Behind the Scenes: Howard's First Coaching Victory
11/6/2019 7:55:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Plenty of things that Juwan Howard was not expecting happened in his first game as the University of Michigan men's basketball head coach.
He did not anticipate seeing a 30-point lead dwindle to four points in the final minute before Eli Brooks took control en route to a career-high 24 points, assuring a 79-71 victory over Appalachian State Tuesday night (Nov. 5).
"I loved the fact that we stayed the course when they made their run," said Howard. "We could've easily just folded, but we didn't."
He did not expect to have his players ask him to sing "The Victors" in the locker room after the win. John Beilein, whom Howard replaced, had always designated a player central to the victory to have that honor.
"Go Blue on three!" shouted Howard. "Alright, one-two-three. One-two, you know what to do: Hail to the Victors valiant! Hail to the conquering heroes."
HAIL!! #GoBlue | #HTTV pic.twitter.com/7zeNx2rogJ
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) November 6, 2019
Afterward, I asked what their gesture meant to him.
"That meant a lot," said Howard. "At first I wasn't sure what they were asking me to do. Then I got the hang of it. I got my first one under my belt, so if they ask me again I can be right on beat."
He'd probably led the Fab Five in "The Victors" a few times, right?
"No," said Howard. "I don't recall that we did that. Not that we didn't appreciate the song being a part of the Michigan culture."
Howard did not expect to get cheered by catching a Michigan turnover, but he did. When center Jon Teske fired a long, errant pass right into the hands of his coach midway through the second half, fans cheered loudly. It was an odd reaction for a turnover, but that's how much joy the Michigan faithful felt in seeing one of their favorite players with the ball in his hands once again at Crisler.
"I've got to slow down the game," said Teske, apologizing for the turnover. "It was the first time I'd gotten double-teamed since high school. I thought it was pretty funny that they cheered, but I was pretty mad at myself turning it over there."
Howard said, "I thought that was pretty funny. It was just my natural reaction to catch the ball because it was coming into my space."
He bumped fists with several fans in those great seats.
"I told the fans," said Howard, "'I saved you.' They can't say I'm not looking out for them."
And despite his close relationship with Fab Five teammate Jalen Rose, Howard did not expect Rose to be at the game because of all his broadcasting commitments with ESPN.
Rose, who brought his mother to the game, glanced at Howard in front of the locker room entrance after the game with a look of great pride.
"Congratulations!" shouted Rose. "First win!"
They hugged.
"I love you, brother!" Howard exclaimed.
The warmth in their eyes was something to see.
Rose shoots the T-shirt cannon into the Crisler Center crowd during the season opener on Tuesday
Rose was seated on the floor along the baseline closest to the Michigan bench. Howard said Jimmy King also attended. Chris Webber and Ray Jackson, whom he noted wanted to attend, texted him best wishes along with other teammates.
"The brotherhood that we have with one another will never, ever go anywhere," said Howard. "It's beautiful, the support I have, the brotherhood. That's what's so special about college. The relationships and adversity that you go through with your brother is part of the growing that you look back on and laugh about: 'Wow, that's special.'
"That brotherhood lasts a lifetime."
At halftime, I asked Rose what it was like to watch his special friend and teammate for life coaching their school.
"Awesome," said Rose, a wide smile crossing his face. "Just awesome."
However, there was one thing Howard did expect to be when the heat got turned up and the game was on the line. He expected to be calm, and his players had come to expect that, too.
"Keep in mind," he told them in the locker room, "we got a win! It's a win no matter what. When we walk out of this building today, hold your heads high and be proud of yourselves.
"Check?"
And the players responded, "Check."
Howard added, "We all know there are a few areas we have to clean up. We will, and I trust we will. ... And we'll trust one another."
He was addressing the problems that led to having 26 points sliced off what appeared to be an insurmountable lead.
Teske noted, "He was very calm in the huddle. You could tell he's been a player and an assistant coach. He was very calm in the situations and didn't panic. We trust him to make the right decisions, and that's what he did."
I asked Howard about the source of the calm he brought.
"My calmness comes from that's just my nature," he said. "As well as, I really enjoy this mindful teaching that I'm doing with meditation. I was first introduced to it two years ago when I was working for the Miami Heat but really consistently started doing it in September."
Wolverine athletic director Warde Manuel presented Howard with the game ball from his first win before leaving the locker room.
"I'm going to put this ball in a Plexiglas case after I get it inscribed and put it in my office," said Howard.
What did it mean to his players to be part of Howard's first victory as a head coach at his alma mater?
"It feels great," said Teske, who scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half, when he accumulated 11 of his 13 rebounds. "I'm so happy for him. He's put in a lot of hard work coaching us. We've just got to trust the process and he's going to lead us in the right direction."
Brooks said, "It was great -- something I'll never forget. His first career win at Michigan, coming back, that's big time."
Brooks hadn't scored more than nine points in a game his first two seasons, but he started and got 16 of his 24 points in the second half, hitting the clutch free throws in the final seconds to secure victory. He said Howard has helped build his confidence.
"He's a great motivator," Brooks said. "That's one thing he does really, really well. He instills confidence in everybody. He trusts me by calling plays for me in practice, exhibition games and tonight. He's allowed me to have confidence in myself and show my abilities. He calls plays for everybody, and everybody gets involved."
Howard stood for the majority of the game, only occasionally taking a seat between assistants Saddi Washington and Phil Martelli. He calmly shouted instructions to his players and motioned with his hands for emphasis.
The shot clock violation his defense forced late in the first half had him clapping, and Howard did get vocal a few times. He saw a player missing his cue on a play and shouted, "Hey! Hey! Hey!" Once realigned, the play resulted in a basket.
When Teske came out for the final minute of the first half, Howard patted him on the behind. He's always involved in the present, but his past is such a big part of the expectations Howard brings.
The Wolverines played in two national championship games (since vacated) and missed out on a third Final Four by losing an Elite Eight game to eventual national champion Arkansas in his third and final college season. Those were pretty great times, and the team's fans now get to remember those days by watching Juwan coach their team.
It was the beginning of a great reconnect.
Juwan Howard bobbleheads were given to fans attending the game. Juwan was posed wearing a black suit and pants while opening his jacket to reveal the iconic maize No. 25 jersey worn in his playing days, 1991-94.
What did he think of the creation?
"I thought they did a real good job with the bobblehead," said Howard. "I think they should add a little more gray hair (smiles). That's what my wife said. But overall, it is pretty good. They did an excellent job with the ears. My ears do sit outside my head. I've got Will Smith and, like, President Obama ears."
He chuckled and shook his head.
We got to see his special qualities once again at Crisler: the focus, the calm, the love, the sense of humor, and the intensity when required. So much has changed in the 25 years since No. 25 played for the Wolverines. But it was great to see that there was a whole lot that didn't change about him.
He was the leader then. He's the leader now.
