Michigan Thursday: Welcome Home Big Man

I owe Warde Manuel an apology.  From the outside looking in, it looked like Warde was taking his sweet time to find a new head coach.   That he wasn't contacting the top candidates and was looking to hire his friends.

None of that was true, he did contact (through the search firm) the top coaches and ended up with the right choice Juwan Howard.   My only feedback is, this probably could have been done this time last week.   After the UCLA opening, it was pretty clear which coaches where willing to move and which ones weren't.  He was also able to get a new contract and a raise for his friend (even though he gave the Michigan fan base a minor heart attack for about 24 hours).

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.  There is never a perfect candidate when you have a surprise opening in May.  Coach B was exactly what this program needed, he didn't cheat and built a basketball power when the signature football program was struggling.   This opening left a huge hole to fill and I personally felt the program was at a cross roads.   I don't feel like that today.

Today, I couldn't be happier at the choice to bring Juwan Howard home to coach the Wolverines.  This guy has paid his dues in the NBA and has learned from the best.   He of course is a Michigan Grad but he is also qualified for this position and I believe will do a great job on and off the court.

Jalen is all over TV saying the Fab 5 is united again and will do nothing but support the program and each other.  That is great as the Fab 5 was maybe the most important time of the program, but to me that is secondary.  Juwan's job will be to recruit, develop, and win basketball games.   That is a tough job now, with everyone looking to get to the NBA sooner then maybe they should be.

I'm excited about this hire and think it was 100% the right choice.

Juwan's top priority now is:

• Keep or hire a new staff.  Michigan fans would love to keep Luke and Saddi.  But is that in the cards?
• Try to save Jalen Wilson (who was named after Jalen Rose) and get him to re-commit/re-sign with the Wolverines. 
• Add a graduate transfer: I believe Cumberland the shooting guard from Oakland still hasn't committed anywhere 
• Add any new late recruits to next years class - Franz Wagner?

Michigan has filled one hole with getting Juwan locked up, now has to figure out how to replace 3 starters to the NBA Draft.   Keeping Luke and Saddi would seem the best way to continue that momentum.  

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/05/michigan-thursday-welcome-home-big-man.html