Michigan coach Juwan Howard suspended for rest of regular season after hitting Wisconsin assistant,

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS NEWS

BY JORDAN FREIMAN

Michigan men's basketball coach Juwan Howard has been suspended for five games, which accounts for the remainder of the regular season, for his role in Sunday's brawl at the conclusion of the team's loss to Wisconsin, the Big Ten announced Monday. Howard struck a Wisconsin assistant coach during the postgame handshakes, sparking a short brawl between the two teams.

"It has been determined that there was a clear violation of the Big Ten Conference's Sportsmanship Policy by Michigan Men's Basketball Head Coach Juwan Howard," the conference said in a statement. "Additionally, the University of Wisconsin Men's Basketball Head Coach Greg Gard was in violation of the conference's sportsmanship policy."

In addition to the suspension, Howard is also facing a $40,000 fine. Gard was fined $10,000 but will not face any suspension. No disciplinary action was announced for Badgers assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft, who was struck by Howard during the altercation.

Three players, Michigan's Terrance Williams II and Moussa Diabate and Wisconsin's Jahcobi Neath, were suspended for one game "for their roles in the altercation."

Video: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/ncaa-game-breaks-out-into-fight-after-altercation-between-coaches/

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/juwan-howard-michigan-suspended-wisconsin-fight-big-ten/

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FULL title:
Michigan coach Juwan Howard suspended for rest of regular season after hitting Wisconsin assistant, sparking brawl

[TheRealNorth]

1. I think he should have been fired

Apparently, this wasn't his first altercation. We can' t have coaches acting like this. Especially when the reason Howard was mad was because the Badgers took a time out at the end of the game in a blow out win. (I read somewhere that it was to reset the shot clock to 10 seconds, but I don't know if that is how it works in college basketball as I could see that being abused)

[jcgoldie]

9. the half court clock

Wisconsin had a large lead under a minute and they had emptied their bench meaning they had walk ons in the game who never get any playing time. Its a reward for these guys for competing everyday in practice that they get some gametime and on TV for a minute or so maybe in the box score once the game is out of reach. Usually it works both ways. Howard, however, was still pressing meaning he had not conceded even though there was no chance to win the game given the time and differential. So Greg Gard took a timeout to help his subs get the ball over the timeline rather than give up a 10 second call. Howard took offense to the timeout once the game was out of reach as if Wisconsin was rubbing it in. The fact that MU still had their starters in the game, however, and pressing indicates they had no conceded so its rather stupid to take offense to the TO in that situation IMHO. Regardless of the etiquette involved in such a game, Howard's reaction throwing punches in the postgame handshake line was completely amateur and ridiculous for a head coach making 7 figures a year.

Edit to add I do agree with others who responded saying Gard should have been suspended as well based on his postgame actions.

[yardwork]

48. Thanks for that summary. This was shocking to me.

I think he should be fired.

[milestogo]

2. Good.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. The REAL news is that Gard hasn't been suspended,

as he should have been for instigating the situation. He had NO right to impede/grab Howard and restrict him from leaving the court. It was white entitlement that caused this to escalate.
Howard got the proper suspension. Gard did not.

[Anguiped]

4. Yes

I agree. Here is yet another incident we got to see in real time that raises serious questions. Gard clearly instigated the violent actions and the I want to know what the Wisconsin assistant said that would have provoked a strike. Sometimes an open handed strike is warranted.

[jcgoldie]

20. "Sometimes an open handed strike is warranted"

On a basketball court? WTF are you even talking about?

[former9thward]

6. BS

Gard did not grab Howard or restrict him from leaving the court. Howard should have been fired. Its not his first time doing this.

[llashram]

8. Gard

put his hands on Coach Howard and aggressively tried to prevent him from walking off. It is a representation of Wisconsin's overall national presentation. Republican mentality though. Typical. No surprise. If I had been the coach well...

[llashram]

10. Gard did exactly

what you say he didn't...

[former9thward]

18. Anyone can google the video and see for themselves.

[llashram]

23. watched it

Gard put his hands, aggressively, on Coach Howard. The was the moment of truth. Period. Coach Howard did not touch him, just tried to move past.

But you, as I, will see what we see.

[former9thward]

27. Did the Asst. WI coach who Howard hit touch him?

Nope.

[MichMan]

30. You must have missed the part where Howard put his finger in his face & then grabbed Gards shirt

But like you said, you will see what you want to see

[llashram]

32. that's right

[Ferrets are Cool]

36. You obviously haven't watched the same video that I did. He DID restrict his leaving the court.

It was the move of an entitled WHITE man that is used to having people do his will. He treated another coach like a player or less.

I will not change your mind and you CERTAINLY will not change mine, so we can agree to disagree.

[former9thward]

37. Even if everything you said was accurate -- and it is not

Does that give him the right to assault an Asst Coach who did not touch him? You ok with that?

[Ferrets are Cool]

42. You OBVIOUSLY don't read posts before you reply

In my very first post I said, "Howard got the proper suspension". Sheesh

[TomCADem]

40. Gard grabbed Howard and did not let him pass by.

Gard should have been suspended for a game for escalating the situation.

Howard should be suspended for the season for throwing punches, but Gard should have definitely have gotten suspended for grabbing Howard as Howard was trying to walk past him.

[INdemo]

22. I agree 150%

I saw the video and yes Gard did in fact initiate the contact and push Howard back.

[yardwork]

49. They both should be fired. Outrageous behavior.

[Rocknation]

5. GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!

When I heard about this on Pardon The Interruption last night, I immediately said, "They ought to give him the rest of the season off!"


Rocknation

[llashram]

7. unequal suspensions

coach Howard did not instigate this altercation.

