Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard took a swipe at Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft’s face in the postgame handshake line between the teams, setting off a brawl involving coaches and players from both sides.
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard stopped Howard in the handshake line, leading to the two men exchanging words before being surrounded by a few players and coaches.
Howard put his finger in Gard’s face and grabbed Gard’s sweater before Krabbenhoft came over in the middle of the scrum. Howard then reached out and struck Krabbenhoft’s face.
Both teams began pushing and shoving, with Michigan forwards Moussa Diabate and Terrance Williams appearing to throw punches. Wisconsin guard Jahcobi Neath also appeared to throw a punch.
The Big Ten said it would review the matter for “swift and appropriate disciplinary action.”
“The Big Ten Conference is aware of a physical altercation involving Michigan Head Coach Juwan Howard at the conclusion of the Michigan Wolverines and Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball game.
The conference is in contact with both member institutions and is currently assessing the incident.
The conference will provide more information and will take swift and appropriate disciplinary action when it completes its review,” the conference said in a statement.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement that he apologized to Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh, and university president Mary Sue Coleman was reaching out to Wisconsin chancellor Rebecca Blank.
“I am aware of and watched the end of our men’s basketball game. There is no excuse for any of our staff or student-athletes to get into a physical altercation with others regardless of instigating factors. I reached out and apologized to Chris McIntosh and President Coleman has reached out to UW Chancellor Blank to apologize for the totally unacceptable behavior,” he said.
“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.”
Juwan Howard is an American former professional basketball player and current head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men’s team. He was an assistant coach for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association from 2013 to 2019. Howard played in the NBA from 1994 until 2013.
