Michigan Basketball: Pros and cons of top head coach candidates

There are four names emerging in the search for the next head coach at Michigan basketball and here are the pros and cons for each.

It has been a crazy week for Michigan basketball fans. Last Saturday, at this same time, the biggest worry was whether or not Jaevin Cumberland or Franz Wagner would commit and fill the voids left by Jordan Poole and Ignas Brazdeikis.

The idea that the Wolverines might head into next season without an ideal two guard was probably the biggest concern for Michigan basketball fans and then Monday morning, the news hit — John Beilein was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since then, it has been a whirlwind in every sense of the word.

There has been little time to sit back and truly ponder everything Beilein meant to Michigan basketball. That time will come soon enough. But right now, because of the Beilein’s late departure date, the focus is on the next head coach and who it might be.

Certainly, we all had hope for the likes of Brad Stevens or Billy Donovan, maybe even Chris Beard or Mike White. Yet, all of those guys have essentially said no thanks.

While things are subject to change, that leaves Warde Manuel with a reported top four that features Juwan Howard, Shaka Smart, LaVall Jordan and Ed Cooley. It’s not necessarily what some had in mind, but those are four solid candidates, who each have their own merits and drawbacks.

Howard is reportedly going to interview Tuesday and the others may interview soon too, so with that in mind, here is a breakdown of the pros and cons for each of the top four candidates.