Michigan Basketball: Stuart Douglass talks hoops, coronavirus, and more

Michigan Basketball’s former point guard and captain Stuart Douglass opened up about life during the pandemic, basketball, and more.

Stuart Douglass‘ story didn’t begin when he chose Michigan Basketball over other options. It started in his basement, tussling around with his siblings with the ultimate goal of scoring on their throwback fisher price hoop.

“Fights would ensue and they would periodically come upstairs from the basement crying,” Nancy Douglass, Stuart’s mom, remembered. “I told them unless there is blood, I don’t want to hear about it.”

That’s where Stu’s love of the game began: fighting for every inch, fighting for every basket.

Growing up in a small town just outside of Indianapolis, Douglass idolized Reggie Miller and the Pacers during his own journey to stardom; it’s why he still wears number 31 to this day. While watching the Pacers gave him joy, he wanted to be a more active participant in the game.

Stuart wanted, above all else, to play in the Big 10. John Beilein gave him that chance.

Douglass didn’t have the illustrious career many other Michigan men experienced, but no true Wolverine fan could forget that 3-pointer he hit at Breslin, sealing the victory for Michigan basketball and, potentially, saving his coach from the unemployment line.

“It was a big game for us mentally to turn a corner,” Stuart told me. “You can’t say for sure we wouldn’t have made the tournament if we lost that game, but it was huge for us mentally. Plus, beating MSU always looks better to the fanbase than what a single regular-season win gives you in terms of resume building for the tournament. Especially when you win at their place after losing there for so many years, I’ve heard he was seriously on the hot seat that year, but I didn’t know until years after. My ego would love to take credit for it, but it’s probably best not to haha.”

It was January 27, 2011, and the Wolverines were on the road up against a formidable opponent up just two points with less than 30 seconds left in the game. Darius Morris drove the to the paint, quickly realizing there wasn’t a clear path to the rim. Morris kicked it out to Stuart for his one shining moment, and he came through in the clutch.

“It felt great leaving my hands but Draymond blocked my view until right before the ball reached the rim,” Stu recalled. “I typically watch the ball from my hand to the rim so I couldn’t really tell, but when I released it, it all felt right and calm.”

Over his four years at Michigan, the Wolverines amassed an impressive 81-55 record with three tournament appearances. Stuart’s senior year, he averaged 7.5 points per game, and he shot 34 percent from beyond the arc, which may not send him to the college basketball Hall of Fame, although he had something more to his game that many others college-age athletes lack: leadership. That aspect of his game was recognized with the label of captain – an honor not freely given.

Stuart’s statistics can be deceiving, especially when considering there was a new sheriff in town that was establishing himself and his philosophy. Beilein had been hired the year before Douglass arrived on campus, and John was a stickler for the minute details.

"“He was really trying to establish his ways at Michigan. It’s never easy when a new guy comes in and shakes things up and is also very demanding…It was a lot at times and I think a lot of his success after my time came with relenting some of that control and letting guys like Jordan Poole put shots up he isn’t going to always agree with but still demanding discipline and minimizing mistakes particularly on the defensive end.”"

After graduation, Douglass commenced his professional basketball career overseas in Spain for a brief period before landing in Israel, where he’s been ever since. His roots originated in Indianapolis, then strengthened in Ann Arbor, and they’ve settled across the Atlantic where Stuart obtained dual-citizenship within the country he’s proud to call his “second home” for the time being. How long that will last is anyone’s guess.

Stuart’s mother hopes he comes back sooner rather than later, but they reunite during the summers, and technology helps with distance. As much as a mother wants her children safe in the nest, Nancy believes the experience has shaped her son into the man he is today, and she doesn’t regret the journey.

“The hopes, dreams, setbacks, disappointments, and achievements have made Stuart the strong, thoughtful, introspective, and powerful young man he is today (totally objective, of course),” Nancy said. “I wouldn’t change a thing about this whirlwind experience, and I doubt he would either.”

Stuart didn’t explicitly say it, but the long-distance relationships would take their toll on even the strongest of men. The memories of home, family, and Crisler help, however.

“Hard to choose. It still pains me that I can’t answer this with ‘senior night when we finished the season undefeated and likely wrapped up a solo big ten title’ BUT that night was still cool,” Stuart responded when asked about his favorite memory of from his playing days in Ann Arbor. “The chance to have that is everything we wanted to build towards, and something very few thought we could achieve.  So screw it, that’s still my answer even though we lost.”

Stuart Douglass’ story isn’t nearing the end. He’s got a long life ahead of him, and whether it continues overseas or back in the States, he’s got the talent to succeed across many platforms. Stuart operated the Not Mainstream podcast, which he wouldn’t say if he was going to continue after the world resets, though he did leave his options open.

Douglass did reveal what life has been like during the pandemic.

“It hasn’t been quite as crazy as some of the videos you see of people lined up outside Costco and fighting over toilet paper. Israel is in a bit of a different situation than Europe. There are very minimal points of entry into Israel outside of the airport and Israel got on top of things relatively quickly in terms of shutting off flights from high-risk countries. That still hasn’t prevented cases but might have flattened the curve a bit. The cases have risen to a point where we just started a more strict lockdown of businesses and essential travel only. Otherwise, I’ve been pretty isolated and I don’t watch the news here so I’m not sure how everyone is reacting, but it seems to be a mix of calm while still taking it very seriously.”

To read the entire interview, head on over to the next slide. Before doing that, you must read something that surely Stu wouldn’t ever reveal, but his mother did:

“I will tell you that Stuart was attached to his pacifier (known as a binky in our house) and his Peter Rabbit blanket until he was five,” Nancy said in response to a request for some embarrassing intel on her son. “I had to bribe him (not my proudest mommy move) with getting a gecko to get him to throw his binkies in the trash. He also used to let his older sister dress him up in dresses, makeup, and put his hair in a ponytail. He pretty much did whatever she told him to.”