After Michigan’s exhibition game back in November, a few Wolverines trickled onto the court for a bit extra work. It made sense to see a few freshmen want to get shots up after not playing many minutes, but two players caught my eye: Dug McDaniel and Hunter Dickinson.
They weren’t just casually getting shots up, they were drilling the two-man game. It made sense to see a pair of players from the same hometown together, but it was surprising to see a junior All-American getting reps with a true freshman after a game. I didn’t realize it then, but the Wolverines’ season rests on that budding chemistry.
After a tumultuous week, that two-man game carried Michigan to a crucial victory in Minneapolis on Thursday night. The Wolverines routed Minnesota, 90-75, to pick up their first Big Ten win of the 2022-23 season. It was a terrific first start for McDaniel, who finished with 15 points and seven assists, as he filled in for injured Jaelin Llewellyn.
Most importantly, it was a sign of progress for a Michigan ball screen offense that has struggled to get in gear this season.
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