Juwan Howard explains confidence in Dug McDaniel

Michigan‘s thrilling overtime win over Wisconsin on Sunday had point guard Dug McDaniel‘s finger prints all over it. The Wolverines won 89-79 and the freshman had a career-high 20 points on an efficient 50% shooting from the field. After the game, coach Juwan Howard spoke on McDaniel’s confidence, leadership, and overall growth as a freshman.

“Well I’ll tell you this, I never once second-guessed it or felt that I had to talk him into being the starting guard for us because here’s why. Dug is one of the most confident young men that I have ever been around,” Howard said. “After knowing him for over the years I understand his skillset, his leadership qualities that he has, and as a freshman he’s still growing. I’m still immature, we all still go through little immaturity moments. With that it’s still a compliment because it gives him an edginess that makes him unique.”

McDaniel was not the day-one starter for the Wolverines, as Princeton graduate transfer Jaelin Llewellyn entered the season as the team’s starting point guard. Llewellyn averaged 15 points and four assists a game in his previous two seasons at Princeton, but suffered a season-ending injury in Michigan’s eighth game of the season, tearing his ACL.

“Now Jaelin, yes we all miss Jaelin going down with his injury, felt horrible for the young man. But Dug knew right away that it was his time to step up and he wanted the moment. And yes, I’ve been through it as a freshman, you have some up and down games, but I don’t think he gets enough credit really because it’s hard as a freshman and also as a lead guard, point guard, to come in and run a team at a higher level playing against grown men,” Howard explained.

McDaniel has been the starting point guard since, becoming the Wolverines floor general as a freshman. He leads the team in assists, and during their latest three-game winning streak has scored in double figures in each contest.

“Going on a Big Ten road, let’s talk about the Big Ten road. Rutgers game and that hostile place, one of the tough places to win and how Dug controlled that game. Then playing Michigan State here and the way how he controlled the game from start to finish. And those two games alone he had one turnover,” Howard said. “And then this game he has two turnovers that were crucial where he tried to make that play and that happens, like I share with him keep it simple, keep it simple, and simple works.”

Simple has definitely been working as of late for McDaniel and the Wolverines, as he’s continued to grow and flourish in his first-ever collegiate season. McDaniel and his squad will hit the road yet again in their next matchup, taking on Illinois Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET in a game airing on ESPN.