Michigan opens its Big Ten campaign on Tuesday when Indiana, with one conference win already under its belt, visits Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Hoosiers (6-1, 1-0 Big Ten) grabbed a 40-28 halftime lead on Friday and held on for a 65-53 victory over Maryland in their conference opener. Kel’el Ware led Indiana with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Mackenzie Mgbako supplied 13 points.
“It won’t be any easier when we go to Michigan,” Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson said. “The Big Ten is tough, they let you play. So if you don’t come and meet the challenge, then you’ll be exposed as a team.”
The Wolverines (4-4, 0-0) lost to Oregon on the road on Saturday, falling 86-83 in overtime after the Ducks’ Jackson Shelstad canned a 3-pointer with six seconds left. Michigan has lost four of its past five games.
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is transitioning back to his full-time job, currently serving as an assistant coach with Phil Martelli acting as interim head coach. Martelli has been filling in since Howard had heart surgery on Sept. 15.
“We had one fastbreak point, we have to play with better pace,” Martelli said after the loss to Oregon. “And we have to have multiple initiators of offense, not just one guy.”
That “one guy” is sophomore guard Dug McDaniel, who led Michigan with a career-high 33 points against the Ducks, making 7 of 12 3-point attempts.
McDaniel is averaging 20.3 points per game and is 21-for-51 (41.2 percent) from beyond the arc this season.
Michigan’s second option is 6-foot-9 forward Olivier Nkamhoua, who averages 16.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Terrance Williams II (10.9 points per game), Nimari Burnett (10.0) and Will Tschetter (8.1) round out Michigan’s scoring leaders.
Indiana is led by Ware, who has team-best averages of 17.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and forward Malik Reneau (14.7 ppg).
Hoosiers guard Xavier Johnson (10.5 ppg) is nursing an ankle injury and might not play against Michigan.
–Field Level Media
