The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1178918
36 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2019 2019-20 BASKETBALL PREVIEW about Howard. He knew of him, but now increasingly knows him. "I knew he was in the Fab Five," Martelli said. "And I know that he was a pro's pro. But what do I really know? I went on Wikipedia, and I read like 27 pages. "Here are the things that stood out. He graduated with his class, a year after he left early — before there were online courses. This means that he's making sig- nificant money, at 20 years old, and he's studying in hotel rooms and busses and planes, to graduate because he promised his grand- mother. "That's my kind of per- son." But there was more, Martelli as- sured. "On the very last page, they asked him in an interview, what's one of your treats in life. He mentioned watching his sons play basketball. He's married over 20 years. "I didn't want to be caught in a situ- ation where … I'm just not a hang-out dude. 'Let's go to the club,' you know? What the hell am I going to do at a club, right? They'll think I'm a cop." The 65-year-old Martelli laughed along with everyone else, but grew very serious when asked in what ways Howard has lived up to his research. "He's exceeded it," Martelli said. "First of all, he loves Michigan. He flat-out loves Michigan. "The football game against Iowa? He was in the first row, behind the defense. He was cheering as if he was an undergrad. When they came off the field — and I don't know if anybody saw this — two or three of those guys came over and gave him a pound. They knew he had their back for 60 minutes. "He loves Michigan. He absolutely loves this family. He's brought family here. That's our No. 1 foundation in this program, that we're going to be family oriented. It's easy to say, hard to do. "But I'm blown away by the teacher he is. He absolutely loves getting his hands dirty, and working with the big guys. But he works every aspect of this program. I'm amazed at how he's taken to recruiting and engages every level of recruiting. "He's a star, and they're not pay- ing me to say that. Michigan's a blue blood … and this is going up a level, because of Juwan Howard." For those who deeply appreciate all that Beilein accomplished in Ann Arbor — and Howard enthusiastically joins that parade — there's a connec- tion to those seasons beyond the re- turning players. Assistant coach Saddi Washington has been in on a pair of Big Ten Tournament championships with the Wolverines, three straight Sweet 16s and the national champion- ship game in 2018. Washington worked with Michi- gan's big men under Beilein and shifts gears to coaching perimeter players for Howard. He should prove invalu- able in the ongoing transition period, and he's also very cognizant of How- ard's drive and focus on winning. "I see a guy who is very passionate about Michigan," Washington said. "We all saw that in the press confer- ence. But more importantly, you see a guy who is very intentional about doing very well for our student-ath- letes. It's important for him to have X [guard Zavier Simpson] and [center] Jon [Teske], as seniors, go out on a high note. "Former NBA guys who have made the transition to college, the biggest adjustment is adjusting to the different pace. College basketball is constant — it never stops. I think he's done a phenomenal job, thus far, of making that quick adjustment, and from a recruiting perspec- tive and all the other things that come from being the head coach at a major col- lege basketball program." Howard Eisley spent nine years working in the NBA, after playing for Bos- ton College and several pro squads. He knew How- ard before coming to Ann Arbor and didn't hesitate when summoned to return to the college game. "I've known Juwan since I was 17," Eisley said. "This is an easy transition for us. We've talked and remained friends all these years. "He's loving it. The op- portunity to come back and work and serve the univer- sity that you attended — this place really means a lot to him. He feels strongly about how it prepared him to be a man. It impacted his career. "To have an opportunity to come back and help others is very impor- tant. It's why he's so passionate about it." Howard makes a point of not pub- licly discussing what he wants the Wolverines to look like on the court. Schemes, strategies, etc., are to be seen and not heard about, similar to the approach of the new head basketball coach's football counterpart. The new boss talks about the warm reception he received by his new col- leagues at the Big Ten basketball me- dia sessions in Chicago. He appreci- ated their congeniality, but … "I also know this," Howard said. "They all are competitors, and they all want to beat Michigan. And I want to beat them, too." He'll be looking to do it without three of Michigan's top players from 2018-19. While Howard was leaving the NBA, players with Michigan eli- gibility remaining were flocking to it. But those who remain shouldn't be discounted, Howard insisted. "You have competitors," he said. "You have guys that are fighting. Guys that know they are being counted out. Let's be real about it. "… Those guys are gone now. We can't look back. We've got to move forward with it. Next man up. We want to compete. We're going to com- pete hard. We're not going to give up." Howard's first U-M team was predicted to finish fifth in the Big Ten by Lindy's, sixth by Athlon and seventh by Street & Smith's. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN