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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard met with the media on Friday afternoon to discuss the Wolverines upcoming matchup against Indiana on Sunday, but it started out quite emotional.
Reacting to having read the feature on his youth by Brendan Quinn in The Athletic, Howard started with an opening statement, getting teary discussing his reaction to his past and how those from his former community in Chicago reacted to his impact in various ways.
After that, he moved onto basketball things, and WolverinesWire was there to catch it all on video.
Watch the entire press conference above or read the full transcript below.
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Opening statement
“Before we start, I just want to say this: give a shoutout to Brendan Quinn. Very powerful article that you wrote.
“I appreciate it. Looking back at that story and reading it made me, take me back to some memories of growing up. And all the adversity of living in that area of Lowden Homes. I recall the experience of when I first moved to that area and I was like, ‘Wow! We moving on up,’ similar to the Jeffersons. Looking at a place that was like a two-flat apartment. Then I was like, ‘Well, it’s a townhouse!’ Then, when I found out, after walking outside and hanging with the kids that it’s a CHA development, coming from the neighborhood that I was leaving, we kinda looked down on CHA. So —
“It was unfair. Telling me what to appreciate whatever God has put forth on your plate, that there’s always a reason. Despite wherever that obstacle is, if you put your mind to it, and obviously pray every day, do what you do, control the controllable, then you never know what the light at the end of the tunnel is going to bring you. And that’s why I got super emotional when I was hired here at the University of Michigan, because I started thinking about my journey. To put a basketball court for the kids in that area that I knew they did not have something that I always wanted when I was living in Lowden Homes — we used to shoot on crates, on the monkey bars, we used to try to figure out ways to just have fun and be a kid. So God blessed me with the talent to play basketball and I went up and (said), ‘I gotta give back to the community. These kids, they need an outlet. I was once them and I could never turn my back on them.’ So that’s what the playground is all about. It’s more than just a playground. It was more than just a basketball court. It was about trying to reach out to make a difference in the community. And when I read the article, thinking about Tony Allen, Lumpkin, Horton and what they said, I was like wow — that’s what it was for. And obviously for many others who didn’t have the opportunity like Allen or Horton. The impact you have on the kids lives when you have no idea what you were doing.
“(To Brendan Quinn, while wiping tears:) Thank you. I appreciate that. I know it’s always like I’m crying! Wow! My grandmother’s so proud, because it was her choice to move to that neighborhood. Thank you.”
Has he watched film with Jon Teske post-Northwestern yet?
“We haven’t gotten around to it yet. Yesterday we had an off day. Sometimes on off days you just want to get away from basketball and just be a student-athlete. I understand that he has a schedule with classes and things that come up with things to his academics. So today is gonna be a basketball day. We’ll have our moment to sit down and talk about how I can help him finish out his senior year on a great note.”
Advantages over Indiana
“Indiana’s tough. They came off a big win last night versus Iowa at home. Very strong, physical team. Great offensive rebounding team. As we know last night, Green got hot from outside. Had a big first half, shot the ball well. They play with a lot of emotion, a lot of intensity. Very good active hands on the defensive end. They try to be very disruptive. We’ve gotta come out, be locked in, which I know we will. We’re playing at home, in front of our home crowd. I know the crowd’s gonna be excited about this matchup. So will we.”
Defensive emergence
“Practice has been a big key to how our defense has improved. Yes, there’s been other ways of how we can add to how to become a better defensive team by some of the adjustments we’ve made, but it’s always started in practice and building those habits and having those guys being locked into what we’re teaching and bringing the energy and effort and the mindset of trying to figure out ways to disrupt and be a better defensive group as we approach the second-half of the season. Well, as we’re in the second-half of the season.”
Defending inside the arc
“The activity. Our guys, of course, have been more locked into not leaving a brother on an island by himself. Been very good in the help team defense level. But also has done a really good job of guarding our man one-on-one. We want to continue to keep getting better in all of those areas. There’s always room for improvement. They’ll let you know if you ask them: we always have film on areas we can get better, because for them, it’s some of the best teaching.”
Jon Teske in the post
“We’ve been working on it since July and he’s getting better and better with it. Unfortunately, last game against Northwestern, he got knocked off balance a few times. He got knocked off his sweet spot. Some shots that would normally go in kind of rolled in and rolled out. They’ve also been doubling hi in the post. We’ve gotta take that into consideration as well.
“It’s not a session — I’m not saying you guys are doing this — but overall, he’s the first guy you can point the finger at and say, ‘Okay, well, Jon’s not playing well. Jon’s not giving us anything,’ or, ‘Jon’s not giving us an inside presence.’ No, that’s not it. He’s on everyone’s scouting report. They double him for a reason, because they do not want to see Jon score baskets, because they know he’s capable of having big nights if you play him one-on-one. I really love the fact that Jon, not by any way, walked into my office or in practice and been resistant of playing on the inside. He’s always trying to figure out ways of how to improve and I will continue to keep developing him.”
What they can do for him?
“We’ve done a really good job last game. And not just last game, but we have counters, too — anytime teams double. But I’m not gonna say it now, because it just gives them our scouting report.”
Is there a defensive coordinator coach?
“We all have a responsibility and a duty to do our job when it comes to helping on offense and defense. Every assistant on our staff has a scouting report for each team. Like, for example, we play Indiana and it’s Howard Eisley’s scout. He’s gonna contribute for what’s gonna give us the best chance to win. I’m not gonna say here right now and say who’s the offensive coordinator and who’s the defensive coordinator. No, we do it collectively as a group.”
Communication on defense improvement
“I’ve seen it get better a lot, but we still can improve. Get 1% better at our communication. There are times when I still have to hold up the PJ Tucker sign. I will continue to keep doing it every time until we get it right. Every time, all the time, for 40 minutes.”
Being a black head coach in the Big Ten and his role there
“Being the (third) black head coach here at the University of Michigan and a former player that played college ball and that also played at the NBA level for 19 years, coming from a community like Lowden Homes, I am an inspiration for a lot of guys that are striving to be the next head coach at whatever university there is. It’s more than I’m just doing it for the Howard family. I’m doing it for the community, the community back in Chicago. I’m also doing it for all the other aspiring young kids that want to someday play professionally, on the collegiate level and want to someday come back and teach the game of basketball as a head coach. So it’s my duty to be a great example. It’s my duty to lead, to show the passion, the energy, the effort. Be thankful and grateful for this position and do my best where I can to help lead these young men.
“This job doesn’t come too often and I know that, I’m aware of that. I can’t take this lightly. I’ve gotta show. And I’m okay with that and I’m comfortable with knowing it’s more than just me. I welcome pressure. I’ve had pressure since growing up, since day one — from Lowden Homes. I’ve always never ran from it.”