The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 45 ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL Three Best Players 1. Graduate forward Olivier Nkamhoua The Tennessee transfer has been the most consistent player on a scuf- fling Michigan team that lost six of eight games during this stretch. The 6-9, 235-pounder has had four double-doubles and 15 games with 12-plus points and 5 or more rebounds this season. He's averaging 17.6 points and 7.6 re- bounds over the last eight clashes. 2. Sophomore guard Dug McDaniel McDaniel was suspended for six road games due to an academic issue, which will hinder the Wolverines' chances at winning away from Crisler Center throughout the main stretch of the season. When he's been on the floor, though, he's shined as the team's top scorer (17.4 points per game). McDaniel's passing production has been on an uptick as of late, too, with 5 assists per contest since Dec. 16. McDaniel's recent stretch has been high- lighted by a 33-point outing in an overtime loss to Florida Dec. 19. He shot 9-of-19 from the field with 12 made free throws, adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists. 3. Senior forward Terrance Williams II Williams has become quite the sniper for the Maize and Blue, despite struggling with his shot last season. In 2022-23, he connected on only 17-of- 68 three-point attempts (25 percent) but has more than doubled his amount of makes this year, going 40-of-93 (43 percent). He's provided a big lift in the Wolverines' victories, shooting 22-of-38 from deep (57.9 percent) in wins compared to having a 32.7 percent clip in losses. The 6-7, 225-pounder has made 3 or more triples in eight different outings, including a career-high 5 on as many attempts in the Jan. 15 win over Ohio State. Key Moment In less than three-and-a-half minutes during the middle of the second half Jan. 15, Ohio State went on a 16-0 run. The Wolverines were up 10, before falling behind by four points just minutes later. The air was sucked out of Crisler Center during the MLK Day matinee. So many times this season, Michigan hasn't had an answer to a surge like that, but this time was different. The Wolverines rallied to go on their own 18-5 run to close out the 73-65 victory over their bitter rival. That stretch was highlighted by a turnaround jumper along the baseline from Nkamhoua and a dagger three by Williams with 33 seconds to go, those shots putting the Wolverines up six and seven points, respectively. Michigan had gone 30 days between wins and finally got to feel what it's like to come out on top. Best Highlight There wasn't one highlight that stood out from Michigan's last eight games, considering it lost six of them and struggled for most of the span. But the Fab Five reuniting at Crisler Center was a scene to see and would've generated even more buzz had the current team been off to a better start to the season. They — Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King — were seated courtside across the floor from head coach Juwan Howard, who guided the Maize and Blue to a victory over Ohio State Jan. 15. It was the first time that all five were together at Crisler Center since they played in the early 1990s. Rose and Webber, who had publicly feuded for decades, were seated next to each other and smiling. Former head coach John Beilein had invited the group back during his ten- ure, but the reunion finally happened in January with Howard as the coach. Bold Prediction Michigan will win just one game until knocking off Michigan State at home Feb. 17. The Wolverines failed to take advantage of their manageable sched- ule to begin Big Ten play, starting off 2-5 in the league and sitting dead last in the standings. The road will only get tougher from here with McDaniel suspended for road games. Before taking on the Spartans in Ann Arbor, Michigan will play at Purdue Jan. 23, vs. Iowa Jan. 27, at Michigan State Jan. 30, vs. Rutgers Feb. 3, vs. Wisconsin Feb. 7, at Nebraska Feb. 10 and at Illinois Feb. 13. — Clayton Sayfie Superlatives For U-M's Eight Games From Dec. 16 To Jan. 18 The Fab Five — (l-r) Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson — were reunited at center court after Howard's current Michigan team defeated Ohio State 73-65 on Jan. 15. It marked the first time that all five were together at Crisler Center since they played in the early 1990s. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Date Opponent Time/TV Nov. 3 Northwood (exhib.) W, 92-45 Nov. 7 UNC Asheville W, 99-74 Nov. 10 Youngstown State W, 92-62 Nov. 13 vs. St. John's W, 89-73 Nov. 17 Long Beach State L, 94-86 Nov. 22 vs. Memphis^ L, 71-67 Nov. 23 vs. Stanford^ W, 83-78 Nov. 24 vs. Texas Tech^ L, 73-57 Dec. 2 at Oregon L, 86-83 (OT) Dec. 5 Indiana L, 78-75 Dec. 10 at Iowa W, 90-80 Dec. 16 Eastern Michigan W, 83-66 Dec. 19 vs. Florida% L, 106-101 (OT) Date Opponent Time/TV Dec. 29 McNeese L, 87-76 Jan. 4 Minnesota L, 73-71 Jan. 7 vs. Penn State# L, 79-73 Jan. 11 at Maryland L, 64-57 Jan. 15 Ohio State W, 73-65 Jan. 18 Illinois L, 88-73 Jan. 23 at Purdue 9 p.m./Peacock Jan. 27 Iowa 5 p.m./FS1 Jan. 30 at Michigan State 9 p.m./Peacock Feb. 3 Rutgers 4 p.m./BTN Feb. 7 Wisconsin 7 p.m./BTN Feb. 10 at Nebraska 6:30 p.m./BTN Feb. 13 at Illinois 7 p.m./Peacock Date Opponent Time/TV Feb. 17 Michigan State 8 p.m./FOX Feb. 22 at Northwestern 9 p.m./FS1 Feb. 25 Purdue 2 p.m./CBS Feb. 29 at Rutgers 8:30 p.m./FS1 Mar. 3 at Ohio State 4 p.m./CBS Mar. 10 Nebraska Noon/BTN Mar. 13-17 Big Ten Tournament $ TBA All times Eastern * Gavitt Tipoff Games, Madison Square Garden, New York; ^ Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas; % Jumpman Invitational, Charlotte, N.C.; # The Palestra, Philadelphia; $ Target Center, Minneapolis ❱ 2023-24 Michigan Men's Basketball Schedule