Wolverine TV: Juwan Howard, Michigan players react to Toledo win
Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Juwan Howard, graduate guard Joey Baker, junior center Hunter Dickinson and freshman guard Dug McDaniel met with the media following their team’s 90-80 win over Toledo in the first round of the NIT.
Howard was pleased with his team’s offense, which tied its third-highest point total of the season.
“I loved the fact that we shared the ball,” Howard said. “I’m not saying we haven’t shared the ball throughout the year, but just making the simple plays. We did a really good job early on of not turning the ball over, making sure that we get the ball inside and let Hunter operate. He did a really good job of being patient. When he got doubled, he made the right plays for guys on the perimeter. When we’re playing like that, we’re a tough team to guard.”
The Wolverines were down 42-40 at the break but played better defense and exploded offensively in the second half.
“I talked about defending,” the Michigan coach said of his halftime message to the team. “How we have to, of course, being a short prep, get into our habits. We’re not going to know every set. They have a lot of different sets, with the shooting they have on the floor they’re going to get some open looks. Stay the course when they do make some.
“But more importantly, just make sure that we contest every shot — hand, ball, contest — make some adjustments on the ball screen defense. There were times with the ball screen defense where [forward JT] Shumate got open on the pick and pop and we made an adjustment with that. Our guys being able to apply that and hold them to 40 percent in the second half was good.”
Michigan is a No. 3 seed and will take on the winner of Vanderbilt vs. Yale. If Vanderbilt, the No. 2 seed, wins, the Wolverines will travel to Nashville for this weekend’s second round contest. If Yale comes out on top tonight, Michigan will host another game.
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Juwan Howard
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