Michigan head coach Juwan Howard and his Wolverines’ basketball team will face Ohio State tonight in Ann Arbor. Howard met the media Monday … we tackle his comments in News & Views format.
NEWS: Franz Wagner earned Big Ten Freshman of The Week honors after scoring 28 points in two games and shooting 52.4 percent in a pair of wins over Nebraska and Rutgers.
HOWARD: “Franz is a very talented ball player that can do many things on the floor. We’ve asked him to be aggressive with his role, take good advantage of it by shooting from the outside, driving the ball to the basket, making free throws, making threes, defending … something that’s been a big role throughout the year.”
VIEWS: For all the talk of Wagner being a “disappointment,” etc., he’s quietly put together a very good first year. He’s averaging 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds, and while his three-point percentage isn’t where we expected it to be (29.4 percent), we know he can shoot it. Expect that number to continue to rise.
The one number we’d like to see go up — assists. He’s at .8, but he showed signs with a couple of drives and kicks to the corner against Rutgers that he’s got the ability. He’s only going to get better, and any “disappointment” probably stems from the high expectations so many put on him early in the year.
NEWS: Howard wants the NCAA to change to rules when it comes to hours allowed for player development.
HOWARD: “When you’re able to work with your guys in the offseason, you’re only allowed four hours per week … the NBA can work four hours in one day and not be penalized. During the season, you’re only allowed to work with guys including weightlifting, film, practice, four hours throughout the day, and you’re also guaranteed 14 off days to sprinkle it in throughout the season. That’s less time to develop your guys then you want as a coach, and I’m sure lot of coaches can attest to this.”
