We never expected it: Michigan Wolverines star player waves an unexpected good bye…..

Despite a disastrous season, Michigan’s Juwan Howard receives a vote of confidence.

For the second consecutive year, the Michigan men’s basketball season has deviated from the expected course. In the 2022-23 season, the Wolverines, initially ranked No. 22 in the nation, concluded with an 18-16 record, falling short of the NCAA tournament. This season has seen an even more pronounced downturn. Despite modest preseason expectations, Michigan has stumbled to an 8-17 record, experiencing defeats against Long Beach State and McNeese State.

Amidst scrutiny directed at coach Juwan Howard, Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel expressed support for the former NBA All-Star during a Zoom call on Wednesday morning. Manuel conveyed, “It would be fair to say I have not really thought about any changes in our men’s basketball program at this time.” He emphasized his commitment to supporting Juwan Howard’s success, stating, “I want to support Juwan to be successful and have not given any moment or thought of anything about changes at this time. And so my support is of him, of our student-athletes, and our staff.”

Despite the challenging season, Juwan Howard, a distinguished former NBA assistant, has accumulated an 87-65 record in his five years with the Wolverines. In the 2020-21 season, he guided Michigan to a 23-5 record, reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament before losing to UCLA. Manuel acknowledged the effort from the student-athletes and coaches, attributing the struggles to a lack of execution at times. He affirmed ongoing discussions with Howard and reiterated the commitment to support him and the program.