Will Tschetter
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Will Tschetter
| image = Will Tschetter.jpg
| caption = Tschetter with the 2024–25 Michigan Wolverines
| number = 42
| position = Power forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lbs = 230
| team = Michigan Wolverines
| league = Big Ten Conference
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|1|31}}
| birth_place = Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
| high_school = Stewartville
(Stewartville, Minnesota)
| college = Michigan (2022–present)
| highlights =
}}
Will Tschetter (born January 31, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference. While playing for Stewartville High School, he led the state of Minnesota in scoring as a junior and was third in the state in scoring as a senior, finishing as the runner-up for Minnesota Mr. Basketball behind Chet Holmgren. Tschetter is the son of Kasey Morlock.
Early life
Tschetter was raised on a farm on the outskirts of the small town of Stewartville, Minnesota, in Southeast Minnesota. The town, which is a suburb of Rochester, Minnesota, has a population of 6,000, and the farm is a distance from central Stewartville. His family's {{convert|160|acre|km2 mi2|2|adj=on}} farm with about 35 head of cattle is about {{convert|12|mi|km|1}} south of Rochester. His grandfather bought the farm as rental property when his mother was in high school and his grandparents live in a separate residence on the farm, while his uncle owns an additional {{convert|80|acre|km2 mi2|2|adj=on}} parcel nearby. His mother and father moved in when they landed engineering jobs at IBM in Rochester. Tschetter spent two years in China when his father was on assignment in Beijing before returning to the farm for sixth grade. Upon leaving for China in fourth grade, Tschetter was already {{height|ft=5|in=10}}. While there, he attended International School of Beijing for 4th and 5th grade.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/02/the-michigan-basketball-player-whose-life-is-worthy-of-a-movie.html|title=The Michigan basketball player whose life is worthy of a movie|accessdate=March 12, 2024|date=February 20, 2024|author=Kahn, Andrew|publisher=MLive.com}}
Tschetter's mom coached his eighth-grade travel team and was the Stewartville freshmen coach as of the 2020–21 season. Tschetter began trumpet studies in fourth grade and switched to french horn as a freshman. He was a member of the school marching band, despite interference from his athletic commitments. He performed yearly with the band at the Minnesota State Fair and in band competitions.
High school career
Before his freshman year, he joined the Minnesota Heat AAU boys' basketball program, coached by Johnny Tauer, who encouraged his outside shot. He was a straight-A student in high school with the exception of an A-minus in Spanish as a sophomore. By July 2019, following his sophomore basketball season, Tschetter's only offer was a Division II school. He took an official visit to attend the January 19, 2020, game between North Dakota State and North Dakota. Tschetter had a 5:30 routine that included making 100 three-point shots every day. Most teams double-teamed or triple-teamed him, but some good schools felt they could handle him with single coverage, often resulting in his big games; for instance, he posted 50 points against Columbia Heights. As a junior, Tschetter led the state in scoring average with 33.4 points per game and earned second team all-state recognition from the Associated Press, yet by April 2020, he only had mid-major interest. Tschetter had intended to make his college choice in April 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. However, the resulting lockdown led to AAU event cancellations and in-person recruiting bans. Talent evaluations were suddenly based on film analysis and review. Tschetter had to build interest by tape.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2422079766|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2422079766}}|title='Personal, genuine' approach helps Michigan basketball reel in three-star Will Tschetter|work=The Detroit News|author=Hawkins, James|accessdate=March 6, 2024|date=July 10, 2020|page=|quote=}} Michigan assistant coach Phil Martelli had initiated contact to request game film.
