Martelli Talks Michigan Basketball Coach Rumor, Team Response

Right now, Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard and strength coach Jon Sanderson are in the middle of a school-led investigation into an HR complaint filed by Sanderson over an alleged altercation last week. With Sanderson still on leave and Howard’s actions being looked into, acting head coach Phil Martelli spoke with the media today to give some clarity on what is happening with the Wolverines ahead of their Saturday matchup against Eastern Michigan (5-4 overall) at the Crisler Center.

Phil Martelli gives latest on Michigan basketball coach situation, status

This afternoon, On3 reported that Juwan Howard will resume his role as head Michigan basketball coach against Eastern Michigan tomorrow, though that remains to be seen. Still, amid a U-M investigation into Howard’s reported incident with Jon Sanderson, the future of the program does not appear to be certain; in fact, it seems to be anything but.

UPDATE: Below is Warde Manuel’s official statement on Juwan Howard — there will be no punishment for him of Jon Sanderson coming from Michigan basketball.

A statement from Warde Manuel on #Michigan coach Juwan Howard: pic.twitter.com/nNWHY9amfd

— CJ Mangum (@CMBB90) December 16, 2023

Martelli has no comment on Juwan Howard-Jon Sanderson incident

As Juwan Howard continues to undergo investigation, Phil Martelli had little for the media on what was going on behind closed doors.

“Everything (with the investigation) is in Warde (Manuel’s) hands,” Martelli said on Friday. “That’s as much as I have on it. … I have nothing. I have nothing on that at all.”

Michigan basketball players handling the news well

That said, Martelli explained that the players are handling everything in stride so far.

“I think the players’ response was, I don’t want to (say) ‘exceptional.’ … I thought it was just extraordinary,” Phil Martelli said. “It spoke volumes about their growing maturity and belief in each other that you can win a road game. Road games are hard to win anyway. And in that setting, there was a certain air of desperation for Iowa. And so as I stood on the sideline, I was really impressed with the response — the pure basketball response by these players.”

“Not easy” to hear what is being said, Martelli explains

With Juwan Howard all over the news right now, largely (if not solely) due to his run-in with Jon Sanderson, Phil Martelli hears the noise, but he is tuning it all out as best he can.

“It’s not easy because I know what’s being said,” he explained. “My daughter is very active (on social media), and she knows. Even with my own family, I just say: ‘There’s no benefit for me to comment.’ So, when I was told it was in Warde’s hands, I said: ‘That’s perfect. That’s the perfect answer.’

“I have no speculation. I have no expectations. I have no deadlines,” he added. “It’s in Warde’s hands, and that’s where it should be. Whether that means it’s currently active, a decision has been made … I just don’t know that.”

Michigan basketball and Juwan Howard will be back in action against Eastern Michigan tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 PM (ET) at the Crisler Center. A win over EMU would bump the Wolverines up to 6-5 on the season (1-1 Big Ten) heading into a Quad 1 matchup against Florida next Tuesday evening.

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