Juwan Howard discusses the significance of picking up statement win over Northwestern

Michigan did something it hadn’t done all season Thursday night when it beat Northwestern. The Wolverines got a quadrant-one victory — and, in the process, they made quite a statement.

That significance isn’t lost on Juwan Howard, and he said it’s a testament to his players for sticking to the plan. Considering how jam-packed the Big Ten is with six teams tied for fourth place and just two games separating second place from 10th place behind Purdue, every game matters.

“It’s huge, man,” Howard said. “It’s huge. I really respect and appreciate those guys in the locker room for believing in one another, also believing in the staff and then also, trusting the process. No one said it’s going to be easy. In our league, as you can see, there’s a lot of teams that are fighting and clawing. You have teams from top to bottom that you’re going to get their best every night.

“Northwestern’s one of the best teams in our conference. It’s a big win for this team. It’s great to see some smiles on their faces. They deserve it.”

Michigan now turns its attention to a matchup with Ohio State Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Juwan Howard breaks down what allowed for strong offensive second half vs. Northwestern

Michigan hasn’t quite had the season it hoped on the basketball court in Juwan Howard’s fourth year as head coach. The Wolverines are currently just 12-10 and are middle of the pack in the Big Ten, and definitely on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Northwestern team they faced the other night is competing on the bubble for the first time in several years. The defense showed up, holding the Wildcats to just 51 total points, while the offense really got going in the second half to seal the victory.

When asked what changed between those first and second halves afterward, Howard discussed what changed.

“Mindset,” Howard said. “In the first half, shots did not go down for us. Our guys kept plugging away, especially on the defensive end, giving the effort, giving the energy, bringing the toughness.”