Because he was from a remote area and did not play for an AAU team that participated in the shoe-sponsored circuits, Tschetter remained relatively unknown until Rivals.com published a May 14, 2020, story on him.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2020/07/will-tschetter-the-farm-strong-social-media-averse-high-scoring-michigan-basketball-commit.html|title=Will Tschetter: The farm strong, social media averse, high-scoring Michigan basketball commit|accessdate=March 6, 2024|date=July 9, 2020|work=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}} By May 25, Tschetter had offers from NDSU, Appalachian State, Colorado State, James Madison, Loyola Chicago, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, Toledo, William & Mary, Wyoming and Richmond and strong interest from Arkansas, Minnesota and Michigan. Tschetter was also the starting quarterback for Stewartville. As a junior, he threw for 1,429 yards and 15 touchdowns in nine games.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/1915101/2020/07/08/meet-will-tschetter-michigans-most-interesting-recruit-in-recent-memory/|title=Meet Will Tschetter, Michigan's most interesting recruit in recent memory|accessdate=March 12, 2024|date=July 8, 2020|author=Quinn, Brendan|work=The Athletic}} Minnesota Golden Gophers football recruited him as a tight end. While Mark Dantonio was the head coach of Michigan State Spartans football, they were also interested in him as a tight end. Other Big Ten Conference football programs recruited him as well.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2421152625|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2421152625}}|title='It just felt right': Inside Will Tschetter's decision to commit to Michigan|work=Post-Bulletin|author=Trotter, Isaac|accessdate=March 6, 2024|date=July 6, 2020|page=|quote=}} However, some of the tight end transition conversations extended to his eventually performing as an offensive lineman, which did not interest him. While Tschetter was still fielding offers, the stay-at-home ban was lifted and he invited the Cincinnati-bound Class of 2020 Madsen twins (Gabe and Mason) to practice.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2414765778|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2414765778}}|title=Isaac Trotter: Five things I learned from Mayo standout Gabe Madsen|work=Post-Bulletin|author=Trotter, Isaac|accessdate=March 8, 2024|date=June 19, 2020|page=|quote=}} Tschetter also competed in the discus throw in high school.{{cite web|url=https://umhoops.com/2020/07/09/following-in-his-moms-footsteps-will-tschetter-forges-his-own-path/|title=Following in his mom's footsteps, Will Tschetter forges his own path|accessdate=March 12, 2024|date=July 9, 2020|author=Mackie, Theo|website=UMhoops.com}}
Michigan zoom recruiting entailed a series of virtual meetings. Tschetter, who had a 3.9 GPA, was enticed by Michigan's academics. For basketball, Tschetter's first Power Five conference offer came from Arkansas coach Eric Musselman. On June 1, he got his first Big Ten Conference basketball scholarship offer from Michigan. Hours later, Nebraska and Minnesota followed, and Iowa made an offer on June 23. By late June, his ranking was up to 149 in the 247Sports composite rankings. During the Covid pandemic, his June schedule was packed with zoom recruiting meetings but no official campus visits were allowed before August 31. So Tschetter and his mom drove {{convert|588|mi|km|1}} from Stewartville to Ann Arbor to visit the University of Michigan campus during the quiet of lockdowns for a July 4 road trip. Tschetter could only interface with head coach Juwan Howard and assistant coach Martelli via Zoom. He wanted to wrap up his recruiting before school resumed and decided to commit on July 5. However, because he had no social media accounts, his announcement came from the Stewartville High School boys' basketball Twitter account the next day He had tried Snapchat in high school briefly but found it too distracting.{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/will-tschetter-stewartville-will-get-to-basketball-once-his-chores-are-done/600028377/?refresh=true#2|title=Top recruit Will Tschetter will get to basketball once his chores are done|accessdate=March 8, 2024|date=February 28, 2021|work=Star Tribune|author=Scoggins, Chip}} Although Tschetter had no social media accounts, he had on occasion scrolled through his mother's Twitter account and seen the Stewartville basketball account, with its 800 followers; he wanted the experience of an official social media announcement. Stewartville assistant coach Brad Vaught made it happen.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2430009336|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2430009336}}|title=Old school meets new school; UM commit avoids social media to work|work=The Blade|author=Bastock, Ashley|accessdate=March 6, 2024|date=July 16, 2020|page=|quote=}} His mother was also an assistant coach at Stewartville for coach Adam Girtman. Tschetter finished his high school career with a total of 2,467 points scored.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/11/will-tschetter-off-to-hot-start-for-michigan-basketball.html|title=Will Tschetter off to hot start for Michigan basketball|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=November 10, 2023|author=Kahn, Andrew|publisher=MLive.com}}
The 2020 MSHSL spring track & field championships were cancelled, due to the COVID pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/p-e-m-thrower-silha-doing-thinking-big-things|title=P-E-M thrower Silha doing, thinking big things|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=June 5, 2021|work=Post Bulletin|author=Ruff, Pat}} At the 2021 MSHSL Class 1A state championships, Tschetter won the discus throw with a distance of {{height|ft=175|in=7}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/2021_track_postprogram_0.pdf|title=BOYS GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD CLASS A CLASS AA STATE MEET JUNE 17-19, 2021|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=|publisher=Minnesota State High School League}}
