# Comfortable, confident Trey McKenney coming into his own for Michigan hoops
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While young players might think they need to produce offensively to make a difference, McKenney doesn’t.
McKenney said he tries to be “a connector on the floor” and do whatever the team needs, whether that’s scoring a bucket, grabbing a rebound or getting a stop. Compared to the start of the season, McKenney noted he’s better at being patient, not trying to force things and letting the game come to him.
“I really feel comfortable out there, whether it’s offensively or defensively,” said McKenney, who’s averaging 10 points in 20.4 minutes and shooting 36% on 3-pointers. “I think I can impact the game in a lot of ways.”
May sees the same thing. It’s led to McKenney gaining coaching staff’s trust, earning extended run in the second half and playing in tight games in crunch time.
Against Nebraska, McKenney checked in with 15:42 remaining and played the rest of the way. The prior game against Ohio State, he had 12 points on five shots, posted a plus-12 rating in 12 second-half minutes and was on the floor during an 11-0 run that turned a six-point deficit into a five-point lead in a 74-62 victory.
May explained he doesn’t want the reserves to feel like they must shoot and score to stay in the game. The message is simple: How you play is more important than your stat line.
May cited a first-half offensive rebound against Ohio State as an example. On that possession, McKenney battled forward Devin Royal after a missed shot, which led to the ball landing in a spot where forward Will Tschetter could corral it.
If it wasn’t for McKenney’s effort, Royal would’ve grabbed the rebound and started a fast break. Instead, Michigan got another possession, drew another foul to move closer to the bonus and scored.
“That’s the invisible play, that’s the intangible play that we’ve been preaching. And the more of those you make, the more you’re going to play,” May said on Monday’s “Inside Michigan Basketball” radio show. “Everyone wants to play more, but that’s how you earn more is by playing good ball when you’re in the game.
“(McKenney’s) defense is much further advanced than most freshmen in college. Typically, that’s what keeps guys off the court as a freshman is their defense and intangibles, and he has those things. He brings a lot to our team.”
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Most importantly, the Wolverines outscored the Cornhuskers by 12 in McKenney’s 22 minutes, the best plus-minus rating on the team.
“He comes off the bench doing exactly what he needs to do — giving us energy, scoring, getting stops defensively, always talking,” forward Morez Johnson Jr. said. “I appreciate Trey. He comes out there and makes my job out there easier with how loud he is on the floor.
“He’s definitely matured. He’s not the same player as he was in November. He’s very important for us. … We know what we’re going to get out of Trey every night.”
Coach Dusty May pointed to another play of McKenney’s he thought was just as pivotal as the rest. When Michigan was trailing by seven with under eight minutes to go, McKenney was fouled on a 3-pointer in transition.
He calmly made all three free throws — which May called “the biggest points of the game” — kick-starting a 16-6 run over the final 7:37 that was fueled by foul shots.
