In the midst of a disappointing season and fresh off a tough loss at Northwestern, Michigan junior wing Manny Harris told a group of writers last night he'll return for his senior season.

"You want to get better as a person, as a player, just as a team anyway," Harris said following the 67-52 setback. "A lot of these guys have to come back, like myself, got to come back and play next year so we've just got to keep fighting, work hard and the season ain't over, anything still can happen so you've got to believe and work hard."

Harris was then apparently asked if returning to Michigan would be his final decision.

"Yeah, yeah," he answered.

I don't think Harris was lying when he said it, but much can change between now and May 8 – the new date the NCAA instituted in which players must decide whether they will remain in the NBA Draft or return to school.

What's he supposed to say? That he's gone?

No chance. 

What he should have said and what every player not named John Wall needs to say is that he'll worry about it after the season and leave it at that.

Instead, he did his best impersonation of another Manny - Manny Ramirez - and put his foot in his mouth.

Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu told me he was returning to school immediately after the Demon Deacons were knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the first round last March, but I wasn't sold and therefore, didn't write it.

I figured it was just the emotion of bowing out so early against Cleveland State, and my educated guess, having dealt with many others who have made similar statements following tough losses, was that ultimately he'd change his mind.

I was wrong. Aminu returned.

However, for every Aminu, there are five other guys who say it, then bolt for the NBA.

Again, Harris may wind up returning to Ann Arbor for his final go-around.

Then again ...

"The media is crazy," Harris posted on his Facebook page shortly after his post-game media session. "They force me to talk about stuff then take what they want out of it!!!"

Harris remains a guy who is hardly a lock to go in the first round of the NBA Draft, and his team has struggled.

Michigan was a consensus Top 25 club entering the season after last season's NCAA tournament appearance, but the Wolverines are just 11-11 and 4-6 in Big Ten play.

NIT-bound.

At this rate, maybe even CBI.

Harris entered last night's game averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, but he's had his issues. He was suspended by coach John Beilein for the loss at Purdue last month and struggled against Northwestern, scoring just 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

Angelique S. Chengelis of The Detroit News got it right:

"For now, at least, Manny Harris says he's returning to Michigan for his final year next season."

But you just never know.

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