Michigan coach Juwan Howard became upset after Wisconsin called a timeout in the closing seconds of a game the Wisconsin Badgers had already put out of reach.
The way Howard responded could have major ramifications on the rest of Michigan’s season.
Howard hit Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft after arguing with Wisconsin coach Greg Gard during the handshake line following the Badgers’ 77-63 victory on Sunday.
The Big Ten Athletic conference said it planned to ‘take swift and appropriate disciplinary action when it completes its review.’
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard and Michigan coach Juwan Howard, left, confronted each other after their game
A brawl broke out and a Badgers assistant coach was struck in the face
Michigan coach Juwan Howard threw an open-hand punch that struck Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft during an altercation in the handshake line
During his postgame news conference, Howard said he didn’t like Wisconsin calling for a timeout with 15 seconds left and the Badgers leading by 15.
‘I did not like the timeout being called, I’ll be totally honest. I thought it was not necessary at the moment, especially being a large lead,’ Howard said.
After the game, Howard pointed a finger at Gard. Then, Howard reached through a crowd to get to Krabbenhoft.
Slow motion replays showed Howard no longer had a closed fist and had his hand open by the time he hit Krabbenhoft on the left side of his head.
Howard was upset about a Wisconsin timeout with 15 seconds left to go and got in a verbal exchange with Badgers coach Greg Gard near the Michigan bench
Both head coaches had hands on each other and heated words were exchanged and other players became involved in a brawl
The altercation intensified after the punch with players from both teams also pushing each other and throwing punches
Players from each side then got involved in the skirmish leading to an all-out brawl.
Video appeared to show Michigan’s Moussa Diabate and Wisconsin’s Jahcobi Neath throwing punches.
Howard said he reacted after someone from Wisconsin put hands on him.
Video showed Gard had his hands touching Howard’s arm or wrist area while trying to explain the reason for the timeout.
‘I addressed with the head coach that I will remember that, because of the timeout,’ Howard said. ‘Someone touched me, and I think it was very uncalled for, for them to touch me, as we were verbalizing and communicating with one another. That’s what escalated it.’
Both teams began pushing and shoving after the two head coaches went at one another
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh said he already had contacted Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren about the situation, adding that Wisconsin had staff members who were ‘affected and injured.’
‘There’s no room, no space for conduct like that in any competition, much less a Big Ten competition,’ McIntosh said. ‘The Big Ten takes pride in sportsmanship. The Big Ten takes pride in acting with class. That didn’t happen today.’
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel issued a statement saying that he had apologized to McIntosh and that Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman had contacted Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank ‘to apologize for the totally unacceptable behavior.’
‘There is no excuse for any of our staff or student-athletes to get into a physical altercation with others regardless of instigating factors,’ Manuel said.
Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard directs his team during the game with the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on Sunday
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard protests a referee call in the game with the Michigan Wolverines at the Kohl Center
Wisconsin Badgers Assistant Coach Joe Krabbenhoft reacts after a fight breaks out between Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines. Joe Krabbenhoft was hit in the head by Michigan Wolverines Head Coach Juwan Howard
Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl (22) and guard Chucky Hepburn (23), with head coach Greg Gard, react after a fight broke out on the court at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in Madison, Wisconsin
The Big Ten issued a statement saying it’s ‘aware of a physical altercation involving Michigan head coach Juwan Howard’ and that it’s assessing the incident. Howard said he’d respect whatever decision the Big Ten makes.
‘We will review the situation more thoroughly and work with the Big Ten Conference as they determine their disciplinary actions and will determine if further disciplinary actions are warranted,’ Manuel said.
This isn’t Howard’s first high-profile incident with another Big Ten coach.
Last season, Howard got into a shouting match with then-Maryland coach Mark Turgeon during the conference tournament. Howard had to be restrained.
He drew two technical fouls and was ejected from a game Michigan ended up winning 79-66.
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard declined to apologize after the contest and said Gard touching him led to the escalation of the situation. Pictured, Howard speaks to the media regarding a fight that broke out on the court
Gard said he called the timeout because his reserves were in the game and only had four seconds to get the ball past midcourt. A timeout gives them 10 seconds.
‘Apparently he didn’t like that I called the timeout to reset the 10-second call, because we only had four seconds to get the ball over halfcourt,’ Gard told CBS. ‘I didn’t want to put my backups — I had all my bench guys in the game — I didn’t want to put them in that position of scrambling with only four seconds. So I took a timeout and got us a new 10 seconds and it helped them get organized and get the ball in.
‘And he did not like that when he came through the handshake line. I’ll leave it at that and the tape will show the rest.’
‘I was not going to put them in position, where the ball had already gotten knocked out of bounds, to have to break a press in four seconds,’ Gard said.
