Nebraska 85, Michigan 70
Michigan Men's Basketball closed out their regular season of the 2023-24 campaign with an eighth straight loss, the team's 13th in 14 games and 18th in 20 games. Matched up against a Nebraska team who eviscerated Michigan's defense in the first meeting between the two teams back in early February, the defense of the Maize & Blue did no better this time. They allowed 50 points in the first half and Nebraska shot 28/36 (77.8%) from two for the game, scoring at a 1.21 PPP clip for the contest. Michigan hung around in the first half but like so many other games this season, were blown out of the water in the second half and the final minutes ticked down without any intrigue. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The first half was the Keisei Tominaga show, as the Japanese guard piled up 23 points (nearly half of Nebraska's total) on a sizzling 9/12 shooting. Tominaga had his way with the Michigan defense, lethal from downtown with four triples, plus gobs of easy scores inside at the rim. Tominaga led the Nebraska offense that bulldozed the Michigan defense throughout the first half, scoring 70% from the floor and 15/18 from two, numbers that only cooled off slightly in the second half. Even for a Michigan defense that has had plenty of ugly halves this season, this first half effort had to have been among the ugliest. Josiah Allick and Rienk Mast each chipped in seven points as well on a combined 6/7 shooting as Nebraska hung a half-century in the first half.
To Michigan's credit, they had a lot of offensive success as well in the first half against a Nebraska defense that had been pretty sharp in recent weeks. It wasn't enough to keep up with the way their defense was hemorrhaging points on the other end, but it gave the game a competitive feel, as Michigan only trailed by seven at halftime. While Tominaga dazzled for Nebraska, Dug McDaniel was the star for Michigan, shooting 5/6 from three on his way to 17 points in the first half. There were a couple instances of Tominaga drilling a shot at one end, only for McDaniel to pull up from three and swish it at the other end. Michigan didn't get a ton else of note offensively outside of McDaniel in the first half, but it was enough to keep them within striking distance at the half.
[Marc-Gregor Campredon]
Michigan was going to need to defend better in the second half and while they did somewhat, their offense also bogged down and were unable to close the gap. Nebraska's three point shooting cooled off dramatically and Tominaga was held in check, but with Tominaga on the perimeter drawing attention, the Huskers were still able to get inside for too many easy layups and dunks. Nebraska was 11/18 on 2's in the second half, with Josiah Allick standing out as the star in the latter 20 minutes. Allick played good defense, with an excellent recovery and close-out to block a Burnett three early in the second half hanging in the memory. He scored 8 points in the second half to lead the team, same as Brice Williams, as Nebraska put together a rather ensemble offensive performance in the second half.
For Michigan, the biggest story was the three point shooting vanishing. They made just one out of 13 attempts from deep in the second half, missing a number of pretty wide open looks, Terrance Williams II making their only triple of the second half. McDaniel in particular was ice cold, 0/5 from the floor in the second half and Michigan's best sequence of the second half, when they trimmed the Nebraska lead from 20 back to 12, came with Dug on the bench. That briefly looked like it could give Michigan an opening to charge back into the game, but Nebraska wrestled control back and the two teams were rather lackluster and sloppy late in the game. Michigan never got it back to single digits after Allick's layup to make the score 59-48 and the end of the game was again marked by walk-ons in the game and discussion from the broadcasters of how good Michigan's opponent is playing recently.
Michigan ends the B1G regular season at 3-17, last place in the conference by four games. Their only conference wins were over Iowa, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, just one coming on the road. Seven of their last eight games have been losses by double digit margins. Last season was a year of repetitive pain after meltdowns in the final minutes of close games. This season, the team was so bad in calendar 2024 there haven't even been close games to meltdown in. Each game is a similar shade to the last one and my recaps have grown shorter and shorter because there are only so many ways you can describe how nonexistent Michigan's defense is or their one-dimensionality sans Olivier Nkamhoua on offense.
Michigan will play in the (14) vs. (11) game in the B1G Tournament on Wednesday night, with one more loss to end their season. It is not clear who the opponent will be, but we will know by the end of the evening tonight. What we do know is that game will be at roughly 9:00 pm EST and will be broadcast on Peacock.
