's biggest tournament victory since 2007 (121-86 over Long Beach State).
This contest was a tense back-and-forth affair that never looked like it was going in favor of either side.
Tennessee opened up a six-point lead late in the first half, but Michigan closed on a 15-4 run to go into the intermission with a five-point advantage. The Vols didn't trail in the second half until Eli Brooks' layup-and-1 with 3:21 remaining put the Wolverines up 65-62.
That moment proved to be critical, as the Wolverines closed the game on a 22-8 run to secure the win.
Tennessee made just two field goals in the final three minutes. Brooks, Hunter Dickinson and Moussa Diabate combined to make all six free-throw attempts they had in the final 37 seconds to prevent the Vols from being able to tie the score or take the lead.
Dickinson and Brooks were unstoppable for the Wolverines. They combined for 50 points on 17-of-27 shooting. Kennedy Chandler led the way for Tennessee with 19 points and nine assists in the loss.
Through the first two rounds, Dickinson has a strong argument as the best player in the tournament. The 7'1" sophomore scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting on Thursday in a 75-63 win over Colorado State.
Dickinson followed that up with his 10th double-double of the season against Tennessee. He's about as close to a sure thing in the paint as there is in college basketball right now.
With Dickinson taking care of business in the paint, Brooks was keeping up the pressure on Tennessee's defense away from the basket. The senior had his third 20-point game of the season.
How about Eli Brooks? Everyone on Michigan talks all the time about Brooks being the team’s heart and soul.
When it looked like Tennessee was going to take control, Brooks stepped up. The Vols opened up a 60-54 lead with 8:27 remaining. Brooks made back-to-back layups to get the deficit down to two.
In the final minute, after a Santiago Vescovi layup got Tennessee back within two points, Brooks made a hook shot to extend the lead to 72-68. The Vols didn't score again, sending Michigan into the Sweet 16.
This is the formula Michigan has to rely on for success. Dickinson and Brooks have been the team's best players all season. The No. 3 spot has been a revolving door. DeVante' Jones was the third-leading scorer during the regular season, but he only had two points and attempted three shots against Tennessee.
Diabate stepped up as the third option today with 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks. He only had 11 points in the previous two games combined.
As long as Dickinson and Brooks are playing up to their potential, the Wolverines are good enough to compete with anyone in the country.
Vols Collapse Down the Stretch in Loss
Chandler and Josiah-Jordan James put on a strong two-man performance that looked for much of the second half like it was going to be enough to lead their team to a win. They combined for nine of Tennessee's 11 points during an 11-4 run midway through the second half.
Chandler, in particular, did everything in his power to keep Tennessee going after the Wolverines came out of the gate strong. He gave the Vols their first lead of the game midway through the first half.
This has not changed. This Michigan game is basically going to be Kennedy Chandler’s NBA Draft tape to send to teams. Has completely and utterly taken over and is dictating the game. https://t.co/0ePH6aLrN9
While Chandler was doing a great job finishing at the basket, the defense was taking advantage of opportunities to keep the game close. They had sevensteals and forced Michigan to commit 15 turnovers.
It was in the final three minutes in the second half when everything fell apart. After Chandler's jumper put the Vols up 65-64 with 3:07 remaining, they went 2-of-8 from the field and missed their only free-throw attempt.
Another glaring issue in the loss was three-point shooting. Tennessee made just two of its 18 attempts from behind the arc, with both of its makes coming in the first half.
It's a disappointing way for the Vols to end a season in which they won 27 games, fourth-most in program history. Head coach Rick Barnes has built an outstanding foundation for long-term success at Tennessee, but this loss will sting because of the opportunities the team was unable to take advantage of.
What's Next?
Michigan will play the winner of Sunday's Ohio State-Villanova matchup in the Sweet 16 on March 24.
No. 11 Seed Michigan Upsets 6th Seed Colorado State to Advance in 2022 March Madness
Mar 17, 2022
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) celebrates with teammate Frankie Collins, right, during the second half of a college basketball game against Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
No. 11 Michigan overcame a slow start to earn a 75-63victory over No. 6 Colorado State in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Thursday.
The Wolverines received an at-large bid despite a pedestrian 18-14 record during the regular season. They never won more than three straight games and were 4-4 in their final eight games, including a 74-69 loss to Indiana in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
Colorado State won 25 games during the regular season to earn the program's first tournament berth since 2012-13.
The shooting woes that plagued Michigan against the Hoosiers last week looked like they were going to be a problem Thursday.
The Wolverines went 0-of-7 from three-point range and scored just 29 points in the first half. They scored their 30th point in the second half with 6:16remaining and made four of their first six attempts from behind the arc.
Hunter Dickinson's size in the paint was a huge problem for Colorado State's defense. The sophomore center scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-10shooting from the field.
There isn't anything Colorado St can do about Hunter Dickinson once he catches the ball.
That was going to be the biggest mismatch for the Wolverines to exploit. Dickinson is listed at 7'1" and 260 pounds; Colorado State doesn't have anyone in its starting lineup taller than 6'8" (Dischon Thomas) and 255 pounds (David Roddy).
Dickinson is playing his best basketball of the season at the right time. He came into the tournament averaging 23.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his past three contests.
Caleb Houstan provided Dickinson with some necessary support, especially in the second half. He made all three of his three-pointers and scored nine of his 13 pointsafter the intermission.
When Caleb Houstan is hitting shots, this team can beat anyone. He's so key.
Caleb Houstan has really struggled inside the arc this year, but NBA teams still bound to have interest in a 6-8, 19-year shooter. Giving Michigan needed shot-making today. Wouldn't hurt to return, add a pull-up. Just 5-22 shooting off dribble this season.
While Michigan's second-half surge on offense was the biggest story of the game, the defensive effort down the stretch was crucial to the win.
In particular, the Wolverines kept Thomas from getting easy looks. He led Colorado State with 15 points, but his last field goal was a three-pointer with 15:27 remaining that put the team up 44-38.
Thomas didn't attempt a field goal in the final 13 minutes of regulation. He was 4-of-6 from behind the arc in the first half. The Rams shot just 35.4 percent from the field.
Despite the disappointing finish, Colorado State's season is an unqualified success. Head coach Niko Medved has turned the program around since being hired in 2018.
The Rams have increased their winning percentage in each of the past four seasons. They have gone from a 12-20 record in Medved's first season to winning the third-most games in a single season in program history in 2021-22.
Michigan didn't have a great season, but it is battle-tested after playing the fourth-hardest schedule in Division I. Those games during the regular season have prepared the squad for this moment.
What's Next?
Michigan will play the winner of Tennessee-Longwood on Saturday.
