Defend the Block 402 - Joseph Hartman Transcript
9/15/2026 9:59:00 AM | MGoBlue Podcasts
Brian Boesch • 00:00
As fired up as I am to see senior year Elliot Cadeau and sophomore year Trey McKenney, who had the heroics in the Final Four and leading into the Final Four, anchor Michigan's backcourt, and as excited as I am to see what the presumed starting frontcourt duo of Mustafa Thiam and JP Estrella can do within a program that has been the leader in front court creativity and success over the last couple of seasons, what Michigan looks like five through eight or nine or ten in the rotation, that's something I'm probably most fascinated by at this juncture of the offseason. Obviously the star power Michigan possessed a year ago was a critical reason why there was quite the reunion in Ann Arbor over the weekend. But Michigan's ability to bring McKenney, will Tschetter, Roddy Gayle Jr. and LJ Cason off the bench throw in Nimari Burnett as a sixth year player as the fifth of five in terms of usage in the starting lineup of all of that, that five through nine group may have been just as much of an advantage compared to other teams five through nine as Michigan's top four guys compared to the stars of other national contenders.
Brian Boesch • 01:07
Now, this year's five through nine will not cannot be as experienced or accomplished compared to the title team because of what I just described. At least going into the season, you never know how it'll transpire, but there are reasons for excitement, for optimism and yeah, for intrigue. There's genuine mystery with the rest of the rotation. Competition in practice has been fun to watch and of course there's still a question of whether or not Michigan will add an extra piece or two. One. Potentially being a reigning national champion, could I see a path for double digit players to log minutes when games are in doubt? Of course, we also know that once we arrive in February, March and hopefully April rotations tighten. More players will get opportunities early than those who will be on the floor in the stretch run. An intriguing option for Michigan now and come those season defining weeks is Joseph Hartman.
Brian Boesch • 01:59
He is versatile. He is able to log time at either guard spot. He is the son of a long time and excellent coach. We'll talk about that in the conversation with Joseph. And Joseph logged plenty of experience out in Europe, as you'd expect from any freshman in their first collegiate opportunity against players who aren't their teammates. There were some positives and some things to work on, but no doubt across this roster the opportunity is there and Joseph Hartman possesses the background, the mindset, the skill to put himself in the conversation even in A star studded backcourt. Let's visit with Joseph Hartman, one of six Michigan freshmen on the roster as we continue to get to know him here on this week's episode of Defend the Block.
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Jeff Laurence • 02:40
We're talking Michigan basketball. Welcome to Defend the Block, where we'll take you inside the basketball programs with interviews, analysis and so much more. Now, here's your host, Brian Boesch.
Brian Boesch • 02:53
A pleasure to have one of the many freshmen here for Michigan men's basketball. With us on Defend the Block, it's Joseph Hartman. Joseph, thanks so much for joining us. Let's start with your background in basketball. Of course, your father, Carlin, an assistant coach throughout pretty much your entire life. What has he meant to you in your journey?
Joseph Hartman • 03:13
Yeah, my dad has meant the world to me, obviously on the court stuff, but just off the court, being a mentor in my life and just someone I can always look up to and just strive to be like. I would say that, yeah.
Brian Boesch • 03:27
So where were you born in his journey, coaching wise? And what's your first. What's the first stop and team that he coached for that? You remember?
Joseph Hartman • 03:35
I was born in Richmond, Virginia, when he was with the Spiders. The first stop I really remember was Columbia right after Richmond when I was like three to seven. I was there for four years. So I remember Columbia and a couple players from there. And I just remember my dad, he's always been a big man coach, so I remember him just throwing lobs to the bigs and just seeing him dunk was always my favorite thing to do was to watch him dunk. I'll say Columbia.
Brian Boesch • 03:57
Yeah. So were you always attached to basketball? Did you like it from the first moment you can remember?
Joseph Hartman • 04:03
Yeah, I definitely liked it and it was always fun. My parents never pressured me to play. It just always came naturally. But I really fell in love with it and wanted to be really good. Probably around eighth grade, I didn't really start taking it, like, I took it serious, but I fell in love with it probably around eighth grade.
Brian Boesch • 04:18
Okay.
Joseph Hartman • 04:18
Yeah.
