Tag: michigan-basketball

More details revealed about Michigan basketball Juwan Howard, Jon Sanderson altercation

This is such a weird incident.

What should have been a good weekend for Michigan basketball fans, considering the Wolverines gained a Quad 1 win over Iowa, instead devolved into questions about the team’s leadership.

It was revealed on Sunday evening that Juwan Howard had gotten into an altercation with longtime strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson. Rumors swirled about the extent of the incident, but reports indicated the altercation was not physical, as initially suggested.

Jeff Goodman suggested on the “Field of 68” podcast that the argument started when team captain Jace Howard got into it with a trainer, which Goodman described as being over the line. Sanderson responded, per Goodman: “That’s why the effing culture is the way it is around here.”

“So, Juwan hears this, and Juwan gets upset, gets mad,” Goodman said. “We’ve seen Juwan get mad before. He did it with Mark Turgeon a couple years ago on the sideline. He did it certainly with Greg Gard and Joe Krabbenhoft when he slapped or hit — whatever you want to call it — Krabbenhoft during the Wisconsin game. He went up to Sanderson, who’s about 6-7, 6-8, 270 — he’s a big, strong strength coach. Exactly what you would think of if there (was) a picture of a strength coach on the wall right now. And he went right up to him, and he got — and this is what my sources tell me, multiple sources tell me — chest to chest, nose to nose, before they had to be separated.”

Howard traveled to Iowa City on Sunday, but Sanderson is reportedly on a week-long hiatus. He is expected to return to the team the same day Howard regains the helm, Dec. 16, when Michigan hosts Eastern Michigan. Howard has been rehabilitating after heart surgery and has worked his way back as an assistant.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn reports (subscription required) Sanderson is the one who filed a claim with the Michigan athletics human resources department.

An alleged confrontation between Michigan head basketball coach Juwan Howard and longtime Michigan strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson is being probed by University of Michigan human resources, leaving the program in a state of flux.

According to three team and university sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly on internal university personnel issues, Sanderson filed an HR claim following a heated dispute with Howard on Dec. 7.

For Howard, the Wolverines’ fifth-year head coach, the overarching issue with such an HR review is that his employment at Michigan is under a “zero-tolerance policy” instituted by the university stemming from a postgame skirmish at Wisconsin in February 2022.

It remains unclear what will come of this verbal skirmish and whether the relationship between Howard and Sanderson will take a hit. For now, we should see the return of Howard to his head coaching position on Saturday, along with Sanderson’s return to the team.

Reports indicate Juwan Howard had an altercation during a Michigan basketball practice

Michigan basketball: ‘Why can’t you just be normal?’

Over the past 24 hours, rumors have been swirling around Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard with yet another controversy. Social media was abuzz about the Wolverines head man, but delving more into rumor and innuendo than anything.

On Sunday evening, The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn clarified the rumors, and on Monday, The Detroit News’ James Hawkins expounded.

First, here’s what Hawkins said:

The Michigan men’s basketball program is dealing with another incident involving head coach Juwan Howard.

A program source confirmed a confrontation that involved Howard and longtime strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson occurred during a practice late last week. However, the altercation wasn’t physical, despite several reports on social media suggesting otherwise.

It’s unclear what led to the confrontation or what it was about. According to The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn, the incident is going through a university review process.

As noted, Howard did attend the Michigan basketball game at Iowa on Sunday while Sanderson did not.

Howard has been working back to the team after having heart surgery in September. Phil Martelli has been working as the interim head coach but Howard has returned in an assistant role while he continues to recover.

Michigan basketball hired Howard in 2019, but he’s had a few controversial moments, including striking a Wisconsin assistant in 2021 as well as a well-publicized on-court spat with former Maryland coach Mark Turgeon.

We’ll continue to monitor this story as it develops.

Five takeaways: Michigan basketball routs St. John’s in Gavitt Games

Do you believe now?! #GoBlue

Now 2-0 on the season, Michigan basketball has surprised many by looking much better than the preseason expectations. However, on Monday evening, the early tests against 2022-23 tournament team UNC-Asheville and Youngstown State gave way to a tougher one against a Rick Pitino-coached St. John’s team in the Gavitt Games.

It didn’t take long for the Wolverines to realize they were in a fight.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams surging and ebbing. Just before the half, Michigan surged, taking what was a meager advantage into a 10-point halftime lead. But what would the second half hold?

The Wolverines stayed aggressive in the second half, pushing the lead to as much 18 in the first eight minutes. Then the tout was on thanks to a 22-5 run.