[jcgoldie]

13. he threw punches

I agree Gard should have had some sort of suspension as well. Who instigated it is debatable. But throwing punches by head coach is particularly egregious, they were not equal offenses.

[llashram]

14. Nothing debateable

about it. Gard aggressively put his hands on Coach Howard and aggressively tried to prevent him from leaving. PLAIN AS DAY. But well of course...

[jcgoldie]

15. of course what?

Thats the same as throwing punches? I'm an Illini hoops fan and I can't stand Greg Gard, but it ridiculous to claim they are equal offenses whatever race any of the involved parties are.

[llashram]

17. everyone WILL see

what they want to see. I see the truth of this matter...period. Gard should not have touched Coach Howard. Yet this is America 2022 in sports, politics, race relations, justice and whatever else colours the view(s)of ANY situation.

[jcgoldie]

19. Right

You see truth everyone else sees what they want. And touching equals throwing punches. Got it.

[MichMan]

26. Except of course Howard didn't punch Gard, he hit someone else instead.....

So, if someone touches my elbow, I get to punch the guy standing next to him ?

[TomCADem]

41. Then Howard Should Have Just Pushed Gard Away and Keep on Walking...

...what is Gard going to do? Hold on the Howard's leg? Gard should have been suspended a game or two, but Howard should have received the heavier punishment for throwing punches.

[llashram]

11. And Coach Howard

will probably be fired and explained away by bullshit words...a black man hitting a white man ...ooooh noooo....

[Sneederbunk]

12. Once again a video settles the matter.

[Paladin]

16. Serves Howard right. Inexcusable behavior.

And to those of you trying to lay a "Just As Bad" accusation on the Wisc. coach: Lots of luck refuting what actually appears on the video.

[moriah]

43. JMHO and all, but...

.... I did watch the video.

I will not say "just as bad". But yes, the Wisconsin coach laid lands on him for not wanting to shake his hand and trying to just walk past.

Not saying violent hands. Nothing close to a slap upside the head.

Still, nobody should be forced into physical contact with another person. Other people aren't pets, and even pets sometimes react badly to unwanted but nonviolent attention (scratch my cat's belly, he'll dare you). Gard coulda milked enough good press for him/bad press for Howard by just letting him walk past without the traditional handshake. That's unsportsmanlike enough.

I'd say a one-game suspension for everyone else involved, including Gard (but not the asst coach who got the headslap), then the season-long suspension for Howard, would probably be more reflective of them both letting the situation/their players get so far out of hand (and Howard's obvious loss of control of himself enough to hit someone else besides Gard.)

But that's my personal opinion, from the position of someone who was bullied in school and even when someone broke my arm I had to serve the same suspension length as them per school policy. No, not saying it should be that way (it should be proportional). I just don't know if $10k will teach Gard that he can get the sympathetic press in that situation *without* doing something rude like laying hands on on someone who doesn't want to shake yours.

[MichMan]

21. Howard has a history of losing his temper as a coach

This isn't the first incident.

Last year during a game against Maryland, Howard had to be restrained from going after their coach before being ejected from the game.

He then screamed at Mayland's coach "I'll fucking kill you !"

[llashram]

24. Once guilty

ALWAYS guilty, right?

[cinematicdiversions]

39. He punched somebody at work. Unless you are a professional fighter

You need to be fired. Not to mention he is a coach of young adults.

[llashram]

46. and other's on the others

on the side of right put their hands on him and tried to aggressively prevent him from leaving as cops-trump-supremacists told them they could do. BUT that doesn't count...right???. Sports, politics human rights, voting rights and religion etc have all been poisoned by the trash known as trump and his cult. I watch, I see and experience, I comment. Like it or not.

[cinematicdiversions]

51. He reacted like a toddler not a head coach.

He is lucky he only got a time out.

[llashram]

47. how many seasons did

Bobby Knight act a wild man? Very few said anything until he became dangerous. Coach Howard WAS NOT.

[cinematicdiversions]

50. Bobby Knight was an ass and was fired.

Bobby knight wouldn't last long in this decade.

[llashram]

52. how many seasons?

just a valid question

[Jimbo S]

25. Just punishments

Howard sticks his finger into Gard and talks smack and tries to walk away. Real class. Gard grabs his elbow to allow himself to explain himself.

Seriously, if you're all butthurt about someone holding your elbow, then you have bigger problems.

[PoliticAverse]

28. Video of the incident on youtube...

(Click "Watch on YouTube&quot

[MichMan]

29. Howard's entire season has been a disaster

Michigan was considered to have one of the top highly ranked recruiting classes in the entire NCAA this season, and was ranked 4th in the nation in the preseason.

Not only have they lost to their biggest rivals this season, they are currently 7th in the BIG10 standings & are considered a longshot to even make the 64 team NCAA tournament. They have played impressively a handful of times, but have also been very inconsistent and have imploded several times in games they were favored to win.

[caraher]

31. The CBS video isn't the best look at the incident

In the clip below you can hear what Howard and Gard say leading up to Howard slapping Krabbenhoft (which isn't clearly visible in this clip but is clear from the CBS feed). As they approach, Howard tells Gard he'll remember this, then looks away from Gard, intending to walk past. Gard wants to stop him and grab's Howard's arm...

[UnderThisLaw]

33. I'm guessing

by the reactions of the usual suspects that the two participants are of a different race

[WhoWoodaKnew]

34. It's good to know that I can punch or slap a guy from another company

...in a Sales meting or a conference with competitors and all I'll get is a vacation for a month or two.

[Emile]

35. Boy you would had never seen Bobby Knight act like this!

[former9thward]

38. And Knight was suspended at least twice and finally fired.

[Emile]

44. Juwan Howard has a way to go before getting anywhere near Bobby Knight bad.

[BradAllison]

45. Thankfully Michigan isn't going anywhere anyway.

Except maybe the NIT.