February 14th, 2023 at 11:29 PM ^
Juwan is not the direct problem.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
Yup. If his guys make some FTs, they probably have a road win at Wisconsin. He put his team in a position to win, yet again.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:04 AM ^
6-10 tonite.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:26 AM ^
Giving up 15 offensive rebounds had nothing to do with it? Rebounding is effort. This team does not rebound well.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:31 AM ^
Rebounding is not entirely effort. It is a combination of effort and basketball IQ. A ton of the rebounds Michigan was giving up last night were off missed threes. Michigan bunches up around the basket after the opponent shoots a 3 and that is not where missed threes go. They are giving effort, but it is misplaced. Ball-you-man. Instead of running under the basket, they need to find a man and put a body on them. Once again, IMHO, this is an issue with Howard assuming a level of talent that he played with but does not possess as a coach. The Fab Five were very sloppy rebounders but they went five players from 6'4 through 6'11 with all incredible athleticism so it did not matter. You don't have to box out with that makeup, running to the basket is fine then and it still comes off as "effort." I think Howard teaches some high level stuff, but he struggles enforcing the basics because he personally did not have to focus on them that much as a college player.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Blocking out is apparently optional in modern day basketball, now replaced by athleticism and jumping ability.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
Only when you have enough of it.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
I think that last sentence might be far too true.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:26 PM ^
If only our several million dollars worth of coaches and their lifetimes of expertise could match yours. :)
Third-youngest high major team in the country. And I think that there's something in your comp with the Fab V--in high school, taller, better players simply take rebounds away from smaller, less gifted players; in college and the pros it becomes more a matter of positioning and scheme. D is also a team challenge, therefore hard to break down statistically--young teams may have able scorers, but suck on D.
Hunter is somewhat limited. Tarris is going to be great. We need a really good four now. If Hunter stays, I think that he and Tarris could learn to work better together, but that's a partial solution. We need a rim runner who can shoot.
The D was actually pretty good for stretches last night. The problem was getting points, especially down the stretch.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Plus at least 3 additional games.
This team simply cannot close out games. May be a product of a young backcourt. Still, it's incredibly frustrating to lose so many close ones.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
Yeah, he just needs time to get more players gimmicks like masks and sweet t-shirts about that time he slapped a coach. Maybe they can come out in full lucha gear for the next game.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:08 AM ^
Juwan has 3 issues directly related to his coaching.
Rotations rotations rotations!!!! especially at the 4 position. Cheddar being in over Reed was a fucking travesty tonight. Neither Cheddar nor TWill should have more minutes than Reed moving forward.
Transition offense absolutely sucks. Probably due to the PG issues. I'm over Dug floundering around over the course of the last 6 minutes every single game this year. He needs to give the ball up to Kobe who will be more 50/50 in floundering or Jett.
Rebounding... This should be the biggest reason for why Reed should always be playing especially now that his shot has been reworked at the free throw line. Hunter and Cheddar are soft on the boards and on defense.
Lastly, anyone else getting sick of the Hunter Dickinson show? Tonight was just hilarious, but it shows you how sad that this shit-talking has become that it's just a comedy now. Juwan needs to step in and reel him in. I don't see Hunter sticking around after this year, and it might be good for both parties.
Juwan's tenure so far has been eerily similar to Harbaugh pt. 1. He has every right to see if he can turn it around.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:26 AM ^
So he's let Hunter be himself all these years and the fans have loved Hunter for it, but NOW he needs to reel him in? Talk about bandwagon fans.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:41 AM ^
I personally never knew about his podcast prior to this year. It's cringy as hell especially if you're going to flat out talk shit on it and get your shit pushed in every game accordingly.
His on-court stuff is fine to me except he might want to retire the 3 point gun celebration (ESPECIALLY against MSU this weekend) and opt for the bow and arrow instead.
February 15th, 2023 at 5:03 AM ^
Hunter hasn't been good since...ever. Sure, when surrounded by great players you can throw it to him and he can make a bunny. Been saying it for 3 years, the offense will get better when he's gone.
February 15th, 2023 at 3:18 PM ^
I would love to see a bunch of you fools average 18 and 7 in D1 and have people talk shit about you because they hate your personality and use it to say you suck as a player. Fittingly, you aren’t good at basketball, player analysis, and your posts are filled with less substance than comes out of Hunter’s mouth. A bunch of fans that shit on the team they supposedly root for but only have the “ability” to be negative af towards the same folks they demand entertain them.
