“I love diving in stands,” Michigan basketball forward Jon Horford said after the Wolverines defeated Bryant 87-71 on Thursday night at Crisler Arena.

“I blocked the ball and it bounced off the side of the backboard,” Horford continued. “It was about to go out of bounds and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, I can’t be lazy. I got to go get that.’ So I jumped out and I thought I saved it. But then I fell down and they said, ‘Bryant ball.’ I guess I stepped out of bounds.”

Horford didn’t exactly step out of bounds. He actually leaped there and landed on his back in between two chairs on the Bulldogs’ bench. As soon as he dropped, junior guard Zack Novak rushed over to help him up but Horford did it on his own. Novak was sure to give him a pat on the back for the effort.

“How do you not love that?” Novak said after the game. “You got your big man coming in and going over the bench. You guys know me — I love that. That’s championship basketball.”

Horford’s effort may not have helped the Wolverines — the Bulldogs were awarded the ball — but it was yet another example as to how he is solidifying himself as redshirt freshman Jordan Morgan’s backup.

Recording six points and five rebounds in his 11 minutes of playing time against Bryant, Horford is demonstrating that he wants to be on the hardwood more. The question heading into conference play is how Morgan, Horford and redshirt freshman Blake McLimans will divide time.

“We are all like one person,” Horford said. “It is a team. It is a team of big men. Me, Jordan and Blake. We’ve got whatever the team needs.”

WIND BENEATH HIS WINGS: Sophomore guard Darius Morris has stunned everybody this season. The Los Angeles native has stepped up, not only as Michigan’s floor general, but as a leader for the team.

In Thursday night’s matchup, Morris posted 26 points and 12 assists with no turnovers. He leads the Big Ten in assists per game, averaging seven a contest. But the mastermind behind Morris's success is assistant coach LaVall Jordan.

Jordan is in his first season with the Wolverines and is responsible for the guards.

“(Morris) is still working,” Beilein said. “Between (Morris) and his work habits and Jordan’s knowledge of what he wants him to do to score, that really is a good marriage right now for them to continue his improvement. He’s got to have the right attitude, he has got a tremendous coach coaching him on scoring in that mid-range area.”

Jordan works with the guards primarily on shooting, preventing turnovers and defensive strategy. With his aggressive on-court coaching, Jordan has had a lot of influence in Morris’s development as a point guard.

“Based on what I heard about LaVall and then in his first interview when he had his workout with Patrick I could see he could really teach and had a command about him,” Beilein said. “He’s got a strong presence with him now too.”

MANNY’S HOME: When Novak ran out of the tunnel for pre-game warm ups he saw a familiar face sitting courtside. He went to give ex-Wolverine Manny Harris a high five, but the two actually missed each other’s hands.

Harris surprised Michigan as he decided to spend part of his break off from his current job — as a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers — in Ann Arbor.

“That’s good that Manny came out,” Novak said. “Manny is doing really big things. For him to come out and say he is supporting us, it means a lot to us — especially to the young guys who don’t know him that well. He is coming back to the school and showing his support.”

Tonight marks the first game that Harris has returned to watch a Michigan game in the stands. But he hasn’t forgotten about the Wolverines.

“I think they’re real good — great team chemistry,” Harris said at the game. “Playing good on defense and the offensive end. They look real good, and I’ve been keeping up with them.

But the NBA player doesn’t regret leaving.

“Oh no, not at all,” Harris said about his decision to forgo his senior season. “Of course I still love Michigan and I love this program. I just made a decision that was best for me, and I’m going to continue to support Michigan every step of the way. And like I said, they have a great team this year.”