After Wisconsin routed his staff, 77-63, Sunday afternoon, Michigan Coach Juwan Howard slapped Joe Krabbenhoft, a Wisconsin assistant coach, within the head in the course of the postgame handshake line, precipitating a scrum between the 2 groups.
Howard, the previous Miami Warmth assistant coach and a member of Michigan’s famed Fab 5 recruiting class within the early Nineties, initially didn’t enter the handshake line however then got here in late. Wisconsin Coach Greg Gard at first appeared to make use of his left hand to seize at Howard’s proper elbow to cease him so they might speak.
Howard then appeared to tug at Gard’s shirt, level his index finger in Gard’s face and get right into a heated dialogue with Gard. Because the coaches had been separated by cops, assistant coaches and gamers, Howard landed a right-handed slap on Krabbenhoft’s head. Gamers from each groups then started pushing and shoving each other.
Howard might be suspended for “not more than two contests” and fined as much as $10,000, in accordance with the Huge Ten Convention’s Sportsmanship Coverage, and both Michigan or the convention’s Group Government Committee may elect to impose extra penalties. The Huge Ten mentioned in an announcement that it was conscious of the incident.
“The convention is in touch with each member establishments and is presently assessing the incident,” the assertion mentioned. “The convention will present extra data and can take swift and acceptable disciplinary motion when it completes its evaluation.”
Michigan’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, mentioned in an announcement he apologized to his Wisconsin counterpart, Chris McIntosh.
“There is no such thing as a excuse for any of our workers or student-athletes to get right into a bodily altercation with others no matter instigating components,” he mentioned.
Manuel added: “We’ll evaluation the state of affairs extra completely and work with the Huge Ten Convention as they decide their disciplinary actions and can decide if any additional disciplinary actions are wanted.”
Gard mentioned in a tv interview that Howard was upset with the timeout Gard had known as with 15 seconds remaining and Wisconsin up by 15 factors. Michigan was urgent the Wisconsin backups when he known as the timeout.
“Apparently, he didn’t like that I known as a timeout to reset the 10-second name,” Gard advised CBS. “We solely had 4 seconds to get the ball over half-court and I didn’t need to put my backups — I had all my bench guys within the sport — I didn’t need to put them in that place of scrambling with solely 4 seconds, so I took a timeout and it acquired us a brand new 10 seconds and it helped them to get organized to get the ball in.”
He added: “He didn’t like that when he got here by the handshake line. I’ll depart it at that and the tape will present the remaining.”
Howard mentioned he objected to Gard initiating contact within the handshake line.
“Nicely, mainly I addressed with the top coach that I’ll keep in mind that due to that timeout, and for somebody to the touch me, and I feel that was very uncalled-for for him to the touch me as we had been verbalizing and speaking with each other,” Howard advised reporters. “In order that’s what ended up taking place and that’s what escalated it.”
Johnny Davis scored 25 factors for No. 15 Wisconsin (21-5, 12-4 Huge Ten), which is competing with No. 5 Purdue and No. 12 Illinois for the convention title.
Michigan (14-11, 8-7) stays on the bubble for the N.C.A.A. match. The Wolverines had been ranked as excessive as No. 4 earlier within the season however haven’t been within the high 25 for the reason that Nov. 29 Related Press ballot.
A 12 months in the past, Michigan gained the Huge Ten regular-season title and misplaced to U.C.L.A. within the spherical of 8 within the N.C.A.A. match.