Brian Boesch • 04:20
Your dad also talked about your recruitment. It was a great story in the Gainesville sun about basically saying, quote, at the end of the day, as much as I love my job, I love my son even more. I thought that was really interesting based on the fact that, you know, a lot of sons will go play for their dads. Why was it the right fit for you to branch out and not go to Florida?
Joseph Hartman • 04:41
It was probably the right thing for me just to get away from everything that I had going on at home, you know, already being there four years and Just being around the scene and just being around there. It's probably time for me to get out and spread my wings and honestly probably just be on my own for a while and learn how to grow up. And I just thought that the staff here and the school was just the perfect fit to do so.
Brian Boesch • 05:00
What's it mean that your dad did discard? I mean, he would have probably liked from just a basketball style. You're a really good player, a good recruit. For him to be so understanding and welcoming of the fact that, yes, you know, it's probably best for. For Joseph to try something else.
Joseph Hartman • 05:14
Wait, ask that one more time.
Brian Boesch • 05:15
Just what does that mean to you that he was willing to do that and put his relationship with you as a father apart from his relationship with you as a basketball mentor or coach?
Joseph Hartman • 05:24
Yeah, it just means a lot seeing that my dad cares so much about my career and if. If it means I got to go away and be away from him and not being coached by him, if that's the best fit for me and he believes that, it just shows how much he cares for me and everyone else in my family.
Brian Boesch • 05:38
So you were originally on the radar of Dusty May when he was at Florida Atlantic. What are your first memories of. Of Dusty, Kyle, or, or Akeem, Church, Brandon, whoever it might have been. What do you remember about that?
Joseph Hartman • 05:51
My first remembrance of Coach Dusty was actually his son Jack, because he was a walk on at Florida whenever I was there or my dad was there, obviously, and I was with Jack, I think two years maybe. And so Jack was always a cool dude to be around. He told me his dad's a coach too. So we always talked about stuff like that. And I didn't know his dad coached at Florida. And then obviously come to find out it's Coach Dusty who's at fau and then they play Florida, my dad's first year there. And I guess in that moment it was an upset, but, you know, they had a great team. And a couple years later I become a decent player and they invite me on an unofficial visit. You know, Coach Drew was the one that kind of really set it up. And I met in the office with Coach Dusty, obviously. Rode around the golf cart, saw the campus, all the facilities with Coach Drew, met BG in the film room.
Joseph Hartman • 06:36
So I've been knowing those dudes since I was a sophomore in high school. And just for this opportunity to come around last year, it was something I didn't want to pass up.
Brian Boesch • 06:42
So all that being said, then Dusty leaves for the NBA. Obviously, Drew goes with him to the Mavericks. What was the decision making process like to make sure you wanted to stay here in Ann Arbor?
Joseph Hartman • 06:52
The process was really just talking with my family and seeing, you know, what it would look like with Coach Mike as coach. And it's just everything kind of aligned. It wasn't very much different besides some of the people, but, you know, just us as a team wanting to stick together and really just push through meant a lot. And I think that's what it is. It's always been a player led program is what everyone said. So just us staying together was the biggest thing.
Brian Boesch • 07:17
How would you describe Coach Boynton's ability to connect with individuals, to connect with you?
Joseph Hartman • 07:22
Yeah, he's been great. I mean, obviously he stepped into this role unknowingly. You know, it just happened all so quick for him and us. So obviously he has so many people to, I guess, try to make feel good and stay. But I think for him, he's done a great job of kind of, I guess, putting his feelings aside and trying to comfort everyone else whenever. He's probably going through a lot on his own in his own sense. So he's done a great job, him and everyone else on the staff.
Brian Boesch • 07:48
Joseph Hartman, our guest here this week on Defend the Block. Let's talk about the trip to Lithuania and Croatia. For you individually, five point three points per game. You had three rebounds, three assists per contest. How would you assess the work you put out individually out in Europe?
Joseph Hartman • 08:03
Yeah, I thought I did all right. I said I think I got to clean up the turnovers a little bit, take care of the ball better, maybe get in there, get my nose on some rebounds and a couple more deflections and obviously I think the shot will come. But that's not even the biggest thing for me. I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win and take care of the ball and make the right play.
Brian Boesch • 08:22
How about the team as a whole? What do you think were the biggest positives of those three games? Facing other teams other, obviously being in other arenas and experiencing new things?