That would be too much for Pitino’s Red Storm, as Michigan beat St. John’s, 89-73. Here are our five takeaways from the game.

Five takeaways: Michigan basketball takes down UNC-Asheville in season opener

Great showing in the first outing for #Michigan! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A day after many of the big names in college basketball tipped off their 2023-24 seasons, Michigan basketball had its turn to take the hardwood. It hoped Tuesday night’s matchup would go better than Monday night did for a certain rival to the West.

The Wolverines had a hot start, leading UNC-Asheville by 15 points early. Near the end of the first half, the maize and blue pushed that lead to 21. Some mistakes late allowed the Bulldogs to cut the lead to 16.

The second half started with a bang when Dug McDaniel hit a 3 and a steal by Nimari Burnett led to a breakaway layup and an and-1. It didn’t take long for the lead to balloon to 27 points just past the under-16 media timeout, and the rout was on.

With Phil Martelli acting as interim head coach while Juwan Howard continues to recuperate from heart surgery, Michigan defeated UNC-Asheville, 99-74. Here are our five takeaways from the season opener.

Michigan basketball has surprising secret scrimmage win

Whoa! #GoBlue

The thought entering the 2023-24 season is Michigan basketball wasn’t going to be very good this year. The Wolverines lost star center Hunter Dickinson to Kansas via the transfer portal, and the team attempted to reload through similar means. Though Tray Jackson, Olivier Nkamhoua, and Nimari Burnett came aboard, the seeming addition of former five-star Caleb Love didn’t come to fruition due to admissions.

Before the basketball team starts the season in earnest with an exhibition game, the team had a secret scrimmage against No. 5 Marquette. And wouldn’t you know it, the maize and blue ended up coming out with a win, even without Juwan Howard at the helm (he’s still recovering from heart surgery).

This wasn’t a typical game: It had four 12-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves. However, it’s a good development for the Wolverines. Of course, that score leaves a lot to be desired defensively, but perhaps the maize and blue could surprise once the season comes.

The season starts in earnest on Nov. 7 but Michigan basketball will host an exhibition game on Thursday against Northwood.

Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard undergoes successful heart surgery

Get well soon, Coach! #GoBlue

As he roamed the football sidelines pregame the past two weeks, it didn’t appear that there was anything wrong with Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard. But, there were some underlying issues behind the scenes.

On Friday, according to a press release by a team spokesman, Howard underwent a heart procedure repairing his aortic valve in his heart, which will take him 12 weeks to recover from and preclude him from basketball activities for at least four weeks. Michigan assistant Phil Martelli will oversee the team in the interim as the basketball team continues strength and conditioning and eventually starts training camp in earnest to prepare for the 2023-24 season.

You can read the full release below, including a quote from Howard himself.

Full release

David and Meredith Kaplan University of Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard underwent a successful heart procedure today (Friday, Sept. 15) at the University of Michigan Health Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

The scheduled operation was performed by Dr. Himanshu Patel, who successfully resected an aortic aneurysm and repaired Howard’s aortic valve. Patel indicated that Howard is expected to fully recover in six to 12 weeks and could return to the program in four to six weeks.

U-M’s associate head coach Phil Martelli will serve as the interim head coach during Howard’s recovery process. Saddi Washington and Howard Eisley will maintain their assistant roles, while Jay Smith will be elevated to the third assistant during the interim period.

“I feel so grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at University of Michigan Health,” said Howard. “My wife, Jenine, and our family appreciate the world-class care that has been provided to us. Dr. (Kim) Eagle, Dr. (Himanshu) Patel, Dr. (Stanley) Chetcuti, and all of the staff at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center are so talented and performed like champions throughout this process. I am going to work very hard in my rehabilitation to be stronger than ever by the time our upcoming season is upon us.”

“We are extremely grateful Juwan’s proactive procedure was a success and that he is resting comfortably,” said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “We will continue to support Juwan, Jenine and his family as well as the program throughout his absence. All of us at the athletic department have Juwan in our thoughts and prayers. We look forward to Juwan’s return when he feels that he has fully recovered.”

Following a routine medical check, Howard’s conditions were identified, and the surgical procedures were scheduled as soon as possible to allow him to return completely for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Michigan basketball offers son of strength coach Jon Sanderson

You know he’s going to be incredible! #GoBlue

One player that is starting to generate big buzz, despite being in the future 2026 recruiting class, is Jonathan Sanderson, the 6-foot-2 point guard from Saline (Mich.).

