Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from essential win over Rutgers

2. Michigan’s coaching staff had a seamless transition without Howard

Phil Martelli passed his first test without Juwan Howard to lean on. He got a considerable amount of help from the other assistant coaches who he praised in the postgame interview. In particular, he pointed out Saadi Washington and Howard Eisley who, as he was quoted saying ” coached their backsides off.”

Martelli firmly believes and wanted the audience to know that those guys are “two future head coaches.” He also gave his players ” five stars” for the way they performed with no Howard. Their game plan was in place and they proved that they can execute it without Howard in an affair they couldn’t risk losing.

The staff was well prepared for the competition and that credit can go to Juwan Howard who had them ready from past experiences.

Martelli is no stranger to these roadblocks that stand in front of Michigan basketball, so having a coach who has been through the wringer before makes the challenges a little less impossible.