Juwan Howard asks assistant Phil Martelli to be Michigan head coach vs. Penn State

In another interesting turn with the Michigan basketball coaching staff, Phil Martelli has once again been tabbed to take over as head coach of the Wolverines. But this time, it’s just for one game.

Due to head coach Juwan Howard’s heart surgery in the offseason which required a lengthy recovery, Martelli, a longtime college hoops coach and current Howard assistant, served as head coach. Back in mid-December, though, Howard was finally able to return to his head coach’s post in full capacity.

However, Howard is willing to give Martelli at least one more opportunity as the team’s acting head coach in-game, as Michigan hoops reporter James Hawkins noted Sunday morning that Martelli will lead the team vs. Penn State in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Here was that report:

“Per a UM spokesperson, Juwan Howard has asked Phil Martelli to serve as Michigan’s head coach today in his return to Philadelphia.”

The game will take place at the famous Palestra on Penn’s campus, where Martelli coached many a game during his long tenure at nearby Saint Joseph’s. Another UM hoops reporter, Dylan Burkhardt, noted the whole event was in part a tribute to Martelli.

“Game is back in Philadelphia and was set up in large part as a tribute to Martelli for an opportunity to coach back home in Philly.”

Well, the act by Howard is quite kind and an honor towards the elder Martelli, but it’s also a bit of a puzzling move. We know Martelli led the team for a long time while Howard was out, but he’s come back and now led Michigan for a few weeks, so it seems odd the head coach of a major program would give the reigns back up to his assistant in a conference game, even if he’s trying to pay tribute to Martelli.

Maybe Michigan just needs a spark, because the last couple of weeks simply haven’t gone well. The Wolverines are 6-8 as it is, a poisonous start for their NCAA Tournament chances, and are currently on a three-game skid. They’ve lost to Florida in OT, then to McNeese State at home, and most recently, to Minnesota at home as well.