If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the player Sanderson is the son of Michigan basketball’s longtime strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson, who has been known for transforming the team behind the scenes.

The younger Sanderson who is known as a prolific scorer already had offers from Illinois and Iowa. On Sunday, he announced via Twitter that his father’s school (career-wise), Michigan basketball, has extended him an offer to stay near Ann Arbor and become a Wolverine.

The elder Sanderson originally played college ball at rival Ohio State, but has become a household name in Ann Arbor with ‘Camp Sanderson,’ where he completely transforms younger players into viable NBA-level players through the weight room.

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Michigan basketball makes top four for five-star center in 2024

Would be huge for #Michigan to get him in! #GoBlue

Michigan basketball is hoping to emerge from a topsy-turvy offseason with some good news. And there’s at least one big positive development on the recruiting trail.

After losing out on multiple transfers (though the Wolverines brought in three via the portal) and losing commit Pape Kante as he didn’t clear admissions, the maize and blue are looking to reload both via the portal and on the recruiting trail.

On Monday, the top center in the country, 2024 Kokomo (Ind.) Flory Bidunga, released his top four. Unlike any of the in-state schools, Michigan basketball made the cut along with Auburn, Duke, and Kansas.

Bidunga is the No. 4 player in the country, regardless of position. Given head coach Juwan Howard’s propensity for the center position, along with the recent success by Hunter Dickinson — who went from being a four-star to one of the top players in the country — it certainly gives the Wolverines some ammunition when it comes to securing the elite-level player.

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Hunter Dickinson: ‘I feel like Michigan is a fake Midwest’

Starting to see what other fanbases didn’t like him much.

When in Ann Arbor, Hunter Dickinson was beloved — at least by the Michigan basketball fan base. However, now that he’s defected to Kansas, Wolverines fans are getting a taste of what it was like to see the star center from an outside perspective.

After spending three years with the maize and blue, Dickinson has done little to ingratiate himself to those who rooted for him all that time. Now that he’s a Jayhawk, as he’s working to endear himself to fans in Lawrence, he’s certainly going out of his way to say and do things that are likely to rub those in Michigan the wrong way.

Appearing on the “Rock Chalk Unplugged” podcast, Dickinson felt the need to praise the people in his new state, but he did so at the expense of those in the state he just departed.

“Just walking around, the people are super, super welcoming. Super nice. Definitely get those Midwest vibes. I think Michigan, they weren’t as nice. Like, they were nice people but not as nice.

“I feel like Michigan’s like a fake Midwest. Kansas is actually a Midwest town. But you know, I loved my time in Michigan, but the people here at Kansas are especially nice.”

Let’s be clear: that’s not particularly egregious. It’s not a full shot over the bow. But it is diminishing his former home at the expense of another. And it’s unnecessary.

He continued later speaking about practicing at Kansas versus at Michigan and he noted that he thought he was in-shape at Michigan, but after getting to Lawrence, he realized he’s not quite as good as he thought.

I’d say they were definitely harder than Michigan, especially at this point. I mean, Michigan — wouldn’t even get the campus to like to July 1. So had way more of a head start here. But I remember the first couple of practices, I was so out of shape and I felt like coming in I was in pretty solid shape, but no, I needed a lot more growth in that area.

Again, not necessarily egregious. But certainly not going to ingratiate himself to any of those he’s left behind in Ann Arbor.

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Michigan basketball makes top group for elite 2024 center

Good news for Juwan Howard & Co.! #GoBlue

Michigan basketball hasn’t exactly had things go its way of late.

Whether it’s on the hardwood with a disappointing 2022-23 season which resulted in an NIT berth and quick ouster instead of an NCAA Tournament run, to recruiting — both in the 2023 class and the transfer portal this offseason — it’s been a tough road lately for head coach Juwan Howard. However, the maize and blue are in the thick of a recruitment for an elite player at a position of need.

On Tuesday, On3 basketball recruiting insider Joe Tipton reported that 2024 Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI Catholic four-star center Patrick Ngongba has released his top eight schools, and Michigan basketball made the cut.

Rated the No. 26 player in the country per the 247Sports Composite, the Wolverines certainly have some steep competition. Also making the cut were Kansas State, UConn, Indiana, Providence, Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky — a veritable who’s who in the college basketball world.

Still, given how Michigan uses its center position, there’s arguably few places that can work and develop a player of Ngongba’s caliber better than the staff in Ann Arbor. We’ll continue to monitor his recruitment.

Ngongba is the third-best center in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

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