Michigan basketball players stuck together while looking for a coach

Juwan Howard: Michigan's Fab Five Banners Will Be Revisited

Juwan Howard on the rivalry between the states of Michigan and Michigan

Jon Teske speaks with reporters at the NCAA 2019 tournament on March 22. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

These players worked together every day and played basketball. They also dragged out of the court.

"That brought us closer," said Adrien Nunez wing. "We were all going to watch basketball games, prepare burgers and things like that, which eventually allowed us to form a more united group, for real."

While several players were missing at Ann Arbor, they were still kept informed by text messages, video conferencing and phone calls.

For Teske, it was important to stay in touch with everyone – especially the younger ones.

"A good majority of young guys are here," Teske said. "Being with them every day has helped a lot."

When Michigan Sports Director Warde Manuel contacted Teske when looking for coaches, he suggested Manuel also talk to other players.

"Warde, he called me during this process, I told him that it would be nice if he came and talked to the younger ones, so he did it," said Teske. "About the process: Keep the young guys together, just through this difficult time that it was."

Some, like Foivers, have never faltered their commitment to the program.

"Honestly, when I heard both news, I'm a Michigan man," said Livers. "There was no other place. It's my junior year. There is no reason to go there. I have a great opportunity here, so I was excited. "

For the moment, Michigan has not yet experienced attrition as a result of coaching research – which could be essential for the future of the team because the Wolverines already have three scholarships open for the 2019-2020 season.

"I wanted to hear (what they thought)," said Livers. Most of the guys said, "Oh, we're just going to wait (to see) who's coming in." At the moment, it seems like everyone is happy and no one is really going to make that decision (leaving). I told them that if you will make this decision, let me know so that I can know it in advance.

There was some uncertainty at first, but then it gave way to enthusiasm when the players discovered that Howard would be the next head coach. According to Livers, "everyone was happy".

After accepting the position, Howard called each player individually and began developing relationships. On Thursday morning, he spoke in person with the team for the first time at a meeting that took place around 10:00 am. According to the players, there was not much talk about basketball. It was mainly about getting to know each other.

Juwan Howard becomes emotional while he stands on the podium on Thursday. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

A few hours later, the players sat on Crisler's center floor and saw their new coach torn during his official introduction. They watched as he climbed on stage and cried again.

This left only an even more positive impression.

"It made us even more excited," said Livers. "You have your head coach crying, even before he's called, which shows that he's going to put a lot of work in. He's really going to push his players to be great. mentioned earlier that he just wanted our players to be good people, no matter what you do, he will support us. "

Michigan players are getting to know Howard. They do not know what the future will be like, especially when it comes to X and Os. But they are excited about it afterwards.

"I can not recover coach B. Obviously, I came here with his recruitment, but at the same time, I will embrace the new situation," said Nunez. Everyone says, "How do you have such a perspective?" but we have Juwan Howard as head coach.

"Who does not want to play for a guy who's part of the Fab Five, who's been coaching the Heat, who has so many NBA connections, knows so much about basketball?"