Chris Webber made a stop by a recent practice for Michigan basketball to deliver a message to the Wolverines.

Though football season is in full swing — and the rivalry showdown with Michigan State is on Saturday — the start of basketball season is right around the corner. The Wolverines will open the basketball schedule on Nov. 7 against Fort Wayne.

The main thrust of Webber’s message was the blessing this current group of Wolverines has around them. He also shared some brief praise for head coach Juwan Howard.

“You guys have a really good group, and we were just talking upstairs about how blessed we were coming through college and having great groups of people around us and really not appreciating it and didn’t know it,” said Webber. “And it’s not for you to think about it too much right, but just know your coach is a good dude and he really believes in you.”

Howard also paid Webber a bit of respect, saying he no longer can go by “C-Web.”

“His name is no longer C-Web, it’s HOF,” said Howard in reference to Webber’s Hall of Fame induction.

Now, this year’s version of Michigan basketball will try and make a return trip to the Sweet 16 in search of its first Final Four appearance under Howard.