Like Hummel and all the announcers have said about Michigan’s arena fans—they’re quiet and soft and the do nothing to actually support the team. You sit and cry when the team is doing bad in a game and you only muster up cheering when they’re winning. MANY posters here are the equivalent.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:11 AM ^
It's not just Hunter, whose trash talking and NIL obsession have come to noticeably exceed his on-court intensity and performance. Jett showed up to warmups today in a "Free Juwan" shirt -- which at the very least was a needless distraction but arguably also demonstrated a stunning lack of understanding of the severity and wrongfulness of last year's altercation. This entire team looks preoccupied with off-court antics, and it's translating to rudderless, sloppy showings on the court.
And I disagree strongly that Juwan's tenure looks similar to Harbaugh part 1. I think we've learned by now that Covid years were fluky and unrepresentative. Put 2020 aside, and Harbaugh's teams were consistently in contention -- he just couldn't get over the hump of Ohio State. Juwan's teams just looked mired in mediocrity. He should definitely get another season to turn things around, but I don't see it happening.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:33 AM ^
Harbaugh's teams placed top 10 only once before 2021 and struggled against shit MSU teams while splitting 50/50 w/ PSU and UW and ending every season w/ 2 Ls (OSU and bowl). That's mediocrity in Michigan Football.
Howard has been top 16 every year except the cancelled season and this year. He even won the B10 in his 2nd year. He has a PG boogeyman just like Harbaugh did w/ QB (and still apparently does? Since JD hasn't committed yet...)
Add in the antics, and it is similar. Remember "Revenge Tour?"
February 15th, 2023 at 7:05 AM ^
Anyone comparing Howard to Harbaugh, must be crazy. We had plenty of evidence that Harbaugh can coach at the highest level. There was zero evidence that Howard can coach.
The evidence so far shows that Howard is at best a below average coach and an above average recruiter. As far as coaching ability is concerned, Howard is in the same league as Amaker. Right now he is near the bottom of coaches in BIG.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
Above average recruiter?
We've got #83 and #105 coming in next year woo hoo. I guess Caleb bust Houstan and Diabate were key recruits but I'd call him average for the brand he gets to walk around with into any home.
February 15th, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^
At best, evidence in your post shows you aren’t worth listening to. Juwan’s coaching isn’t what makes the final shot or turns the ball over in tight games against tough teams—youthful talent does that. One doesn’t get to the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen in first four years without ability to coach.
This is a young team that almost beat top 3 Virginia and #1 Purdue and is incurring growing pains with closing out games.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:53 AM ^
Nothing about the two situations is remotely similar. Please post each coaches resume prior to UM and see if you notice any difference. The situations each walked into at M are so vastly different too. This comparison isn't passing the smell test.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:00 AM ^
Getting to a sweet sixteen doesn’t make you a top 16 program that year, lol. 17-14? That’s not a top 16 team. He’s had one great season, the rest have been mediocre-to-bad.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
Coach Howard also led his team to a #1 seed in the tourney. Something we hadn't done since Player Howard lead his team to a #1 seed almost 30 years ago. And only once ever (1985) otherwise. He was the national COY a couple years ago. LOL. Give me a break.
The short memories are strong here.
February 15th, 2023 at 8:34 AM ^
Harbaugh part 1? More like Beilein part 1. Prior to the program reset of, IIRC, 2012.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
Comparing Howard to Beilein is as bad as comparing him to Harbaugh. There were volumes of evidence about Beilien's ability to coach. We were worried that he may be unable to recruit, and it took him a while to learn that. Howard can learn to coach, which is far more difficult than learning to recruit.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
Take Beileins first stellar year with U of M and play it backwards from there. That is more of the trajectory.
He is currently working backwards from Beilein to Amaker. Stay near NCAA tourney levels with superior recruits.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
Agree 100%. COVID year aside, Harbaugh's early teams were pretty damn good. If the MSU punt fiasco game and the JT Was Short game ended as they should have, there would be no question. Football teams were generally well prepared.
UM hoops looks lost. Personnel is lacking, development is lacking, end game execution is lacking and on-court results are lacking. Doesn't remotely resemble football.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:55 AM ^
Reed is a foul machine. Can’t rely on him to eat significant minutes.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:56 AM ^
Since the 1st of the year he's averaging a foul every 5.67 minutes.