In basketball, Tschetter led Stewartsville to a state runner-up finish in the March 25, 2021, MSHSL Class 2A state championships. They lost to Caledonia High School and finished with an 18–4 record. Subsequently, Tschetter was named one of five finalists for Minnesota Mr. Basketball along with Lamar Grayson, Chet Holmgren, Andrew Morgan and Francis Nwaokorie. At the time, he was listed as third in the state in scoring average (30.7) and first in total points (643), to go along with 11.3 rebounds per game. Tschetter had led the state with a scoring average over 33 points per game the prior season.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2506856968|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2506856968}}|title=Tschetter a finalist for Mr. Basketball|work=Post-Bulletin|author=Trotter, Isaac|accessdate=March 23, 2024|date=March 31, 2021|page=|quote=}} When Holmgren, who also won national player of the year awards, was announced as the winner, placement for the other finalists was not announced.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2512535383|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2512535383}}|title=Holmgren is Mr. Basketball|work=Star Tribune|author=|accessdate=March 23, 2024|date=April 14, 2021|page=C.7|quote=}} However, his University of Michigan official bio asserts he was runner-up.{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/will-tschetter/24569|title=42: WILL TSCHETTER|accessdate=March 22, 2024|publisher=MGoBlue.com}} The Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association named Tschetter to the Class AA MBCA Academic All State Team.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2509076577|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2509076577}}|title=Local Notebook: RCTC football having a (spring) ball|work=Post Bulletin|author=Limbeck, Guy N.|accessdate=March 23, 2024|date=April 6, 2021|page=C.7|quote=}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2021}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Will Tschetter
| position = PF
| hometown = Stewartville, MN
| highschool = Stewartville
| feet = 6
| inches = 8
| weight = 225
| 40 =
| commitdate = July 6, 2020
| rivals stars = 3
| 247 stars = 3
| espn stars = 4
| espn grade = 81
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2021
| rivals ref title = Michigan 2021 Basketball Commitments
| scout ref title =
| espn ref title = 2021 Michigan Wolverines Recruiting Class
| rivals school = Michigan
| scout s =
| espn schoolid = 130
| 247 overall = 44
| rivals overall = 51
| espn overall = 40
| accessdate = March 8, 2024
| bball = yes
}}
College career
Tschetter enrolled at the University of Michigan as a part of the top-ranked national recruiting class in 2021, along with Caleb Houstan, Moussa Diabaté, Kobe Bufkin, Frankie Collins and Isaiah Barnes.{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2020/11/11/michigan-basketball-2021-recruiting-class-juwan-howard-wolverines/6252919002/ |title=Meet Juwan Howard's No. 1-ranked Michigan basketball recruiting class for 2021 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |first=Orion |last=Sang |date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=March 30, 2021}} As a true freshman, Tschetter played less than 5 minutes for Michigan, playing only on November 5, in an exhibition game against {{cbb link|2021|sex=men|team=Wayne State Warriors|school=Wayne State University|title=Wayne State}}. The coaching staff talked with him and his family and redshirted him for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2022/05/michigans-will-tschetter-made-good-use-of-his-redshirt-season.html|title=Michigan's Will Tschetter made good use of redshirt season. What's next?|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=May 10, 2022|author=Kahn, Andrew|publisher=MLive.com}}
The following season, as a redshirt freshman he earned a reputation as a spark plug.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/01/will-tschetter-emerges-as-michigan-basketballs-energizer-off-the-bench.html|title=Will Tschetter emerges as Michigan basketball's energizer off the bench|accessdate=March 5, 2024|date=January 24, 2023|work=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}} He averaged 10.7 minutes of playing time, starting 8 of 27 games played in 2022-23. {{cite web|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/mens-basketball/will-tschetter-finding-his-voice-ahead-of-third-season/|title=Will Tschetter finding his voice ahead of third season|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=October 31, 2023|author=Wuchter, Jonathan|work=Michigan Daily}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kttc.com/2023/08/20/stewartville-grad-michigan-forward-will-tschetter-hosts-youth-basketball-camp/|title=Stewartville Grad, Michigan Forward Will Tschetter hosts youth basketball camp|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=August 19, 2023|publisher=KTTC|author=Speliopoulos, Nik}} In his first career start on February 14, 2022, Tschetter missed two free throws with Michigan down by two with 1:17 remaining. Michigan went on to lose to Wisconsin by five points. He scored four points, five rebounds and had two assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401484953|title=Essegian scores 23, Wisconsin holds off Michigan 64-59|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=February 15, 2023|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN}} Following his redshirt freshman season, he did an internship on a bison ranch.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/michigan-basketball-player-did-internship-on-a-bison-ranch-in-montana.html|title=Michigan basketball player did internship on a bison ranch in Montana|accessdate=March 6, 2024|date=June 8, 2023|work=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}}
