The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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40 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2023 ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL tion to some of the administrative duties of a head coach. "If he's watching film, he sends us clips or if he's at practice watching and then at the end he says something, he puts emphasis on just making sure we play together and then he sends the drills that we do at practice," Nkamhoua said. "Everything that the coaches bring us comes from the coaching staff all work- ing together. It's one unit, whether Phil [Martelli] is the one saying it or Juwan is the one saying it, it all comes from them together. We understand that that's been how they've been able to keep Juwan's presence in the gym with us every day. "His energy has been great, seeing him has been great. He looks healthy, his voice sounds good, his presence is felt, and he's taking care of himself. I'm happy to see that. We're not rushing him, luckily he's not rushing himself, but he looks good. It's been very good for us to see him around." Freshman guard George Washington III is going through an acclimation pro- cess to college hoops without the lead man who brought him in, but he still feels like the development aspect of the program has remained intact. "To be honest, the firepower we have from the coaches, it really hasn't hurt our development," Washington said. "We've still been able to grow and be able to push ourselves. Whenever Coach Howard is back and he says something, you can tell he's where he's at for a rea- son. There's not another one of him. I can't wait to get him back, but it's been great. "He's been around a decent amount, especially now. We're seeing his face more often. That's making me really ex- cited." U-M's roster has not blinked when it comes to preparing itself without How- ard. Martelli, the team's associate head coach, has appreciated the mentality. "I think the biggest thing that stands out to me now — this is a personal thing — is that we have not had a day … we've not had an hour in a day, we've not had a drill in a day where they're look- ing around and going, 'Where's Coach? What would Coach do? Why do you do it that way?' This offense and this de- fense are Juwan Howard's offense and defense," Martelli said. "But the way we practice is the way that I like to practice. They haven't blinked. So that's where I appreciate them. "Remember when you were a kid and you walked in and your eyes got this big and you went, 'Substitute teacher!' Well, I'm not the substitute teacher. I don't mean that egotistically. I know what I'm doing here. They have allowed me to be me, and I don't have to walk on eggshells and say, 'Well, I don't want to upset them.' No, we have coached them every day in practice, and that to me is the most mature thing." — Anthony Broome TSCHETTER HITS CAREER-HIGH AGAINST YOUNGSTOWN STATE Michigan led by 43 points with 3:23 left, didn't score in the final 2:56 of the game … and still beat Youngstown State, 92-62, in the second game of the season Nov. 10 at Crisler Center. U-M forward Will Tschetter led all scorers, exploding for a career-high 20 points. The redshirt sophomore was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from three-point range. Twelve of his points came after halftime. He scored 20 of Michigan's 37 bench points in the win. Despite Tschetter's offensive fire- works, it was grad Olivier Nkamhoua's night overall. He had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and added 4 assists and a pair of blocks. He and Tschetter were a combined 15-for- 15 shooting from the field. In a play that brought down the house at Crisler, sophomore point guard Dug McDaniel found Nkamhoua, a Tennes- see transfer, for a transition lob that went for a dunk early in the second half. McDaniel had 16 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds and was joined in double dig- its by Terrance Williams II, who had 13 points and 8 rebounds. — Clayton Sayfie Head coach Juwan Howard is still working his way back from heart surgery late in the offseason and has not yet returned to the sideline. However, he has been around the team helping with film study and watching practices from the balcony. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL