Warde Manuel is supporting Juwan Howard despite Michigan basketball’s rough 2023-24 season.

The Wolverines are currently 8-17 overall, with a 3-11 mark in Big Ten play for last place in the Big Ten standings. Meeting with the media, Michigan’s athletic director said that he talks with Howard about U-M basketball’s issues, but made it clear that he supports the head coach.

“Juwan and I have talked, yes,” Manuel told reporters, per Wolverines Wire. “And we’ll continue to have those conversations as the season goes through and I continue to support him in an effort to turn this around and win like he expects to. There’s no there’s no lack of effort from our student-athletes or coaches. And it’s a lack of execution at times and we have to be better — he knows that, they know that and expectations are high, but I will continue to have the conversations with him. And we’ll continue to support him in our program and continue to be there for him.

“It’s difficult. None of these student-athletes or coaches or staff — they’re working to win. And when it doesn’t happen, there’s no bigger disappointment than they have in the results or lack of results in the success of winning. And so they will continue to get my support and we will continue to have conversations and work through it.”

Howard has been his alma mater’s head coach since the 2019-20 season. Michigan won a B1G title in 2021 and Howard picked up multiple Coach of the Year honors, taking the Wolverines to the Elite Eight. U-M went 18-16 last season, going to the NIT instead of the NCAA Tournament. Though it looks like U-M won’t be going dancing for the second straight year, Manuel says he hasn’t given thought to making a coaching change.

“It would be fair to say I have not really thought about any changes in our men’s basketball program at this time,” Manuel said. “It’s one of those things that — I guess I can’t say it any clearer; I want to support Juwan to be successful and have not given any moment or thought of anything about changes at this time. And so my support is of him, of our student-athletes, and our staff.”

Up next for Michigan is a home meeting with Michigan State on Saturday. The rivalry clash is set for 8 p.m. ET, airing on FOX.