Juwan Howard, Michigan basketball need a win at North Carolina
Michigan basketball hasn’t lived up to the hype in the early going, but there’s still plenty of time for improvement. North Carolina, Wednesday’s opponent, is athletic but not great, having struggled against lesser competition and been handled by the better opponents on the schedule.
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In that sense, they’re like No. 24 Michigan. U-M needed a late run to get by Tarleton State in its last game. Previously, Arizona blew the Wolverines out and U-M lost a late lead in a home setback to Seton Hall.
There’s one area in particular head coach Juwan Howard wants to see improve Wednesday.
“I’ll tell you one thing — we’ve got to do a better job of of making outside shots just in general,” Howard said. “Looking at some of our numbers on outside shooting, we’re getting some open looks but haven’t had a chance to knock them down.
“We’re going to need them come tomorrow night, especially on the road.”
They’ve also put an emphasis on defense in the paint. Arizona got 18 dunks for 36 of its 80 points — not at at all acceptable — and North Carolina has capable big men.
“I would say we’ve been watching film on how we could do a do a better job of making their bigs work a little bit harder for their points,” Howard said.
For its early season struggles, the Tar Heels are still No. 18 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. They’re an abysmal 113 in adjusted defensive efficiency, though, and Michigan will get a shot to expose it Tuesday night.
But not if the Wolverines don’t hit shots. Michigan is shooting 29.1 percent from long range as a team. Only shooting guard Eli Brooks (42.9 percent) has been a consistent threat. Freshman shooting guard Caleb Houstan is at 25.8 percent and senior forward Brandon Johns at 12.5, simply not good enough.
Both should get looks Wednesday night. How the Wolverines shoot as a team will go a long way toward determining their fate.
A Michigan victory would go a long way toward righting the ship with another tough game (San Diego State) on tap Saturday.
Michigan coach shrugs off the critics
Michigan fans apparently have short memories, several taking to social media to voice their displeasure after a loss to Arizona. Reporters asked Howard how he tuned it out, comparing it to some of the heat Jim Harbaugh took before finally beating Ohio State Saturday.
“I never had a ‘now what?’ moment, but I’m a big fan of the sport and a huge fan of Michigan football. I heard all the chatter about coach Harbaugh,” Howard said. “My heart pours for him and his family. I think sometimes in sports … coaches have families, and it affects them too. And coaches have supporters, and it affects me.
“I remember that hearing all that chatter. For me personally, I remember hearing, ‘Can he coach? It’s his first time.’ Coming from the NBA, a lot of NBA guys haven’t been able to be successful moving from the NBA world to the college world and coaching. That’s always been what I’ve always heard, and I heard it during the time when I was at my press conference when our A.D. Warde Manuel was being questioned by many of you on the call today.”
The Michigan coach has since received more than his share of praise for the way he’s run his program. He’s forgiven, but he hasn’t forgotten.
“I never throw it back in anyone’s face because at the end of the day, I absolutely know that you guys have a job and everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” he said. “And I have an opinion. But I also have two big ears, and I listen.”
