Jordan Morgan indifferent re ranking (w/video

Michigan redshirt junior Jordan Morgan and Wolverine basketball team start their season tonight against Slippery Rock. Morgan talks about the added depth of the team, dealing with preseason rankings, being accountable on the court, and more. ***full video included***

Redshirt junior forward Jordan Morgan is starting his fourth year in the Michigan basketball program. He has been part of two NCAA tournament teams and helped lead the Wolverines to their first Big Ten Championship since 1986.

But this season is different, as Maize & Blue have added one of the top in-coming recruiting classes in the country. And Morgan has noticed the depth early in practice, which he says allows him to play even harder on the court.

“There is definitely a level of competiveness to practice,” Morgan said. “Having a lot depth, definitely allows us to play, I guess, a little harder. Not to say we that we weren’t playing hard, but we kind of just don’t worry about making mistakes as much, knowing that you have a lot of good talent backing you up.

“It’s definitely a lot more competitive then it’s probably been in years past,” added Morgan.

Michigan will play host to Slippery Rock at 8:30 p.m., to start its season later tonight. The Wolverines enter the contest with a preseason ranking of No. 5., and the high expectations that come with it. Something the Wolverine forward is getting used to as the success of the team has grown.

“ I don’t know if we all like it,” Morgan’s said on the preseason ranking. “I think we all just try to stay indifferent. Just focus on us every day rather then what people say or who is out there. I think if we just focus on us and just focus on getting better every opportunity we can, we will be okay.”

Being the hunted instead of the hunter is a new dilemma for the Wolverines, said Morgan.

“It will be a new experience,” Morgan explained. We’ve been good in the past obviously. To have someone else give you that name and put a target on your back. It will be a different experience.”

Morgan says the non-conference schedule is a chance for the Wolverines to prepare for Big Ten play.

“It’s just another level, especially when you hit the Big Ten it’s so competitive,” Morgan continued. “Even in the early season, it might not be some games as competitive as others. But when you get into Big Ten play every game is close, every team colludes to no matter the situation. I think as we go along we’ll transition from preseason to regular season. We will learn a lot from the regular season, probably just as much or more than we have in the preseason.”

Individually, Morgan has been working on his free-throws this off-season. However, his main goal is to be more accountable on the floor.

“Just helping my teammates and just probably being the most dependable guy that I can be on the floor,” he said. “That’s kind of been a role that we had filled in the past by previous players. I just kind of want to put that on myself. Just be the most dependable person on the floor, that everybody can turn to to get the job done.”