Why Michigan coach Juwan Howard consoled Tennessee participant Kennedy Chandler within the NCAA event handshake line

INDIANAPOLIS — The video had gone viral on social media earlier than Michigan coach Juwan Howard had even celebrated the 2022 NCAA event win with gamers, and properly earlier than he hugged former Fab 5 teammates Chris Webber and Ray Jackson as he made his solution to the locker room.

Howard was going by the handshake line — the identical type of line the place his actions landed him a suspension some 4 weeks in the past — when he stopped and embraced Tennessee freshman guard Kennedy Chandler.

Howard hugged and talked to the very emotional Chandler after his 11-seed Wolverines upset the 3-seed Volunteers 76-68 to maneuver to the Candy 16 for the fifth straight 12 months.

“He stated to maintain my head up,” Chandler stated. “It is powerful for me, and he knew I wished to get the win. I do know him. I’ve performed along with his son since, like, fourth grade. So I do know him for a very long time. He is an amazing coach. I like him. He advised me to maintain my head up and also you performed your coronary heart out, that is what he advised me.”

It is solely becoming that a lot consideration was dropped at this second, contemplating what Howard endured after he struck Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft within the head following an animated alternate within the postgame handshake line Feb. 20. This time, Howard was not solely displaying good sportsmanship to the opponent, he additionally took on a father-figure position with Chandler as a result of the Tennessee guard performed AAU basketball with Howard’s youngest son, Jett.

“Kennedy is an elite participant, and he is among the finest guards within the nation,” Howard stated. “I received an opportunity to know Kenny again when my youngest son, Jett, and Kennedy performed in AAU, they usually received the LeBron James event in Ohio. So we had a relationship again then.

“Simply watching his progress, I’ve at all times been impressed. We recruited him and sadly we weren’t that fortunate. However to see the output, the hassle, the expansion and having the ability to produce like that on the ground and the way he led his group in a particular means — I gave him phrases of encouragement. It exhibits his emotion, that he cares. As coaches, you respect that.”

Emotional at instances is what Howard has been since that late February incident. The Wolverines performed their closing 5 regular-season video games with out their coach, blew a double-digit result in Indiana within the Massive Ten event and got here from 15 factors right down to beat No. 7 seed Colorado State within the opening spherical of the NCAA event Thursday earlier than defeating the Volunteers on Saturday. Michigan has additionally received two straight video games for the primary time because the center of February.

“There wasn’t actually any doubt that this group is particular,” stated guard Eli Brooks, who scored 23 factors. “Now we have a superb group of fellows which have the identical drive, the identical ardour. And that is a credit score to Juwan, the teaching workers, discovering these guys on the market that you simply wish to be round. There wasn’t a second that anyone shied away, and [everybody] purchased into the system, and we’re within the Candy 16. So it is good to see.”

Howard, who has led the Wolverines to the Candy 16 for the second time in his three seasons as coach — the 2019-20 marketing campaign was minimize quick as a result of pandemic — celebrated the first-round victory with former Fab 5 teammate Jalen Rose. Webber and Jackson have been there for assist within the second spherical.

“It was a stupendous second to be right here and to be with guys that I have been within the trenches with, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, after which to see my huge brother, Mark Hughes, a man that helped recruit me to come back right here to the College of Michigan,” Howard stated. “Mark advised me again once I was in highschool that my years at Michigan could be years that will mildew me into a person; that if I proceed to remain right here and develop, I’d have quite a lot of success and develop into a champion.

“I’ll always remember today, and I respect all of the assist. They’ve, behind the scenes, been in my nook from day one.”