Tarris Reed discusses the growing confidence of Michigan, Dug McDaniel

Michigan outlasted Northwestern on Sunday in a back-and-forth Big Ten matchup 85-78 in a game where the Wolverines freshman class has a major impact. Freshman forward Tarris Reed was asked about what the difference has been in the team lately, attributing Michigan’s recent success to the mental side of the game.

“Mindset, definitely mindset, and we’re getting, like you said, more comfortable out there,” Reed said. “We’re able to play on the defensive side, play on the offensive side, and really help each other out.”

Reed played a major impact in Sunday’s game off of the bench, logging the second-most minutes of his young career with 18 and stuffing the stat sheet with six points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

But the freshman star that stole the show was Dug McDaniel, who scored a career-high 17 points and five assists, which included a highlight alley-oop play to Reed in the second half.

“Shooting, shooting wise he’s pulling the three now, he’s attacking the rim, especially the lob today. I told Dug this during practice like hey, when I’m right there just throw the lob up I’m gonna finish it for you. So we’re out there just playing, playing our best basketball,” Reed said.

The emergence of McDaniel, Reed, and Michigan’s other freshmen combined with some of their veteran experience could be the recipe for success this season for the Wolverines. Michigan hits the road for their next matchup as they take on Maryland Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in a game airing on ESPN.

Tarris Reed assesses the value of facing Hunter Dickinson in practice

Michigan bounced back from two straight Big Ten conference losses Sunday by defeating Northwestern at home 85-78. In that game, freshman forward Tarris Reed stuffed the stat sheet off of the bench, making the most of his minutes and especially making an impact on the defensive end of the floor.

Week after week Reed has continued to grow in his first collegiate season, which can be partially attributed to having to practice against one of the nation’s best big men in teammate Hunter Dickinson. Following their win over Northwestern, Reed was asked how much facing Dickinson in practice has helped him grow as a player.

“It’s a lot, a lot, and I can see it in myself every day,” Reed said. “Day by day I’m getting better having to guard him, such a skilled big.”

Reed may battle some of the Big Ten’s best big men on a game-to-game basis, but on daily basis at practice, he faces the 7-foot-1 Dickinson, who ranks top five in the conference in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. He was a consensus All-American last season, a perennial Big Ten All-Conference selection, and has definitely been teaching Reed a thing or two during his first season as a collegiate athlete.

“I mean I’m learning from him, his touch around the rim is just elite, so every day I’m talking to him, picking my brain, we’re talking on the court. I tell him what I see, he tells me what he sees so we’re sharing each other’s thoughts and really getting better,” Reed said.