‘Much Ahead’: Former NCAA Champion Reveals How Michigan Wolverines Coach Juwan Howard’s Players Are Better Prepared for NBA

Published 02/20/2021, 10:22 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Exceeding all expectations, Michigan Wolverines stand currently stand at #3 in the AP Poll. They are having a brilliant season so far, and coach Juwan Howard has been one of the main reasons for it. His excellent coaching has made him a prime candidate for the Coach of the Year award.

According to former NCAA champion Terry Mills, Howard is not only excelling in leading his young players to success in the NCAA, but also doing an excellent job in preparing them for the next level. Mills is also a Michigan alumnus like Howard and has been part of their practices.

While speaking about what Howard focuses o in his practices, Mills said, “Not wanting to turn the ball over. Concentrating on the little things. Making simple plays is the thing he works on all the time. Not trying to make home-run plays. Do easy things.

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“One of the biggest adjustments that a lot of these guys had coming in was the terminology. The terminology that Coach Howard brings is relating to the NBA. I tell some of the players, ‘If you ever do go play in the NBA, you’re gonna be that much ahead because you know the terminology right off the rip.”

Michigan Wolverines’ Juwan Howard has a rich NBA experience

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When Howard joined the Michigan Wolverines as the head coach, he was one of the few NCAA coaches to have an NBA title win in their resume. He also had six years of experience as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat, and spent 19 years in the NBA on different teams.

So despite Michigan being the first college team he has coached, Howard came in with a lot of experience. This gives the Michigan players an edge over the others and helps them to be better prepared for the NBA.

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USA Today via Reuters

Howard’s Wolverines boast a 14-1 record currently, and they are almost certain to win the Big Ten title, ahead of favorites Illinois and Iowa. This will be their first regular season title since 2014, and if they keep this form going, it could lead to their first NCAA tournament title since 1989.

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Written by:

Aaron Mathew

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Aaron Mathew is a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Mass Media from Xavier’s College, Aaron has been a part of EssentiallySports since May 2020 where he covers both NBA and NCAA basketball news, and has also covered NBA 2K. In the past, Aaron has worked at the Sports Desk of Mumbai Mirror.
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