Topline
Michigan men’s basketball head coach and former NBA player Juwan Howard swiped at the face of Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft following the Wolverines’ loss to the Badgers Sunday, causing a multi-player brawl and forcing Michigan’s athletic director to consider “disciplinary actions.”
Key Facts
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement the school will work with the Big Ten Conference as they determine their disciplinary actions.
The Conference, which includes both Michigan and Wisconsin, said in a statement it will “take swift and appropriate disciplinary action” following its review.
Howard said after the game he was unhappy that Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard took a timeout with 15 seconds to go in the game despite his team’s 15-point lead, and claimed Ward touched him as they were arguing in the postgame handshake line prior to his strike.
Gard told CBS Sports after the game he called the timeout to give his players more time to get the ball up the court, adding Howard “did not like that when he came through the handshake line [after the game].”
Multiple players from both teams threw punches following Howard’s hit.
Crucial Quote
“I addressed with the head coach that I will remember that, because of that timeout,” Howard said during a postgame press conference. “I think that was very uncalled for for him to touch me, as we were verbalizing and communicating with one another.”
Chief Critic
Seth Davis, a college sports writer for CBS, called for Howard’s suspension, and pointed out that former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes was fired in 1978 after throwing a punch at Clemson player Charlie Bauman, causing a massive brawl.
