Thoughts on the ‘expected’ return of Jace Howard to Michigan basketball

Michigan basketball only has 13 scholarships available and it has been confirmed that one of those spots will go to Jace Howard for the 2024-25 season.

This was one of the lingering questions about the roster but after the transfer portal closed, it seemed inevitable that Jace Howard would return.

It won’t make some fans happy. But Kyle Church, a Michigan basketball assistant confirmed to Alejandro Zuniga of The Michigan Insider. that Howard is expected to return for next season. “That’s the expectation,” said Church, who is also the general manager for the program.

Michigan expects Jace Howard to remain with the program in 2024-25.

The U-M captain, who graduated earlier this month, will stick with the Wolverines despite the coaching change:https://t.co/85ShGiMxvB

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) May 7, 2024

Howard played in 10 games last season and averaged 2.7 points per game. He’s played in 65 games during his four-year Michigan basketball career so it’s safe to say he won’t be an impact player next season.

What will Jace Howard’s role be for Michigan basketball?

There have been reports about Jace having an incident with a team trainer, but for the most part, he’s been well-regarded as a teammate. I expect that to be the same in 2024-25. I’m certain that Dusty May wouldn’t have him on the team if he was going to be an issue with the culture.

But Howard does bring some size and is a 6-foot-8 wing. The Wolverines don’t have a ton of size and Howard has guarded centers before. He’s not an offensive weapon but can give you solid minutes on defense.

It surely means that we’ll see Juwan Howard at Crisler Center and overall, I think that’s a good thing. Juwan will always be a Michigan basketball legend. He was part of the Fab Five and coached the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship and two Sweet 16s. That’s one hell of a resume.

Besides that, he was one of the best players in program history. Hopefully, this will help mend some fences. Some Michigan basketball fans surely would like to add two players to the roster instead of one.

Michigan roster nearly finalized

But there aren’t that many options in the transfer portal now anyway. Michigan could still take a 2024 recruit. A seventh transfer would be fine, but eight seems like a lot. There are only so many minutes to go around.

Jace can contribute in a positive way. He doesn’t even need to play to help the team get better. It’s not going to be a huge role but he also won’t be taking up a scholarship past this season.

Dusty May said Michigan basketball would be “aggressive but patient” when seeking the 13th player. Another guard/wing could be ideal, but a talented player with long-term potential might be the best option.

Either way, we are really close to a finalized Michigan basketball roster for the 2024-25 season and as May said, it’s one he expects to win with.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms.