Michigan's Juwan Howard explains postgame skirmish, AD condemns actions

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Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard attempted to explain his postgame actions on Sunday after he was seen striking a Wisconsin assistant coach.

Howard said he was upset with Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard calling a timeout with 15 seconds left and up 15 points. Howard pointed a finger at Gard before other coaches and players tried to deescalate the situation. That’s when Howard appeared to take a swing at Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft.

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Michigan head coach Juwan Howard directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 77-63. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

"I didn’t like the timeout being called, and I’ll be totally honest with you," Howard told reporters after the game, via MLive. "I thought it was not necessary at that moment, especially being a large lead. And then to have a timeout called with three seconds or four seconds to go, I thought that was what I felt wasn’t fair to our guys."

In the handshake line, Gard and Howard met. Howard appeared to tell Gard he "won’t forget that," and Gard had put his hand on Howard’s elbow to try and keep him there while the two talked.

Howard said he didn’t like that either.

"I think that was very uncalled for, for him to touch me as we were verbalizing and communicating with one another. That’s what ended up happening. That’s what escalated it," he said.

Wisconsin Badgers assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft reacts after a fight breaks out between Wisconsin and the Michigan Wolverines. Krabbenhoft was hit in the head by Michigan head coach Juwan