Phil Martelli wanted to make it clear: Austin Davis beat out Hunter Dickinson for Michigan basketball's starting center job during the offseason.
The Wolverines, Martelli said, didn't start Davis through their first five games simply because of some "feel-good story about a fifth-year kid." Davis was simply better at the time.
But quickly, Martelli and the rest of Michigan's coaching staff learned Dickinson wasn't your normal freshman.
"We have a saying around the office," Martelli said Tuesday. "Some guys play when the popcorn’s popping. And that’s what Hunter did."
As Michigan enters the heart of Big Ten play, Dickinson is entrenched as the team's starting center.