Joseph Hartman • 08:32
Oh, yeah. I think the biggest thing for the team altogether, honestly, was just the whole trip, you know, bonding with the guys off the court and honestly playing against such good competition. I had never played against. I had never played in the arena in my life. So that experience was kind of nerve wracking a little bit, but it was exciting to play in that. And, you know, once you step on the court, everything kind of goes away. And the to play against pros and such good players In Lithuania was just such a cool experience and we couldn't have played any better competition at this time of year.
Brian Boesch • 08:56
Isn't that weird where maybe the nerves come more pre game than they do in game. Once you get it, it isn't just basketball.
Joseph Hartman • 09:02
Yeah, you just see everything on the. And nothing else going around. You know, you just trust your teammates and yeah, just try to make the right play.
Brian Boesch • 09:08
Of course, during that trip, really unfortunate news about Brandon mccoy junior he's now out for the year. You had a significant injury in high school as well. What did you learn from that experience when you had to go through breaking your tibia? Correct.
Joseph Hartman • 09:22
Yeah, yeah.
Brian Boesch • 09:22
That you can try to help as a teammate for Brandon because it is a long road.
Joseph Hartman • 09:26
Yeah. I would just say the biggest thing I learned was the work, like the work ethic and I didn't. I learned then to not take anything for granted because everything happened in a split second. You know, he went down, I went down in split second just like him. And just like that, my season was over. So it will. It just, it just. Obviously it's hard in the moment, but he's going to learn so many lessons from it. And we have a bunch of dudes on our teams that have faced injuries and a couple that are still coming back. So we're going to have a lot of people here to comfort him and yeah, I just can't wait to see his journey and see my. See my guy again.
Brian Boesch • 09:56
Yeah, no doubt. What for you has been the biggest challenge since you've gotten on campus, whether its schedule and now we're into classes, obviously. What has been the toughest bounce from high school to college?
Joseph Hartman • 10:09
Yeah, like you said, planning my schedule has been the toughest part. When, when to get extra workouts in, you know, going to sleep the right time to get, you know, proper rest, drinking enough water and obviously. And also eating like eating right. You know, you can't just go out to eat Chick Fil A or even a burger, you know, you gotta try to eat right. But yeah, I would say scheduling, you know, when to wake up and when to just try to try to do everything on time.
Brian Boesch • 10:33
No doubt. What have you learned from playing around Elliot and Trey, two guys who have been through the battles in the Big Ten and the biggest stages of college basketball. How have they helped you get better?
Joseph Hartman • 10:42
They've helped me get better, you know, just by honestly going at me, you know, there's been a couple practices where Elliott's gotten the best of me a lot and Trey's gotten the best of Me and I just sit down with the coaches and talk about it. I watch it myself. And Elliot and Trey will also give me pointers and give me tips of what I can do better. And just learning from them and competing with them has been the. The best thing because they're two of the best guards in college basketball. And for me to go against them every single day is a blessing. And yeah, just they've been great.
Brian Boesch • 11:10
Obviously, Elliot, when he's in there, he's at point. Trey can play some point, but he did such great work last year. And you figured the plan will be him at the two again. You have characteristics, qualities at both the point and at the off guard spot. Is there one you prefer, one you like more, one you think you're better at?
Joseph Hartman • 11:28
There's not one I prefer. I just prefer the one that will help us win a game.
Brian Boesch • 11:31
There you go. Do you think there's. Are you more comfortable as a point guard or an off guard? Is there much of a difference there?
Joseph Hartman • 11:36
I think I'm comfortable as both. I've always been more of an off guard. Besides, last year I had to step into a role of a point guard. And my AAU team Southeast Elite helped me kind of build my game into kind of a point guard. But I think just being a coach's son and learning the game has always helped. Just trying to make the right read and I guess that was that can kind of characterize me as a point guard a little bit, as just trying to make the right pass and not always looking to score. But I'll say I'm more comfortable at shooting guard.
Brian Boesch • 11:59
Fair enough.
Joseph Hartman • 12:00
Just want to get comfortable at both, though.
Brian Boesch • 12:01
There you go. Is it fair to say you're kind of a good luck charm? Your dad and the twenty five Gators win the national championship and then you commit to Michigan, twenty six Wolverines win the national championship. What are your. Your foremost memories of being at the last two? Were you at the. Okay, you're at the Florida one, though, right? Watching last year's Michigan run or being at Florida's twenty five run, and anything that really stood out about that, the biggest stage of college basketball and you having such a rooting interest in it.