[Click the JUMP for the box score]
I know the demands will be here for Warde to fire Juwan, and that may well be coming. But it may also be less of a no-brainer than many believe. There are considerations about how firing Juwan will affect this roster and the incoming players next year, about whether firing him would damage the school's relationship with the Fab Five, and whether, this far away from their playing days, that would even matter in terms of hurting potential recruits and our overall reputation.
At this point I, regretfully, am off the Juwan Howard bus myself. I would love to have a new coach come in and reignite the program. But a decision by Warde to keep him for one more year — after taking into account considerations I myself have no insight on — would hardly be egregious. I would accept it.
Every fan base in the world is quick to demand coaches be fired, always assuming the "next guy" will come in and immediately makes things better. I prefer to allow the people who's jobs it is to evaluate the program and make those determinations to do so. And I'll cheer for the team regardless.
Go Blue.
I really think the worst course of action from today is to let this fester another year. Recruits and transfers hardly matter imo - this is the bottom for Michigan basketball and theres no reason to think we turn it around next year. You just need to find a way for Juwan to exit with some pride (accepting an NBA job; “stepping away for health reasons”) and start over
Lol do you really care if the entire team bolts or Jalen Rose starts getting pissy on Twitter? Who gives a F. If you wanna see what rock bottom really is just wait til next year with Juwan at the helm. 0-20 in conference would be not only a possibility but even a likely outcome.
about whether firing him would damage the school's relationship with the Fab Five
Who gives a shit about this? The Fab Five hasn’t been relevant for a decade.
Honestly I don’t think the Fab Five supports these results. Not much to get upset about.
I've long contended the easiest course here is for Howard to step away for health/family reasons, with both Jace and Jett done at UM and Howard's heart issues, and then Warde can do a proper search without having to actually fire Juwan. Howard can still seek out assistant jobs in the NBA whenever he wants, and UM can payout of the rest of the salary until then.
I don’t see him doing that though. For all his faults as a coach, Juwan is a competitor and he does love this university. I don’t see him stepping away accepting that he bottomed things out and can’t fix it.
Well, if Howard cannot accept it, then it’s the AD job to do so. Juwan’s hubris and Warde’s lack of motivation will then turn to Santa. His inaction through the end of Harbaugh era leans to inaction. Add it up, Juwan is here and the program suffers. Nothing Howard has done shows he can fix anything.
I mean, then he's going to lose badly next year and then get fired. I'm sure Howard is competitive and doesn't want to admit defeat but he's also practical and leaving UM with a losing record as a HC after being fired is going to hurt his future quite a bit more than an easy departure.
I can't agree with one word of the above.
"There are considerations about how firing Juwan will affect this roster and the incoming players next year, about whether firing him would damage the school's relationship with the Fab Five, and whether, this far away from their playing days, that would even matter in terms of hurting potential recruits and our overall reputation."
This roster is poisoned and has quit, there is nowhere near enough talent coming in next year to make one whit of difference. Our relationship with the Fabs is damaged to some degree already, thanks to Chris Webber. What any of that has to do with next year's team one way or the other is beyond me. Our overall reputation as a basketball destination is in tatters. Juwan as a recruiter is toast.
"But a decision by Warde to keep him for one more year — after taking into account considerations I myself have no insight on — would hardly be egregious."
Warde deciding to keep Juwan as coach of this team is not only egregious, it's malpractice.
"I prefer to allow the people who's jobs it is to evaluate the program and make those determinations to do so."
Good thing that's your preference, as you have no choice. I do share your preference here, so I guess we do have something to agree on.
Having said that, let me say this FIRE JUWAN !!!!!!!!!!!
He has embarrassed himself and the university ... repeatedly.
Warde has also embarrassed himself and the university by failing to act on his "zero tolerance" position regarding Juwan's inability to control his emotions, and in so doing has cost us one of the very best strength coaches in the country, and an absolute program jewel. And as such he needs to be dismissed as well. Juwan should have been gone for a couple months now, that he isn't is nothing but squandered time and opportunity on the part of "patient" Warde Manuel.