That means you should be able to get ~28 minutes of play before he fouls out. He's playing 13.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
The refs can only sit you down on your 5th foul. For a bench player that you are going to sit anyway I wouldnt be the slightest concerned with fouls. Howard fouls him out before the refs have a chance.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:43 PM ^
Goes to coaching. Remember how Beilein's teams committed few penalties or turnovers.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
He's not. But I too have noticed what a criminally bad whistle the kid gets. If he looks at a player it's a foul. Smh
February 15th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
No he’s the basketball version of Brady Hoke. Every year he gets worse.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Cheddar was a worthy experiment that should have ended at halftime after it was clear he was getting picked on at the defensive end.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
I agree with Reed playing more. The biggest problem is he is a foul magnet. His defense is sloppy and that is being generous. Unfortunately, Reed would foul out of every game before halftime if he played enough minutes.
However, his talent is very obvious. IF he can learn defensive basics (stand tall, stay vertical, keep your hands high, don't reach, move your feet, ball-you-man) he could be very special. He just is not there yet...
February 15th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
We went 6-10 from the line and they went 14-18. That was the difference.
Also, Jett is an 80% FT shooter, Kobe's at 82%. Those two need to be your primary ball handlers when you're in the bonus. If you can't hit your outside shots, drive the ball to the basket and put the pressure on the refs to blow the whistle. Maybe I'm oversimplifying things, but you can't win when Tschetter and Reed shoot 40% of your team's free throws.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
It's far too simplistic to say that Kobe and Jett should be the primary ball handlers when in the bonus, especially since - at least by my eyes - they were the primary ball handlers last night. Also Dug (obviously).
Tschetter got fouled on a shot at the rim after a nice high-low action with Hunter. So he wasn't a ball handler - he was diving to the rim on a very nice offensive set. That's exactly the type of high percentage shot you want out of an offensive set.
Also, Reed was perfect from the line last night. And he rarely handles the ball. Most of his offensive touches are around the rim.
Dug missed a crucial FT last night, but he's been very solid from the line this year (76%).
It sucks that we missed some key FT's in the last few minutes of last night's game, but asking Kobe and Jett to play 2 vs 5 when we're in the bonus is not a reasonable offense.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:30 PM ^
Too soon.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:30 PM ^
Howard isn’t going anywhere this year. Team is not good this year. Sucks but that’s the reality.
Program could be headed south quick, but we are on the Howard express like it or not
they’ll either show improvement next year, or we’ll know it’s gonna crash and burn.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:31 PM ^
February 14th, 2023 at 11:32 PM ^
The only way he’s leaving is if he realizes his coaching style is better in the NBA, which it is.
You can’t let your guys roll in wearing ski masks and “free Juwan” shirts and then give up 13 offensive rebounds to one of the worst rebounding teams in the country.
Complete clown show.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:36 PM ^
At least Hunter looked really cool in his ski mask and shit talking to the crowd only to score 3 points in the 2nd Half.
This team is a bunch of cornballs and it’s a reflection of their HC. They’re all talk and no effort. I can’t remember disliking a Michigan team more than this one.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
Avery Queen, Kevin Gaines, and Josh Moore would like a word with you.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:47 PM ^
At least they weren't clowns about it.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:05 AM ^
Did any of Ellerbe’s teams ever have 5 top 50 recruits on the roster and 3 McDonald’s All Americans?
February 15th, 2023 at 6:04 AM ^
Those were the years that I did not watch basketball. We are getting there quickly again.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:56 PM ^
Yah I just don't understand that level of cockyness. You lost to CMU for crying out loud. Def some entitlement behavior.
HD with the scumbags, the ski mask then the drama queen emotional tirade after the first half buzzer tonight. He talked his shit like he won the NCAA championship at the half walking back to the tunnel. And Juwan didn't say or do anything.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:07 AM ^
Kobe, Dug, Cheddar, and Reed all put forth all effort but they’re young. This team should have Sophmore Diabate, sophmore Frankie Collins, and sophmore Houstan. OR Shannon…. Imagine a how that team would fare.
Edit: I didn’t see the ski mask thing until just now…not sure what the goal was there, the point above stands but this team just isn’t at a point where they can give up free bulletin board material and then throttle a team.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:29 AM ^
The Fab 5 were young, but with good coaching did okay.