The emergence of Will Sullivan started with a shot of confidence.

Averaging about seven minutes per game off the bench through the Miami University men’s basketball team’s first eight contests, Sullivan has earned five straight starts with a gritty style that heartens RedHawks coach John Cooper.

“It’s his DNA,” Cooper said. “He’s competitive. He does it for the right reasons.”

Sullivan, a 6-foot-3 guard from Elmhurst, Ill., has played in every game since coming to Oxford and started 10 times last year. But he found himself struggling as the Cooper era began.

“I’ve just struggled since I got here with confidence,” Sullivan said. “I had a hard time finding my way in the offense. Now I’ve kind of developed a comfortable spot for myself, and it’s a lot more easy to make the plays that I’ve been making when you have confidence and you’re comfortable with your teammates.”

His numbers aren’t glowing (4.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg), but his feistiness is evident, and he’s grabbed 15 of his 31 rebounds in the last two games.

“The coaches have really been harping on the fact that rebounding is something you’ve got to really put your mind to,” Sullivan said. “I go into games thinking there’s not going to be any rebound that I’m not going to at least try my hardest to get.”

He’s averaged 28.6 minutes of playing time since Cooper inserted him into the starting lineup, scoring 9.4 points per contest.

Cooper preaches “doing all the little things” and points to Sullivan as the best example of that.

“He makes mistakes, no question,” Cooper said. “He had an awful offensive turnover (Wednesday against Northern Illinois), then sprinted all the way back and drew a charge on the same play. That’s why I brag on him, because he’s earned the right to be bragged on.”

Sullivan said he’s always been a scrappy player, and it started at home.

“I have three brothers, and they’re always kind of banging on me,” Sullivan said. “I’ve got an older sister who’s not too easy on me either. It’s kind of developed me into a personality where I’m not afraid to guard a bigger guy or make the toughness plays.”

The one thing that continues to baffle him is his free-throw shooting. Sullivan is just 7 of 19 this season.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “I’ve been a great free-throw shooter my whole life. This has just kind of come out of nowhere, but I’ve been getting in the gym and getting a lot of extra free throws. That’s where I am right now, but I’m going to work hard and get myself out of it. I’m not worried about it.”