The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482097
12 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS JUWAN HOWARD AND KIM BARNES ARICO EMBRACE PROGRAM SYNERGY The U-M men's and women's basketball teams have recently been among the most elite tandems in the country thanks to the guidance of head coaches Juwan Howard and Kim Barnes Arico. Despite a 19-15 regular season, the men found a way to make the program's fifth straight NCAA Sweet 16 last year, while the women had the best year in team history, finishing 25-7 and making their first-ever trip to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. Howard and Barnes Arico's teams are joined at the hip, sharing the same practice court and feeding off each other's energy. Much of the time, Howard is sitting court- side for women's games. "I have had the opportunity to watch Coach Kim and their staff and how they grow their program, all the trust that those young women have in their staff and how the success has taken off since the time I arrived at the University of Michigan," How- ard said. "I've gotten the chance to watch her prac- tices, learn from her — having a growth mindset and seeing how I can grow with my staff and prepare my players, it's nice to see that the Go Blue Nation, the Maize and Blue, is having success on the court, on the field and also in the classroom." Barnes Arico is grateful for Howard's friendship. "Fortunately, we have been one of those universities that has had tremendous success with our football program and our men's and women's basketball programs over the last few years," Barnes Arico said. "It's something that drew me to Ann Arbor — the oppor- tunity to be surrounded by excellence. You can go across the board, from softball to gymnastics to football to men's and women's basketball, every program has a rich tradition and success. "Coach Howard is doing an amazing, amazing job. His young men are incredible people. They really connect with our program, as well. I say this all the time, but he's at all of our games. He's in the front row with his wife, Jenine, and the guys are there cheering for our team. We really try to support each other. "At Michigan, we do that. For both of us to help Michigan basketball have the success that it's had the last few years is really special." OREGON MEN'S HOOPS COACH SAYS U-M 'OWES' THEM A GAME There seems to be some sour feelings coming out of Eu- gene, Ore., between Oregon men's basketball head coach Dana Altman and Michigan. The Wolverines have yet to make a return trip to the West Coast for their end of a home- and-home series that was agreed to in spring 2019. Oregon won the initial game 71-70 in Ann Arbor on Dec. 14, 2019. The Wolverines were set to go to Eugene during the 2020- 21 nonconference slate, but the COVID-19 pandemic wiped the game off the schedule. U-M was then expected to make the trip to Eugene last season, but that did not happen. They will not play the Ducks this season, either. "There's no buyout. They're coming," Altman said in an October media session. However, he wasn't sure if the game would be in 2023-24. "They owe us a game, and we fully expect them to repay the game," he said. "I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot they would expect us to return it, and we sure in the hell expect them to return it." Howard did not have a hand in scheduling the series but was asked to respond to Altman's comments The term "owed" raised an eyebrow for U-M's head coach. "Last that I read in the contract, it states that we don't owe them a game," Howard said. "I wasn't here when we signed the contract; I think it was with Coach [John] Beilein. "With our schedule, it's just hard to fit that game in this year and then possibly also next year, but we'll see what the future holds." MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Barnes Arico and Howard have strived to support each other as the leaders of Michigan's highly successful basketball programs. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY