Notebook: Juwan Howard provides injury updates ahead of first ranked matchup of season

For the first time in a long time, the Michigan basketball team has the opportunity to stack wins. With No. 14 Illinois coming to town in what Michigan is advertising as a ‘White Out’ for fans in attendance, the Wolverines hope to give their season a jolt of life Thursday night.  

With star point guard Dug McDaniel only playing in home games, the rotation will lack consistency from here on out. But at home, McDaniel is in the lineup and available, playing 39 minutes on Monday, and Michigan is a far more dangerous outfit.

The Wolverines aren’t deep by any stretch of the imagination, but they are playing an Illinois team that has been without its best player for the last five games, with Terrence Shannon Jr. embroiled in a sexual assault allegation, and has relied primarily on a seven-man playing group.

There’s a long way to go and a lot of work to do, but Michigan has a chance to put together a 2-0 week for the first time since Christmas. Howard spoke to the media before the matchup, touching on several lingering questions as Michigan prepares to host the Fighting Illini.