Michigan's Juwan Howard contrite about swipe at Wisconsin

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Michigan coach Juwan Howard looked and sounded contrite about the swipe that forced him to watch his basketball team play five games on TV.

"I can come up with 1,000 excuses, but I’m not," he said Wednesday. "I take full ownership for my actions."

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Howard resumed his role as coach on Monday after serving a five-game suspension for hitting a Wisconsin assistant in the head during a heated handshake line last month. His actions triggered players throwing punches, leading to Michigan's Moussa Diabate and Terrance Williams II being suspended for a game.

Howard met individually with players upon his return and led them in a practice on Tuesday for the first time since they were preparing to play the Badgers more than two weeks ago. He also put them through a practice Wednesday, preparing to play Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament.

After Wisconsin beat the Wolverines 77-63 on Feb. 20, Howard threw his right hand and struck assistant Joe Krabbenhoft's head after exchanging heated words and having some contact with head coach Greg Gard in the handshake line.

FILE - Michigan head coach Juwan Howard reacts to a play as associate head coach Phil Martelli watches from the bench during the first half of the team's Elite Eight game against UCLA in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament March 30, 2021, in Indianapolis. Martelli will fill in for Howard for the rest of the regular season. Howard was suspended five games and fined $40,000 by the Big Ten Conference after hitting a Wisconsin assistant coach in the head during the handshake line after a loss Sunday, Feb. 20. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)