“Aww, yeah, I heard about it,” Michigan sophomore point guard Darius Morris told annarbor.com, when asked about the nickname given to him by announcer Tim Doyle of the Big Ten Network.

“It’s fine with me. I’m just appreciative he knows my name and took the time to give me a nickname.”

The moniker has nothing to do with the 6-foot-4 Los Angeles native’s soft touch on floaters.

It’s in regard to Morris “coming out of a cocoon this season.”

Morris averages a team-leading 15.1 points a game off 50.9 percent shooting (12 of 36 threes for 33.3 percent) after averaging 4.4 ppg as a freshman. He has 109 assists (Big Ten-leading 7.3 per game) against 39 turnovers after dishing 84 assists to 51 turnovers a year ago.

“I was like, ‘Whoa,”’ Morris said of his reaction when his mom, Robin, told him of the nickname. “I didn’t really know what to say. I was like, ‘Mom, that’s cool.”’

Morris, who has five double-doubles, scored 20 points and dished 10 assists in a recent win against Penn State. He had a career high of 26 points versus Bryant College.

“Darius Morris has emerged as one of the best guards in our conference,” Purdue coach Matt Painter told annarbor.com. “He has the freedom to make plays.”

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Tough slate of late: The Wolverines, who fell to Wisconsin, 66-50, Wednesday in Madison, Wis., meet No. 3 KU today and No. 2 Ohio State on Wednesday, both at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines opened Big Ten play with a 80-57 home loss to Purdue followed by a 76-69 home victory over Penn State.

“We have to be ready for it,” Michigan coach John Beilein said of this current stretch. “When you are playing in the Big Ten … we had six teams ranked last week. Throw in Kansas … this is what we try to do. We’ll keep doing it,” he added of playing a tough schedule.

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Famous dads: Michigan freshman Tim Hardaway, Jr., the son of five-time NBA all-star Tim Hardaway, averages 10.8 points and 3.6 rebounds a game. The 6-foot-5 Miami native has made 21 of 76 threes for 27.5 percent.

Jordan Dumars, a 6-5 sophomore out of Detroit, is son of former NBA standout Joe Dumars. Jordan just recently became eligible following last year’s transfer from South Florida.

“Probably not,” Beilein told annarbor.com, when asked if Dumars would play a lot right away. “He’s still trying to get in shape and learn things. But you never know.”

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This, that: Michigan leads the all-time series, 5-1. … The series dates to 1949. Two of the matchups have been on neutral floors. Michigan won, 49-47, in 1949 in Kansas City, Mo., and, 86-74, on Dec. 30, 1992, in Honolulu. This will be the third meeting between the schools in Crisler Arena — the first since Jan. 27, 1985 when UM clobbered KU, 96-77. … Michigan has made 163 of 225 free throws for 72.4 percent. … Michigan averages 67.9 ppg and has a +8.3 scoring margin. … Michigan is outrebounding opponents by +2.2.

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Daniels update: DeAndre Daniels appears to be one step closer to becoming a Jayhawk.

Recruiting analyst Marc Maggard reported Saturday that Kentucky rescinded a scholarship offer to Daniels, a 6-8 senior forward from IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.

That would leave KU and Texas as Daniels’ final two schools for Rivals.com’s No. 9-rated recruit in the Class of 2011.

Recruiting analysts believe Daniels is awaiting word on how much financial aid he will receive before committing to KU or deciding to remain at IMG Academies.

KU has filled its scholarship allotments for this school year, meaning Daniels must land a Pell Grant or academic scholarship if he wants to attend KU for free this semester.

He plans on practicing but not playing in games until the 2011-12 season, when a scholarship would definitely be available at KU.