Desmond Howard defends Juwan Howard after post-game incident
Chaos ensued at the Kohl Center on Sunday, with the Michigan Wolverines and the Wisconsin Badgers getting into a scuffle during the handshake line. Things escalated when Michigan head coach Juwan Howard appeared to throw a punch at a Wisconsin assistant coach, causing the tensions to escalate.
Reactions have begun to pour in from members of the media, giving out their opinions on what transpired and what should be done for punishment. Former Michigan football player and current ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard was the latest, seemingly defending Howard and putting most of the blame on the Wisconsin end.
“I saw Juwan walking away and Wisconsin coach put his hands on him to stop,” Howard said via Twitter. “First mistake. Then an ass’t coach inserted himself and said something that only escalated things. Let bosses be bosses and play your position. Second mistake.”
Big Ten releases statement on Juward Howard incident
The Big Ten has issued a statement on the postgame fight between the Michigan Wolverines and Wisconsin Badgers, which was sparked by an altercation between head coaches and including a punch thrown by Juwan Howard at an assistant. The Sunday incident has made national headlines and drawn widespread criticism from the media.
“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 statement reads. “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.”
Juwan Howard didn’t join the typical postgame coaches handshake right away. The announcers noted at the time that it was odd Howard refrained from approaching Greg Gard as the game clock expired. Howard seemed to be the one upset, getting in Gard’s face, pointing and eventually having it escalate to the point of physicality on Howard’s part.
The anger seemed to begin due to a late timeout from Gard when the game was already decided. The timeout came with 15 seconds remaining while Gard kept the intensity up with a full court press while winning by double digits.