Tschetter entered his redshirt sophomore season as the only member of his signing class to remain at Michigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/07/the-last-man-left-from-michigans-21-class-will-tschetter-is-ready-to-win.html|title=The last man left from Michigan's '21 class, Will Tschetter is ready to win|accessdate=March 5, 2024|date=July 21, 2023|work=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}} In his first two games, he made all six of his three-point shots and was 11 of 13 from the field, including scoring a career-high eight points in the seasons opener against UNC Asheville on November 7, 2023. He then set a new career high with 20 points against Youngstown State on November 10. He shot 8 of 8 from the field (4 of 4 on three-point shots).{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401577628|title=Tschetter and Nkamhoua combine for 15-of-15 shooting as Michigan beats Youngstown State 92-62|accessdate=March 14, 2024|date=November 10, 2023|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN}}
The 2023-24 Michigan Wolverines endured an 8–24 season, finishing last in the Big Ten with a 3–17 conference record. On March 15, 2024, Michigan fired head coach Juwan Howard, replacing him with Dusty May, whom they hired on March 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39739138/michigan-fires-coach-juwan-howard-8-24-season|title=Michigan fires coach Juwan Howard after 8-24 season|accessdate=April 6, 2024|date=March 15, 2024|publisher=ESPN|author=Borzello, Jeff}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39796684/florida-atlantic-dusty-michigan-coach|title=FAU's Dusty May to coach Michigan, agrees to 5-year contract|accessdate=April 6, 2024|date=March 23, 2024|publisher=ESPN|author=Wojnarowski, Adrian}} On April 5, Tschetter became the first tenured Wolverine to announce he would return for the 2024-25 team.{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2024/04/05/michigan-basketball-will-tschetter-return-dusty-may/73220634007/|title=Will Tschetter to return to Michigan basketball for junior season under Dusty May|accessdate=April 6, 2024|date=April 5, 2024|work=Detroit Free Press|author=Garcia, Tony}} He completed his undergraduate curriculum in three years, earning a bachelor's degree in earth and environmental science.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/umichbball/status/1786584533267026141|title=@umichbball status update|accessdate=May 12, 2024|date=May 3, 2024|publisher=Twitter|author=Michigan Men's Basketball}}
On January 16, 2025, Tschetter posted what was at the time a season-high 15 points when Michigan visited the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Williams Arena, about 100 miles from his hometown. Michigan lost in overtime.{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/1/16/mens-basketball-u-m-falls-to-minnesota-on-overtime-buzzer-beater|title=U-M Falls to Minnesota on Overtime Buzzer Beater|accessdate=January 18, 2025|date=January 16, 2025|author=Wyrot, Tom|publisher=Board of Regents of the University of Michigan}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2025/01/michigan-loses-at-minnesota-on-40-foot-buzzer-beater-in-overtime.html|title=Michigan loses at Minnesota on 40-foot buzzer-beater in overtime|accessdate=January 18, 2025|date=January 16, 2025|website=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}} On February 5 against the Oregon Ducks, in the victory he led the Wolverines with a season-high 17 points in 17 minutes off the bench.{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/2/5/mens-basketball-u-m-holds-off-late-charge-to-secure-pink-game-victory-over-oregon |title=U-M Holds Off Late Charge to Secure Pink Game Victory Over Oregon |website=MGoBlue.com |first=Tom |last=Wywrot |date=February 5, 2025 |access-date=February 5, 2025}} In the championship game of the 2025 Big Ten tournament, Tschetter connected on two second half three-point shots to stop Wisconsin’s momentum, helping lead Michigan to a Big Ten championship one season after finishing in last place in the conference.{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/3/16/mens-basketball-michigan-wins-2025-big-ten-tournament-championship-over-wisconsin|title=U-M Downs No. 18 Wisconsin to Capture B1G Tournament Title|website=MGoBlue.com |first=Matthew|last=Mahoney |date=March 16, 2025 |access-date=March 19, 2025}}
Personal life
Tschetter was born the son of Kasey Morlock and Garth Tschetter. Morlock is the all-time leading scorer in North Dakota State Bison women's basketball history (2233 points), a three-time All-American, three-time NCAA Division II national champion and was Minnesota Miss Basketball. His father made 34 receptions and 3 touchdowns as a wide receiver for North Dakota State Bison football.{{cite web|url=https://www.inforum.com/sports/minnesotas-top-basketball-prospect-has-deep-bison-ties|title=Minnesota's top basketball prospect has deep Bison ties|accessdate=March 5, 2024|date=May 25, 2020|work=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead|author=Izzo, Dom}} Garth was listed as {{height|ft=6|in=1}} as a senior in high school.{{cite web|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AA&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Garth%20Tschetter%22&docref=news/0F225603179D2864|title=Feeney going to Bison|accessdate=March 8, 2024|date=February 3, 1994 |work=The Bismarck Tribune|page=01D|author=Winter, Abe}} His younger brother Henry (class of 2025, {{height|ft=6|in=4}}) has committed to play NCAA Division III basketball for Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and he has a second brother Pete (class of 2027).{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2918756492|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2918756492}}|title=Stewartville's Henry Tschetter has stepped out of shadow of brother to excel for Tigers|work=Post-Bulletin|author=Limbeck, Guy N.|accessdate=March 6, 2024|date=January 26, 2024|page=|quote=}}
References
{{reflist|35em}}
External links
- [https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/will-tschetter/24569 Michigan Wolverines bio]
- [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4684596/will-tschetter stats] @ ESPN
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/will-tschetter-1.html college stats] @ Sports Reference
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4yCouxd6CE Tschetter's 50-point game] @ YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tschetter, Will}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Minnesota