Joseph Hartman • 12:28
Yeah. The biggest thing that stood out with both teams was just the selflessness. You know, the guys at Florida, they all love each other and would do anything to help the team win. And, you know, the guys all came back last from last year's team this weekend, and I could just see the selflessness that they all had for each other. And so I would just say everyone being unselfish and just buying into winning and not caring about yourself is the biggest thing I took from both teams for sure.
Brian Boesch • 12:49
What was it like seeing some of those guys back and obviously seeing what you hope to accomplish one day and win national title and get the rings?
Joseph Hartman • 12:55
Yeah, it was a blessing just playing against all those dudes. Dudes and seeing them, you know, they're literally where I want to be.
Brian Boesch • 12:59
Yeah.
Joseph Hartman • 13:00
You know, they're living out my dream. So I'm, I'm. I think I'm a step closer, you know, being here and obviously playing against those dudes. So it was. It was awesome seeing them.
Brian Boesch • 13:07
Lastly, before I let you go mid September, obviously we'll have a few exhibitions and. And get to the season in early November. What's on your individual to do list from now until, let's say the. The season opener, the regular season opener that you, Joseph Hartman, want to make sure you accomplish?
Joseph Hartman • 13:22
I want to make sure I accomplish Gaining more weight. I just want to get. Gain more weight to be able to take hits and give out. Give out some bumps and, you know, just be able to. Yeah.
Brian Boesch • 13:33
Is the physicality surprising?
Joseph Hartman • 13:34
Yeah, very surprising.
Brian Boesch • 13:35
Big jump.
Joseph Hartman • 13:36
Yeah. I mean, it's surprising because people can always tell you to get ready for it and this is what it's going to be like, but you can never really fully get ready for it. You just got to embrace the hard times and keep going. But I'll just say, yeah, gain weight and just try to be ready for any situation I'm put in.
Brian Boesch • 13:51
Is that why nutrition with Hannah, strength with Matt, and work with Chris on the training side, has that helped you kind of catch up a little bit? Do you feel different than when you got on campus?
Joseph Hartman • 14:00
Yeah, one hundred percent. I feel different and my body just feels a lot better because it was hurting the first couple weeks because all the work we were putting in, I was used to working hard, but like I said, just the speed and the physicality kind of wore my body down. So now I'm starting to really keep up with it and I'm starting. My body, starting to get used to it. So they've been great for my development for sure.
Brian Boesch • 14:18
Lastly, what has it been like being in Ann Arbor, Experience in some Michigan football. What have been some of your biggest takeaways from the town?
Joseph Hartman • 14:26
Yeah, it's been great. I mean, coming in with all six freshmen, or I guess all five because Marcus came a little late. But just bonding with those dudes has been great. You know, we've already, you know, clicked so, so fast and it's been great. And you know, my first football game was awesome. You know, just seeing all the maze and the fans, the love that they have for the school was great and the football team had a great game. So it's just been cool to see all the fan support.
Brian Boesch • 14:47
Joseph, appreciate your time. Welcome to Ann Arbor. We look forward to seeing you out there come November.
Joseph Hartman • 14:51
Yes sir. Thank you.
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Brian Boesch • 15:01
Thanks so much to Joseph Hartman for stopping by, thanks to Tom Wywrot for his assistance in making the interview happen, and thanks to all of you. We still have two more freshmen conversations to share with you. We will have Marcus Moller and Lincoln Cosby in episodes to come. Excited to share those with you. We'll still have some women's basketball coverage over the next couple of weeks. I think we'll have Kim Barnes Arico on the podcast. Excited to start previewing the season on the women's side as well. And come Wednesday afternoon, we'll have both the men's and women's schedules, the full schedules. We know the men's non conference schedule and we will learn the entirety of the women's schedule coming up Wednesday afternoon. Excited for that? Exhibitions are not too far away. Less than a month for Michigan's first men's basketball exhibition.
Brian Boesch • 15:50
All right, that'll do it for me. Brian Boesch. Thanks to Joseph and thanks to all of you for listening. This is Defend the Block, and Go Blue.
Jeff Laurence • 15:57
Thanks for listening to today's edition of Defend the Block, part of our Michigan Athletics Podcast network, M GO Blue Podcasts. The preceding has been a Learfield presentation of the Michigan Sports Network.
