Michigan basketball will now have to try maintain some composure in the absence of one of its major players.

Without one of its key players, Michigan basketball will attempt to maintain some face after struggling to find its identity for the entire season.

The Michigan basketball team could really use some positive news. Rather, the already faltering Wolverines’ roster has suffered a serious setback. The team is now 8-18. Olivier Nkamhoua, a versatile forward, will sit out the remainder of the season after choosing to have wrist surgery. You can read the full press announcement regarding the injury below.

The head coach of the men’s basketball team, David and Meredith Kaplan, revealed on Wednesday, February 21, that graduate transfer Olivier Nkamhoua will miss the rest of the season due to surgery on his left wrist. It is anticipated that he will recuperate for three to four months.

Nkamhoua remarked, “Decisions like these are never easy.” It became difficult to play with this ailment, so we felt we needed to take action. Although I feel like I didn’t accomplish my goals for coming here, the coaches, my teammates, and everyone else associated with this program have shown me so much love and support.

“I will always treasure the chance to play for a coach like Coach Howard after moving to Ann Arbor. I am incredibly grateful to Chris Williams and his training team for everything they have done to support me both this season and moving forward with my recuperation. Being able to say that I attended this outstanding university makes me proud. Being a Michigan Wolverine makes me proud.”

“This is not how things were meant to be for Olivier,” stated Howard. “He added maturity, class, wisdom, and leadership to the college right away. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have gained so much knowledge from him in both on and off the court contexts. Even though he was a real warrior despite his wounds, something needed to be done. We are confident that this will pass and that he will resume his brilliant playing career. We feel incredibly fortunate to have played a tiny role in his journey.”

Following his four-year tenure with Tennessee (2020–23), Nkamhoua transferred as a graduate student to Ann Arbor. He was chosen as the team’s captain at the start of the season and started 26 games for Michigan, setting career highs in assists (2.7), rebounds (7.1), and points (14.8). He recorded season highs in minutes played (33.4), rebounds (185), and three-point field goals (27).

Nkamhoua participated in 138 games throughout his time as a college student, making 84 consecutive starts. In addition to recording more than 600 rebounds (612), 89 blocks, 52 steals, and 183 assists (1.3 apg), he scored over 1,100 points (1,117). with the Volunteers and assisted UT in making three consecutive trips to the NCAA (2021, ’22, ’23), reaching the Sweet 16 in 2023, and winning the SEC Tournament in 2022—its first in forty-three years.