So FIRE WARDE TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Below is everything you need to know about Juwan Howard as a basketball coach in one extremely representative lowlight.
https://twitter.com/brockheilig/status/1766882689099948120?=42&t=W0iyy_SudiMjbX0JH86PTg
"There are considerations about how firing Juwan will affect this roster and the incoming players next year, about whether firing him would damage the school's relationship with the Fab Five, and whether, this far away from their playing days, that would even matter in terms of hurting potential recruits and our overall reputation."
These are considerations that should be held for 5 seconds before moving on to consider the current state of the program and what the best move is for the program moving forward.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:11 PM ^
Love the Fab Five and always will, but I think damaging the school's relationship with the group takes a back seat when 20% of said group is directly responsible for this predicament.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:33 AM ^
I would hope every one of them knows after years of competition that you are only as good as your results. And these results are abysmal. In fact, he has a small narrative justification involving his health (not much of one, IMO) if he goes now that he can sell in the future. Another year of losing he'll lose that too.
Who gives a crap about this roster. It’s terrible
I prefer to allow the people who's jobs it is to evaluate the program and make those determinations to do so.
As Brian has pointed out many times, "People in charge of things are often in charge of them for no good reason."
We just went 8-23, and 3-17 in league play. Nkamhoua is done and Dug is probably gone to the portal. What are we clinging to here?
Whatever reasons there may be to keep Juwan, you didn't name a single one.
Every team and fan (outside UM) wants Juwan back next year. They will all welcome his return with great enthusiasm. Warde will be their hero.
Who gives a crap about who's coming in next year? They aren't enough to help. And I could care less about the fab five. We have lived without them for 30yrs. Can live without them for longer.
If the Fab Five are tolerant of the results on the court that we currently have, then honestly I don’t care what alienating them from the program (again?) would do. I’d rather look out for the program’s best interests than worry about hurting the Fab Five’s feelings. If we don’t fire Howard because we’re worried what the rest of the Fab Five think, then we deserve whatever we get.
Keeping Howard for another year will only make things worse. There’s no realistic scenario where next year is better for this program. Any transfer with options will not come to a program that’s not only at rock bottom, but also clearly has a very embattled coach who may be on a one year “prove it or else” deal with the university.
March 11th, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^
The roster is bad and poorly constructed. They guys coming in next year won't elevate the team. Currently there's poor coaching, mediocre talent, and mediocre effort. Getting rid of Howard fixes at least 1 of those problems, maybe 2.
As for the Fab 5, I mean who really cares? They're not relevant to recruits or culture anymore. It was cool when Michigan was on the rise and bringing those guys back, but Rose and Weber aren't relevant to 17 year olds.
It's not just the results that are fireable, it's the entire operation. Guys jogging back, not picking up the ball handler. Not boxing out. Just general lack of effort and it starts with the HC.
I would accept it.
What do you mean by that? I haven't even watched a game in several months, i changed the channel Sunday when it came on. But sure, i accept the fact that legally speaking nobody can force Manuel to fire Howard.
Unless Juwan can give Warde a clear, well thought out plan for improving the team next year, keeping him just condemns us to another year of embarrassing basketball. Maybe he could “step away” from coaching to focus on his health?
“It’s finally over. It’s done”-Frodo
Barring something truly strange, going 3-17 in conference play ought to be the end of a coach's time at Michigan.
Pls be patient for next years 1-19
Hire Chris Collins immediately. No excuses for admissions. No excuses for violent action towards other coaches or lunging aggressively izzo style at your strength coach.
We don't need a home run hire right now we need a bridge candidate who can run a P5 fucking program.
I understand that UM may not have its pick of the top coaches, but I wouldn't lead with Chris Collins. His NW experience:
Careful with recency bias.
Is NW a tough place to win? Yes. I don't think he's been dazzling overall. I'll admit that I've also never trusted the Coach K coaching tree.
