Breezy non-hostile discussion of Michigan basketball under Juwan Howard

I love Juwan and if you put on his introductory press conference, I'd probably end up in tears again like I did when it happened. He's an alum with an important role in the history of the basketball program. I also like him as a basketball coach in terms of Xs and Os. We run good, NBA style offense and until this season, the defense usually improved throughout the season. But what we could try to dismiss in the past - tantrums, hitting an opposing coach, roster management - because the results were mostly there (conference title, E8 and S16 run) can't be dismissed now. The results are really bad. And the things that are needed to get us out of this rut - structure, consistency, a plan for roster management - don't seem to be there. If we are to succeed, it probably means alot of roster turnover again. And probably some assistant turnover. And I just don't think that is as likely to succeed under Juwan as it would under a new coach. So I think the bandaid has to be ripped off. 

Hard to say who I would want instead. And if there is a departure, I hope it can be done as amicably as possible because of his history with the program. 

I cheer for every Michigan team - the players - the staff - the head coach, etc.

College hoops is NOT the NBA.  At the NBA level, there's a certain floor that players have - but, the roster is mostly a known quantity and the staff works to analyze opponents, game plan, focus on specific techniques with certain players, etc.  

So - though there's development at both levels - it's different, IMO.   

Then - there's the roster.  This is where it seems Martelli should have provided greater guidance / suggestions / etc.  As others noted - it seems the roster is where the mess really.   I do accept that NIL and the Portal make it more challenging - and, the NBA's approach to the Draft doesn't make it any easier.

Oh - on top of it all - I read an article around the NBA All Star game that indicated the NBA might pull the plug on the G League Ignite because players can get NIL dollars at the college level now.  Here's a link to an ESPN article on the topic: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39548967/adam-silver-nba-reassess-g-league-ignite-wake-nil

The key comment: "I think given that that's happened, I think we are in the process of reassessing Team Ignite," Silver said Saturday night as part of his annual All-Star Weekend news conference here at Lucas Oil Stadium. "Because now some of those same players who didn't want to be one-and-done players because they felt it was unfair and they wanted the ability not just to earn a living playing basketball but to do commercial deals that weren't available to them at college, to hire professional agents, an opportunity that wasn't available to them at college, they now -- all of those same opportunities have become available to them.

Juwan inherited a program in pristine condition. Fast forward five years, and we're facing a strong likelihood of finishing the season with a single digit win total. To put that in perspective, the football program's win total is nearly double that of the basketball program despite playing half as many games. Think about that for a moment. That's not acceptable at a school with a national championship and several Final Four appearances in the 64 team era. In addition, Juwan has been involved in multiple incidents over the course of his tenure, including a confrontation with his own strength coach.

I don't doubt that he means well and that he's still trying his hardest, but there is no credible argument for bringing him back. The experiment has run its course. Time to move on.

I don't know anywhere near as much about basketball as Howard does, but this team is too talented to have the record it has. These second half collapses extend to last year as well, when this team was even more talented with two first round picks and Dickinson at its disposal.

At a certain point, its not bad luck. Its not a young team trying to grow together. Its just who you are. And if there is poor effort, hustle, attitude, or whatever you want to call it from the players, Remember the Titans has a great quote for this:

Attitude reflects leadership. 

ok <<deep breath>> breezy, non-hostile.....

<<looks at the sunny day and blue sky out the window>>

Under Beilein, Michigan MBB was a watchable, successful product that had ascended to excellent / near-elite status.

Under Howard, Michigan MBB is unwatchable and unsuccessful, "led" by a coach who can't seem to (a) recruit properly, (b) construct a roster properly, (c) keep guys on the team, (d) motivate players to hustle / play defense, (e) coach successfully in-game, especially at the end of games, and (f) control his temper as a grown man in a professional position.

There's nothing good here. He needs to be let go.

So if Rick Pitino walks in the door is it step up or down?  I kid, and yes he definitely threw his team under the bus. Haven’t see JH go that far. 

edit to add critical n’t

One more!

Look at Tommy Amaker's record by year. Then look at Howard. Amaker was a better coach than Howard here, and we laugh at him as a joke of a coach.... 

Ellerbe's WORST YEAR, the year he got fired, we won 10 games. We won't get that this year most likely. 

So.. other than Howard being a playing legend, what are we really even talking about here?

i'm open to the idea that there's just something off with this team and it might be ok next year. so i'm ok with one more year, but if we are not better next year, probably gotta make a change

Can we just go back to the "Whose that" and they turn into two and done.  Instead of whatever it is we are doing now. 

All I see right now is a bunch of individuals playing individual ball.  Every single late-game collapse this year has been because everyone on the team thinks they must win it alone.

Its a one off if you dont consider last year or next. You can keep him around for the 10 win season next year or move on. I REALLY wish it worked with Juwan. 

I am somewhat sympathetic to the argument that heart surgery took a LOT out of Juwan and don't doubt that no one wants our hoops team to be better more than he does.  That said, someone still has to, well, actually be the head coach and right now he clearly isn't getting the job done. 

I'm more than ready to move on.  There is a coherent case for giving him another year that others here have made and if he gets another one-last-chance year to turn things around, then so be it.  I would definitely root for him to succeed, but based on everything we know and taking all extenuating circumstances into account, there's not much reason to expect anything better with another year.  

When he cannot win as many games in a season as Brian Ellerbe's last season (10 wins) he needs to go.  Anytime you are starting to compare a coach to Brian Ellerbe it is time to pull the trigger and fire them.  

What?  Your post is exactly the same of the posts you dismissed as being "covered."

How are you bringing anything new to the discussion?

I see Howard getting one more season. I hope he can turn the program around but he will have to get more talented players in to really improve next season. Odds are he may only win a few more games next season. 

Two things jump out to me.  1 - Juwan is not checked out.  He is taking this losing personally and it is not rolling off his back, and 2 - Juwan genuinely feels like there is a lack of true effort from the players themselves in terms of effort and pride.

1. Ah yes, Juwan bucking the trend and taking it personally vs. the more common press conference reaction of 'meh'

2. If Juwan either believes or blames the performance due to a lack of effort and team pride, that is a bigger indictment on him as a head coach vs. admitting he hasn't been able to come up with an adequate game plan or scheme.

Frankly, if you are persuaded by one press conference vs. the last few years of decline in the program, I don't know what to tell you.

I wish it was different but he seems to be a carbon copy of Brady Hoke's tenure - Peak in year 1/2 with players recruited by the former coach and then slowly get worse as the years go on. This team looks like they've never practiced or learned the fundamentals of basketball. Of the ~20 turnovers against MSU, almost all of them weren't due to great D on MSU, they were just horrible plays by a team that has no clue what they are doing. That is on Howard

The question I have for those who want to fire Juwan: who could we legitimately hire?

I think people think too highly of our bball program at this time.  We have some serious structural issues that no good coach would want to deal with. The bball program could get worse if we move on from Juwan.