Juwan Howard blames Michigan's road struggles on Dug McDaniel's suspension

There's absolutely no doubting the fact that Michigan guard Dug McDaniel is serving a unique suspension this season.

On Jan. 10 it was announced that McDaniel, a sophomore, was placed on a six-game academic suspension, but only for road games. 

He's been allowed to dress and play in Ann Arbor, but McDaniel has missed road games against Maryland, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska and most recently, Illinois.

Michigan has gone 0-5 in those games without McDaniel, with the latest loss perhaps being the most demoralizing. The Wolverines took it on the chin on Tuesday night against the Illini, losing 97-68.

With one road game still left on McDaniel's suspension (against Northwestern on Feb. 22), Michigan head coach Juwan Howard explained after the beatdown in Illinois that he feels his team is essentially playing with one arm tied behind its back.

“When you miss your primary ball handler, one of the best decision makers in the country, you take a step back,” Howard said (h/t On3). “It hurts your ball club."

Howard went on to praise the competitiveness of the players he's had on the floor during these games, but there can be no doubting the fact that Michigan is far worse off without McDaniel.

Case in point?

Despite not playing on the road since early January, he's still Michigan's leading scorer at 16.8 points per game.

At 8-17 and dead last in the Big Ten, the Wolverines need him back (full-time) in a big way.