I wouldn't say that Collins himself is the guy for Michigan (his face is too puncheable) but he has proven that he can recruit and develop talent into a winning team, at least once in a while. That's not nothing. And of course, he has done this at Northwestern, which had approximately zero successful seasons in men's basketball before he arrived. The track record is not exactly scintillating, but it is impressive.
6 seasons of 6 or less wins in the big ten? Good god people what are we even doing?
Half his career at NU has been slightly better than this season.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:47 PM ^
I'd rather have Fred Hoiberg than Collins. With Warde Manuel, we are probably going to end up with Ed Cooley.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:54 AM ^
Or worse, Manuel will hire a fucking goblin.
Warde can rotate in his co-members on the CFP committee as honorary coaches, recognizing their legendary achievement in helping ol' boy arrive at his career pinnacle as chair of that expanded playoff committee.
March 11th, 2024 at 11:18 PM ^
Thad Matta is not the only goblin out there. The fuckers are everywhere. Can we really trust Manuel not to hire one?
Just one more game to suffer through and it'll be over. I guess I can't even classify this as suffering when you know the outcome is going to be a double digit loss. Negative expectations are the norm this season. Last season as well. Apathy is in the house.
Rutgers recruiting class gonna run Michigan off their floor next yr by 30.
Rutgers.
Our starting lineup might be 2 returning players and a lot of vaporware. We will look back at this yr and miss it
Michigan football has as many wins as bball in 24. Expect a 5 win season next yr with 1-2 in big 10.
Hard to think of a more fitting ending to this season than a 9:00 PM Wednesday night tip on Peacock.
Cock'd one more time eh?
So... does this shit no longer work?
Also, Alex you've done yeoman's work recapping this team, but if I may let's also spare a thought for Dylan Burkhardt at UMhoops.com who has to run a whole-ass damn website about this team.
If you're reading this, good sir, thank you for your service.
I think that is always the fear with change...the change. But I like to think we could land a massive coach who could restore the brand here. So many options and so many big names who get folks to forget about this debacle.
And if Juwan stays, he needs to tear down the staff and roster anyway. Tweaks will bear a repeat so we are in the same spot either way.
I think if we could land a mediocre coach we could do much better next year.
Sure, totally logical to have some fear of change when you have something to lose. Like a .500 team could do worse with a change, even if that team aspires to compete for championships.
We have nothing to lose. Our only possible accomplishment this season might be keeping St John's gets out of the tournament because of how bad that loss is looking on their resume.
Gotta wonder what Warde deems successful going further with JH and the basketball program.
This is bad.
I really respect the players who have stuck through this mess. I question the sanity of those who will stay another year. (I guess maybe there's lots of playing time available in a premier conference that could be good for scouting exposure??)
Scouting exposure? Scouting for what?
Other than Dug, there aren't real landing spots for any of these guys. I assume Tschetter, YoYo, Reed, and GWIII stay because they are pursuing a degree at Michigan and don't have a compelling basketball reason to leave. If they do leave, it probably means the drama here is really as bad as it seems.
If we win one game next year, does that mean the football team wins another national championship? In that case, KEEP JUWAN!
Can we decline to play in the Big Ten tournament? This is a crime against humanity.
Too bad it's not next year when the bottom two teams don't even make the BTT.
I still think many over confident that we can even attract a good coach here, knowing that (among other things) our NIL is bad and bringing in key transfers via the portal will be a huge hurdle.
NOTE: this is not an endorsement of Juwan. I do think he should be let go, but don't be surprised if we find it difficult to hire someone better.
Northwestern is pushing out 20 win seasons right now.
Northwestern
A school with far more built-in disadvantages than what Michigan has, and I’d find it hard to believe that their NIL program is that much better than Michigan’s.
If Northwestern can find a coach that wins in this NIL age, there is no reason to think Michigan can’t.
I think that’s a bit of a stretch in how you are characterizing Northwestern. They have been to the NCAA tournament twice in 10 years, and they had 3 20-win seasons in that span. They also had an 8 and 9 win season recently. We have performed much much much better than Northwestern in that time frame. Northwestern in not the good comparison you think it is.
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