Juwan Howard cautions there will be ups and downs, but there’s lots to like about his fourth Michigan team

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is living the dream. Two of his sons, junior Jett and freshman Jace, are playing for him at his alma mater. He can hear his wife, Jenine, cheering for them when they do something well … like an assist from Jett to Jace for a triple in Monday night’s opener with Purdue-Fort Wayne, a 75-56 U-M win. 

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So, there’s that. Add the realization that, even though it’s early, he appears to have the makings of a really good team, and it was a good night to be a Howard … and a Michigan fan.

The Wolverines have a big man in junior Hunter Dickinson who might be the best collegiate big man in the country. This year, he’s got a few more shooters to prevent teams from collapsing on him, and the floor spacing is so much better as a result. 

Jett Howard (21 points, 5-of-10 three-point shooting) is a sniper with extreme confidence — as many pointed out, what we expected Caleb Houstan to be last year (not a knock on Houstan, but a legitimate observation). Jaelin Llewellyn is an Eli Brooks type but at point, directing traffic and knowing what should be happening on both ends of the floor (a Princeton grad, after all). 

It was fun to watch. 

“You’re not where you want to be so early in the season,” Juwan Howard said. “This is only our first game, and there is room for growth. We’re going to continue to keep getting better, and there are areas that we’re going to try to clean up.

“But … I love where our mindset is. Our guys are really dialed in and in tune to being an elite-level group, and I love how they are so connected. I just hope that continues throughout the year. It was the first game, and I’m sure we’re going to hit a rough patch. Pretty much the vast majority of college basketball teams do. But it’s how we’re going to react when we have those uncomfortable moments.”

Those are the moments in which teams need to be connected, and this Michigan squad certainly seems to be. Dickinson (22 points, 12 rebounds) noted he didn’t care how much he scored — he was just happy to know he could kick it out to guys who would make triples when he was doubled. 

Duke transfer Joey Baker was one. He did exactly what this Michigan team will need him to do and why Howard brought him here, making a couple early three-pointers to give the Wolverines and early lead, 3-of-6 overall.

Other than a bad stretch in which there just weren’t enough scorers on the floor, cutting a 24-point second half lead to 12, it just looked “right.” They moved well on offense, seemed to know each other’s tendencies, and played with great effort defensively. 

“They’ve always bought in, but it’s about continuing to keep growing it. Obviously, accountability is a part of it,” Howard said of the defensive effort. “There’s no room for a lack of effort — not saying that we had that — there’s no room for not being detailed. It’s exactly what we practice and how we show it on film, and how we talk about it and hear their voice on how to fix certain situations out there on the floor.

“I know while the game is happening, things (are) moving so fast, and it’s totally different from when you’re playing against the scout team. But at times, I get a little out of whack, too, when we don’t do what we work on … what we asked. But overall, I love that there was effort and a team that shoots very well from the 3-point line, for them only 23 percent from three and 29 percent from the field … and scoring is one of their strengths.”

Rebounding was one of the few negatives — Michigan lost that battle, 44-38 — and Howard let them know about it. That’s one of the areas in which Jett Howard will need to improve. He had two, and he didn’t look all that interested in bodying up. 

Overall, though, this was as good an opener as you could have asked … a team that looked connected, well-coached and was fun to watch. There are bigger tests to come, but it’s already clear this team has great potential.