5 thoughts on Michigan Basketball and Big Ten Media Days

Dug McDaniel is going to play a big role

We have been saying that we expect Dug McDaniel to see the floor a lot this season and Juwan Howard confirmed that on Wednesday.

"“I would say Duggy McDaniel,” Howard said when asked of sleepers this season. “Duggy McDaniel is going to be special. Having that chip on his shoulder, being competitive, smart and he just knows how to play. Great basketball instincts. That kid right there is going to be someone that everyone needs to grab their seatbelt and strap in. He’s going to do some things out there on the floor you’re going to be like ‘wow.’ Like all freshmen, he’s going to make some mistakes; that’s a part of it. But he’s going to find his way to be a winner.”"

Dug is a 5-foot-9 point guard and former high school quarterback from the DMV. He excelled on the football field and the basketball court. He’s a true floor general and his 3-point shoot seems to be getting better and better.

McDaniel is more of a creator than a shooter, but if he can be consistent with his shot, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him play a big role. The Wolverines need more guards and playing Dug at point allows Jaelin Llewellyn to see time at the two, which Juwan said would happen this season.

Llewellyn is the latest senior point guard that Juwan has recruited through the transfer portal, following the footsteps of Mike Smith and DeVante Jones. We keep asking when that streak will end and maybe this high praise for McDaniel means Juwan will be ready to turn the team over to him in 2023 as John Beilein once did to Zavier Simpson as a sophomore.