Michigan Golf Journal February 2020

13 February 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com “He has respect from all of the guys,” Izzo told The State News in October. “You look at Jack and say, ‘This kid has really gotten better each year.’ Had a chance to go with his dad and wanted to stay here. I’m hoping it’s because of me, I’m thinking it could be his girlfriend… either way, I’m excited to have him back because he is somebody that everybody on this team likes.”  Hoiberg defined his role on the hardwood as helping lead the scout team, among other duties. “I try to push Cassius (Winston) and everyone the best I can every day and I try to push the team to be the best we can be,” Hoiberg added. “I try to stay ready for any situation where they’ll need me. Cassius was out for the Western Michigan game, so I played about 15 minutes (where Hoiberg had 4 points, 6 assists). I have to stay ready…and try to get better myself.” While Hoiberg’s main sports focus each fall and winter is big-time college basketball, he has never abandoned golf. He said in high school he was a scratch golfer and shot a low tournament round of 69. This last summer he scored 1-under par at Forest Akers East. “I’ve still got a little bit (of game) but I’m not as good as I used to be,” Hoiberg said, due to lack of practice time. I’m told “when I was born my dad jokingly said, ‘the only sport I’m going to make him play is golf,’ because I think it might be my dad’s favorite sport. When he was an NBA player, he’d play golf a lot in the summer and fell in love with it – and I fell in love with it too as a kid.” Continues on next page >>