Phil Martelli on what it means to him to return to sidelines in head coaching role

Phil Martelli returned to the sidelines in a head coaching role for the first time since leading Saint Joseph’s for over two decades. Afterwards, the interim Michigan coach spoke about what it meant to him.

“I would say it this way, all day today I’ve realized — Yo, you’re back,” stated Martelli. “And the way I knew it is my stomach was a mess.

“I don’t believe that they were superstitions, they were rituals. For a very, very, very, very, very long time, on a game-day I would not speak to anybody. I would not shave, I would not shower, I would not eat — I didn’t want to really be engaged. And then my grandson — who some of you may know the story — he was living with us, and he started to want to be around me on game-day. My own wife. Like, she doesn’t count the game-days as days we were married.

“So today, I was like uh, I got up and it started. Really, it dissipates only at one moment in time. When I walk out of the tunnel here, when I walk on the court. Because at that point in time, to be honest with you, the work is done. It’s now them playing the game and following the plan. Yeah, you have to work the officials and call the timeouts and do all that kind of stuff. Make the substitutions. But somebody in Philadelphia sent me a text today, saying ‘What’re you going to do, you have to stand up for three hours?’ I said yeah but, I felt like I was in a bubble. I do want to make mention — the Maize Rage — the ovation that they gave me when I went out there meant a lot.”

Phil Martelli on keeping momentum: ‘In this league, tonight is tonight, and tomorrow, we’ll deal with that.’

Phil Martelli is tasked with righting the ship at Michigan following the Juwan Howard controversy. While his time as the Michigan head coach will be limited, he has the impossible task of keeping the Wolverines on track, and handling the blowback of Howard’s actions.

Evidently, nothing is impossible for Martelli. In his first game as the acting head coach, Michigan took care of business against a Rutgers team that’s been one of the hottest in the nation. The Wolverines need all the wins they can get prior to March, and their 71-62 victory over the Scarlet Knights is huge.

After the big win, Martelli was asked how Michigan can keep their momentum moving forward.

“I don’t know. I really don’t,” stated Martelli. “Because I will suggest to you that Tuesday’s practice was not — Tuesday’s practice was that like, dip. Monday was solid. Tuesday was the dip. And what I think, with all that’s going on — with all that went on, and then all that’s going on — how many wins do we need? And you have five games — no we don’t. We don’t. We had yesterday and today. Now, we’re off tomorrow. And when you have a leader, like Eli Brooks, we’ll have their attention on Friday. To play an afternoon game on Sunday against a nationally ranked team.

“But in this league, tonight is tonight, and tomorrow, we’ll deal with that. But we do have off. Which is a big deal. It’s a big deal to have a day off. Everybody needs to breathe. Everybody around here. Administration. Staff. Players. And now, Friday can be about basketball.”

Evidently, Phil Martelli is takings things step by step. The Wolverines are in good hands with him taking the lead as Juwan Howard serves his suspension.