Even the mild-mannered veterans are showing some emotion.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It’s possible that John Beilein uses the word « swag » more than any other 65-year-old. Despite his impressive shoe game, Michigan’s coach is never referring to his own swag. He’s talking about his players, who have plenty.
First, it’s important to define the word in the context of basketball. To Beilein, it means « supreme confidence. (Someone who) really feels he can impact things with his personality and with his game. »
Michigan knew it had one such player returning this season: Moritz Wagner. The junior loves the behind-the-back dribble as much as demanding the Crisler crowd get loud.
The player that has Beilein mentioning « swag » at nearly every press conference, however, is a freshman.
Jordan Poole, with his short shorts and deadly outside shooting, has become a fan favorite. He’s got many of the same qualities as Wagner and Beilein believes he’ll be an « outstanding leader some day. »
In Saturday’s 85-61 win over Maryland, Poole scored 12 points in 22 minutes off the bench, his third straight game in double digits. After making a 3-pointer late in the first half, he spun around and yelled towards the fans. In the previous game, he’d stared into a TV camera following a poster-worthy dunk.
Beilein was asked about that play and said he and Poole had discussed it. « We love his swag and we don’t want to do anything to take it away, » he said. « But there also is a certain protocol that people will grow into it. He’s growing every day and I love everything about him. »
Poole arrived on campus with swag dripping from his curls. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Duncan Robinson most certainly did not.
For much of their careers, the now-seniors showed little emotion. Abdur-Rahkman’s stone face was no act — he’s as even-keeled as it gets. « He’s so focused on the game at hand that he tunes everything out, » Austin Hatch said. Robinson might smack his hands together after missing an open 3, but that was about it.
Lately, that’s changed. After draining a first-half 3 over a defender he made fall to the court, Abdur-Rahkman glanced down and shook his head for a moment before backpedaling on defense.
Robinson used to let others celebrate for him, accepting congratulations as he, if anything, cracked a smile. Now he’s the one barking towards the bench after a made 3.
« Muhammad knows it’s his time now. He’s embracing that feeling. Same with Duncan, » Wagner said. « Duncan, you’ve got to poke sometimes a little bit and talk a little trash to him so he responds. It’s fun. »
The postseason is near, their college careers are coming to a close, and they’re not hiding anything.
Abdur-Rahkman even played Saturday’s game in glasses. Of course, he was not making a fashion statement but rather wearing them to protect his bloodshot left eye. Abdur-Rahkman was accidentally poked during Michigan’s shoot-around before Wednesday’s game at Penn State.
Against Maryland, the basket must have looked as big as a hula hoop. Abdur-Rahkman made six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 28 points.
« We should all wear goggles, » Beilein joked after the game.
Abdur-Rahkman, who stuck with pink shoes after playing well in them during Michigan’s Big Ten Tournament run last season, said the glasses were good luck. « Now if I had missed a couple shots, » he said, « I probably would have thrown them away. »
Not even an inadvertent face slap — courtesy of a teammate battling for a rebound — could sap Abdur-Rahkman’s mojo. His glasses knocked askew, Abdur-Rahkman caught one of his contact lenses in mid-air.
« That’s pretty lucky, » Abdur-Rahkman said.
Maybe so, but you know what they say: Fortune favors the swaggy.
