Post-game interview with Coach Howard

Submitted by MGlobules on January 23rd, 2022 at 7:25 PM

The post-game interviews with the coaches posted at UMHoops are always hugely instructive. I came to admire, learn from, and understand Coach Beilein a great deal watching them, and they often led me to respect and better understand his motives and intentions during the team's tough stretches, during times when a lot of fans were maligning him (and indeed there were plenty of such times). 

Likewise, there has been a lot of slack criticism of Coach Howard during the recent difficult stretch, which has been disappointing. The quickness to pile on can be breathtaking; the arrogance of people who know what the coaches are doing wrong, that they're idiots for not seeing it, that players aren't playing hard, etc. are all pretty funny when dragged out into the cold light of day, pretty disturbing in the lack of self-awareness they sometimes demonstrate.

I'll stop there, however, and just recommend a listen to tonight's postgame presser with Coach Howard, because he's savvy as heck, and I think anyone who really respects the game, works to understand it, can absorb that pretty readily with a thoughtful listen. It gave me a lot of pleasure--especially Coach's comments about playing during a pandemic--and I hope that others find it pleasurable, too: 

https://umhoops.com/2022/01/23/video-juwan-howard-michigan-players-recap-win-at-indiana/

MGoBoard
Basketball
Michigan basketball; Juwan Howard; Indiana

truferblue22

January 24th, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^

There's a lovely twitter account, some dweeb named "Richard". He had a picture of Harbaugh with a mullet as his avatar for years and said he was "ahead of the curve" because he had been calling for Jim's head since 2017, as if he was some oracle who could tell that was a bad season while the rest of us apparently couldn't.

His account also frequently mentioned that we were a "basketball school". Fast forward to 2022 and he's of course constantly tweeting that Harbaugh is staying (as if he has some kind of insider information, which he of course doesn't have); not surprisingly he went from shitting all over one JH and now focuses his time shitting on the other JH. I constantly chirp him for being the absolute worst account out there in a sea of shithead "fans". 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13358

GoWings2008

January 23rd, 2022 at 7:50 PM ^

If they start peaking now and through the end of the regular season, what's happened over the last two months won't matter. Make the tourney and the learning they've done through tough times will be valuable. I have faith...

Joined: 01/26/2011

MGoPoints: 69703

LabattsBleu

January 23rd, 2022 at 10:40 PM ^

Too many people expected a lot from kids that never played CBB before...I think many were spoiled with the levels of success started by Beilien and continued by Howard.

Houstan should still be in High School... I think Moussa has only played the game for 6 years. Jones is transfer getting used to new team mates and a new system.

Michigan has struggled to meet what the media expected of them. And to be fair to those critics, Michigan did look poor in some games. 

They look better. Hopefully, they will continue to improve enough to get into the tournament.

Howard is a guy that I think is great for the program and he is an excellent coach.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 16413

snarling wolverine

January 24th, 2022 at 6:56 AM ^

Well, we were a preseason top 10 team.  This wasn’t just fans being overexuberant, it was the media as well.

It’s good to see at any rate that the guys have kept working hard and seem to have turned the corner.  Playing Illinois tough on the road with a depleted roster may have been the point when things started clicking.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98365

outsidethebox

January 24th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^

The reality here is that, in this regard, most of the voting media know little more than the average viewing public. That would be an interesting investigative survey-my experience says that very few have ever played any of the games they report on at a meaningful, organized level. Yet, so many hang of their every word and opinion. 

I did not anticipate that the loss of the will and talent of Isaiah et al would take at least half of a season of adjustment. My opinion is that this group has the talent of a competitive tournament team. 

Joined: 01/23/2017

MGoPoints: 18816

JTP

January 23rd, 2022 at 10:53 PM ^

Coach Howard is great, we’ve got a very young team and have had to deal with a lot of stuff, just let him coach and recruit we’ll be fine.He won the Big Ten championship last year and damn near made the final four with Livers out the whole tournament. Just chill out and he’ll get us going.

Joined: 01/03/2018

MGoPoints: 7089

Durham Blue

January 23rd, 2022 at 11:24 PM ^

I never once criticized Juwan.  But I was dumbfounded and a bit shocked as we stumbled through the first 12 games.  We didn't look like a good basketball team and were properly blown out several times.  Even the veteran guys were shells of themselves from past seasons.

Now I am starting to see the team chemistry come together.  Guys are understanding their assignments and roles better.  Davante Jones is getting up to the speed and rigors of being a B1G PG.  Defense is markedly improved, which is a big reason why the team is starting to gain momentum.  Big props to Juwan and the assistants.  There is still a ton of room to grow and improve and I am excited for the rest of the season.

Joined: 10/09/2008

MGoPoints: 30026

JamieH

January 24th, 2022 at 9:13 AM ^

His continuing faith in Houstan during his horrid start may end up saving the team.  If his shooting from the last 2 games isn't a mirage then he changes the entire complexion of the team.

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

rice4114

January 24th, 2022 at 12:22 PM ^

People that dont understand basketball

-We need an identity 

-We need to play tougher

-We need to want it more

What really happened

-We didnt shoot it well

-They did shoot it well

Joined: 08/26/2010

MGoPoints: 47300