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When his team needed a spark 48 hours after a tough loss, Michigan coach Juwan Howard turned to a rival: Draymond Green, NBA star and former Michigan State star. .
Howard said he used a video of Green trash talking about the Wolverines to help motivate his team ahead of their 69-50 victory over the Spartans on Thursday, sealing the program’s first Big Ten title since 2014.
In the video, by players, Green said he hopes Michigan “never” wins a game, highlighting the intensity of the rivalry between the two schools.
“He had a nice little video that I wanted the guys to listen to,” Howard said after the game. “I think they really enjoyed watching it and listening to the words that were spoken.”
The former Fab Five star and sophomore coach did not reveal details about the video or his origins, but his players said it gave a side a boost to a team that started Thursday’s game in the ‘Hope to forget Tuesday’s 76-53 home loss to an Illinois. team that played without Ayo Dosunmu.
“It was amazing and it’s even sweeter to do it against Michigan State,” said Mike Smith, a Columbia graduate who had nine points in the win, his first Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game. “The coach showed us a video of Draymond Green. He was just saying he wished we never won a game. It shows how aggressive this game is.”
Howard, now a strong contender for National Coach of the Year after leading his team to their first Big Ten title in seven years, lived up to the hype, proven by this season’s run and his success on the recruitment trail. The team’s two losses this season – to Minnesota in January and Tuesday to Illinois – feel like outliers for a program expected to be a No. 1 seed on Sunday in the selection.
“It’s gratifying,” Howard said of his team’s conference title race, which included a three-week hiatus due to health and safety protocols for the coronavirus. “We didn’t find any excuses. We rolled up our sleeves and found it along the way. A lot has been thrown in our way, but we haven’t found any excuses for it. “
Isaiah Livers, who retired from the NBA Draft last summer and returned to Michigan, kissed the floor at Crisler Arena after going to the bench in the dying minutes of Thursday’s game. The senior said the Wolverines’ ‘journey’ is not over as they have bigger dreams that they hope to achieve in the weeks to come, including a national championship.
“The Big Ten title … it’s a big achievement for me,” Livers said after the game. “We all play like brothers. I want the natty [national championship], too much. We’re going to win a Big Ten Championship, have a March Madness race, and, fingers crossed, go get this bad guy. “
Howard laughed when asked to use a rival to inspire his team, but he also added that he respected Green. When he was an assistant NBA coach, Howard said, he pushed Green aside before a game and told him he respected the way he played.
“Draymond,” Howard said, “he’s a Hall of Famer in my opinion at some point when he’s done playing.”
On Thursday, however, the Golden State Warriors star was simply the motivation of an old nemesis.
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