Michigan and Wisconsin coaches, athletic directors respond to postgame altercation

The end of Sunday’s Michigan at Wisconsin basketball game was marred by a confrontation that took place in the handshake line. Head coaches Juwan Howard and Greg Gard were involved in a verbal spat that turned ugly with players and staffers involved on both sides.

RELATED: Michigan-Wisconsin game turns ugly in confrontation with Juwan Howard, Greg Gard

The event that sparked the scuffle had to do with Wisconsin calling a timeout up 16 in the waning moments of the game. The Badgers claim it had to do with Michigan’s pressure defense and making an adjustment. It was followed by the two coaches arguing in the handshake line, a Wisconsin assistant jumping in and Howard throwing an open-handed swipe towards him. Players from both teams would eventually be involved with some punches thrown on film.

“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.”

Here is what each side of the confrontation had to say in the wake of the incident.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard shares his side of the story

Gard, who was joined by athletic director Chris McIntosh during his postgame presser, explained his side of the altercation after it happened.

“I know [Howard] didn’t come through [the handshake line] right away,” Gard said. “He came in later after some of the players and was going down the line with everybody. They were all fine, and he came up to me and pulled his mask down and said, ‘I’ll remember that.’  He started pointing at me and tapped me in the chest and I said, ‘Hold on, Let me explain to you why I took the time out.’ Maybe he doesn’t know the rule that you get the 10 seconds to reset. 

“I wasn’t gonna put my players in that type of situation to have to break a press in four seconds. It’s difficult off the bench. I wouldn’t do that for a regular group. I can take a time out. It gives my players the best chance to have success. So that’s where it started, he said ‘I’ll remember that, I’ll remember that.’ And I said, ‘Hey let me tell you why I did what I did.’ And he didn’t want any part of it and kept moving on.”

Gard claims he had to take the timeout to reset his players due to the defense Michigan was playing despite the game result not being in doubt. He takes no issue with that.

“They can do that,” he said. “Play the game all the way out, and we did the same thing by taking the time out to help my players get organized.”

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard on what happened

The timeout was not warmly received by Howard, who felt it was disrespectful to his team.

” didn’t like the timeout being called, and I’ll be totally honest with you. I thought it was not necessary at that moment, especially being a large lead,” he said. “And then, for the time out to be called with three seconds, four seconds ago, I thought that that was, what I felt, wasn’t fair to our guys.”

Howard also would not categorize the defense Michigan was playing as a press.

“It wasn’t a press,” he said. “We were just five pressure defense, man to man. That’s what five is for us. 

Howard corroborated Gard’s claim that he said he would “remember that,” but added that he was grabbed by Gard and did not believe that was necessary. He felt the need to defend himself.

“I addressed with the head coach that I will remember that, because of that time out,” Howard said. “And for someone to touch me — and I think that was very uncalled for him to touch me as we were verbalizing and communicating with one another. So that’s what ended up happening. And that’s what escalated it. 

“Touching me unnecessarily. Wasn’t cause for that when we were talking. At that point, I thought that was time to protect myself. 

Statement from Warde Manuel, Michigan’s possible response

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel put out a statement after the Big Ten did. Despite possible instigation from Wisconsin, he feels Howard and the team’s actions were unacceptable.

“I am aware of and watched the end of our men’s basketball game,” Manuel said. “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.  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.”

The Big Ten can suspend Howard for a maximum of two games and fine him up to $10,000 for the incident. Any further action would need to be taken from Michigan and could be jointly announced by the two entities. Sophomore forward Moussa Diabate is expected to draw a suspension among players, additionally. The investigation is ongoing.

Wisconsin’s athletic director chimes in

McIntosh claimed to have contact with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren after the game. He also said he planned on chatting with Manuel.

“The commissioner understands the standard with which the Big Ten is expected to operate in terms of sportsmanship and safety,” he said. “I’m confident, having spoken with him, that this will be handled appropriately, and I expect to hear from them soon.

“I would consider a Warde a friend and a great colleague, and I would trust that he’s got the same concerns that I do. I just haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.