Michigan coach Juwan Howard will receive a five-game suspension Monday for his role in a postgame scuffle after the Wolverines’ loss at Wisconsin on Sunday, according to Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel. Howard struck Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft after a tense exchange with Badgers’ coach Greg Gard in the handshake line after the game. The suspension will keep him off the sidelines for the remainder of the regular season.
Gard’s decision to call timeout with 15 seconds left and the Badgers holding a 15-point lead is what sparked Howard’s ire. With the Wolverines maintaining full-court pressure after Wisconsin went to a lineup of walk-ons and reserves, Gard later explained that he called the timeout to help his team avoid a 10-second violation. But it did not sit well with Howard.
“I didn’t like the timeout they called, I’ll be totally honest,” Howard said. “I thought it was not necessary at that moment, especially with it being a large lead. … I thought that wasn’t fair to our guys.”
Wisconsin #Badgers men’s basketball: end of game marred as Juwan Howard punches Joe Krabbenhoft in handshake line https://t.co/X9CWYH8bZ5 pic.twitter.com/AgnAzGAvaT
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) February 20, 2022
Words r interesting but more MEANINGFUL WILL BE THE DISCIPLINE by UM & @B1GMBBall on the behavior by the COACH of a prestigious Program No excuse is warranted by the actions of JUWAN HOWARD – look at video Juwan & man up & simply say I _____ up! https://t.co/pUiJVumA2w
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 21, 2022