Juwan Howard breaks down relationship with Tom Izzo

Juwan Howard and his Michigan team lost their first Big Ten conference game of the season falling to rival Michigan State on Saturday 59-53 in a slugfest. Following the game, Howard was asked about his relationship with Spartans head coach Tom Izzo, and if their paths ever crossed when he was a high school prospect.

“If I recall he didn’t recruit me, I don’t recall that,” Howard said. “A lot of other schools recruited me.”

Izzo not recruiting Howard isn’t much of a surprise, Howard was a McDonald’s All-American and one of the top players in the country in 1991, but Izzo did not start coaching until his first season with the Spartans in 1995.

Howard played three seasons for Michigan in college and was a part of the storied Fab Five, his last season with the Wolverines was two years prior to Izzo becoming Michigan State’s head coach. The two may have avoided each other in Howard’s playing days, but now meet on a yearly basis as Big Ten coaches.

“Our relationship today, I feel we have a very good competitive relationship,” Howard said. “Have a ton of respect for him and what he’s done with his program, all the successful years that he’s had consistently which is is hard. Won a National Championship, a ton of Big Ten titles, his resume and his experience speaks for itself.”

Howard and Izzo also have a mutual connection through Izzo’s predecessor, who coached the Spartans for 19 seasons before his even longer current tenure with Michigan State.

“Learned from a great coach, Jud Heathcote, who actually coached against me when I came here and played, so that’s all I can say,” Howard said.

As Izzo is amid his 28th season with the Spartans and Howard is in his fourth with the Wolverines, only time will tell how long they’ll continue to face off, as Izzo looks to continue to build on the foundation he’s created and Howard looks to do the same in Ann Arbor.

Juwan Howard shares love for rivalry vs Michigan State

Juwan Howard brought his Michigan Wolverines into East Lansing to take on rival Michigan State. It was a competitive, low-scoring game that the Spartans ultimately won.

After the game, Howard spoke about how much he loves the rivalry with Michigan State.

“I would say it’s a typical rivalry game where both teams were battling to win a game,” Juwan Howard explained.

“Fortunate enough for them, they were playing on their home floor. Their home fans. It was a great atmosphere. Extremely competitive game. Got to love it.”

Later, Howard was asked how much he felt the environment affected the game.

“You can ask Coach [Tom] Izzo if it helped him. I kind of enjoy it, actually. I’m sure our guys they loved it, being on the road and playing in a beautiful environment like this. That’s what competitors do. Step up to the competition.”

Michigan fell to 9-6 on the season with the loss. Next up for the Wolverines is a trip to Iowa.

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report