Why Michigan basketball's Juwan Howard didn't apologize for postgame scuffle at Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — The Michigan basketball contingent shuffled into the media room inside Kohl Center on Sunday for the most unusual of news conferences after a fight broke loose in the postgame handshake line.
Head coach Juwan Howard had struck Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the face to spark a brawl following what he believed was an unnecessary timeout by the Badgers in the waning seconds of a game in which the outcome already had been decided.
Michigan forwards Moussa Diabate and Terrance Williams II also threw punches during the melee.
ABOUT THE GAME: Michigan no match for Wisconsin, 77-63; Juwan Howard strikes Badgers assistant
Howard did not apologize or express remorse while speaking to reporters and instead justified his actions by saying Wisconsin coach Greg Gard had touched him without provocation. Joining Howard at the news conference were point guard DeVante’ Jones and center Hunter Dickinson, both of whom declined to comment on the specifics of the skirmish but said the Wolverines handled themselves like a family looking out for each other.
The Big Ten released a statement about 90 minutes after the game ended, which said in part: "The conference is in contact with both (Michigan and Wisconsin) 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."
Shortly thereafter, Michigan athletic director released a statement:
“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 (Michigan interim) President (Mary Sue) Coleman has reached out to UW Chancellor (Rebecca) 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.
Comments from the Michigan contingent were followed by a two-part Wisconsin news conference featuring Gard and athletic director Chris McIntosh, who offered a strong rebuke of Howard’s behavior, and a panel of players including Brad Davison, Johnny Davis and Tyler Wahl.
Here’s what was said by both sides:
Michigan coach Juwan Howard
On whether he was upset by Gard calling a timeout with 15 seconds remaining in a 77-63 win for the Badgers: “Yes I was. I 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. And then to have a timeout be called with three seconds or four seconds to go, you know, I thought that was what I felt wasn’t fair to our guys.”
On what escalated the situation from frustration over a timeout to striking an opposing coach: “Basically I addressed with the head coach that I will remember that, because of that timeout. And for someone to touch me, 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 and that’s what escalated it.”
On whether the touching by Gard went beyond normal postgame handshake interactions: “It was more than that. Touching. Touching me unnecessarily when it wasn’t called for that, when we’re talking. At that point, you know, I thought that was time to protect myself.”
On whether he expects to be suspended: “Well I’ll respect, you know, whatever the Big Ten decision that they make. It’s up to them, and I will respect whatever decision they end up making.”
On additional Michigan players throwing punches and getting involved in the fighting: “Unfortunately it had to end up like that. Didn’t like for it to be that way. But you know what, I respect our young men for saying what they’re saying as far as we are a family and truly. But did not want it to be in a situation where it escalated like that.”
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson
On what happened immediately after the game: “No comment.”
On whether an event during the game triggered frustration: “I think some people were upset with the way they handled the ending of the game. And so that frustration was released after the game.”
On what he means by handling the end of the game: “Some actions that were taken at the end of the game that probably slowed the ending of the game down.”
On whether that’s referring to Wisconsin’s timeout: “I think you kind of get what I’m referring to with respect to slowing down the ending of the game.”
On what goes through his mind when punches are thrown: “I mean, uh, we’re a family. And family looks out for family.”
Michigan point guard DeVante’ Jones
On what happened immediately after the game: “No comment.”
On whether he has regrets about the ending: “I’m just going to piggy back off what (Dickinson) said. We’re family and we’re going to look out for each other regardless. So that’s that.”
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh
“I thought it was appropriate to comment on the events that transpired at the end of the game today. I would just start by saying there is no room, there is no space for conduct like that at any competition, much less in Big Ten competition. The Big Ten takes pride in sportsmanship. The Big Ten takes pride in acting with class. And that didn’t happen today. And it’s unfortunate what transpired. I’ve been in contact with the league. I’ve spoken to the commissioner personally. I expect the league is going to act swiftly and aggressively. We’ve got staff that have been affected and injured, hit in the face. And it’s difficult for me to compose myself in the defense of our staff and our team, who did not instigate this event. And it’s clearly captured on the television feed today. And I’m not sure what will take long in addressing this.”
On the injuries to players and staff: “I think we’re assessing the situation right now so I think I’ll just hold comment on that.”
On Howard saying Gard’s touching escalated the situation: “Coach Gard hasn’t had a chance to see the video footage. I have. I think the footage speaks for itself and I think it speaks in Greg’s favor.”
On his phone call with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren: “Just to summarize, I can share with you the commissioner understands the significance of what happened. The commissioner understands the standard with which the Big Ten is expected to operate in terms of sportsmanship and safety. I’m confident having spoken with him that this will be handled appropriately. I expect to hear from him soon.”
On any Wisconsin players who might have been involved, specifically Jahcobi Neath: “It’s difficult to know what to anticipate right now. So I wouldn’t make any predictions.”
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard
“I’ll walk you through my last 15 seconds of the game. We only have four seconds to get the ball across half court, OK? The official comes over to me and says, ‘Greg, if you take a timeout, you’ll get a full 10 seconds.’ There was 15 seconds on the game clock left, OK? I had all the reserves in and I was not going to put them in a position when the ball already got knocked out of bounds to have to break a press in four seconds when they’re coming cold off the bench. So I took a timeout, which I’m allowed to do, and brought them over and tried to get them organized. They haven’t all been on the floor in pressure situations before. And I wanted to give them the best chance to have success coming up the floor. And tell them that we’re not going to shoot the ball. All we’re doing is getting the ball, break the pressure, come up and we’ll dribble out the clock. So we got the full 10 seconds to break that press instead of four seconds. So we were on the spot, we got organized and that is the situation that he apparently was upset with.”
On what happened in the handshake line: “As I was walking through it, you know, I know he didn’t come through it right away. 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,’ and 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 timeout.’ Maybe he doesn’t know the rule that you get the 10 seconds reset. I wasn’t going to put my players in that type of situation and have to break a press in four seconds coming stiff and cold off the bench. I wouldn’t do that for a regular group. I can take a timeout. It gives my players the best chance to have success. So that’s where it started that 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 that and kept moving on.”
On Howard striking Krabbenhoft in the face: “Hmm. It’s best that I — I haven’t seen any of the video, really, and I didn’t see that live. So, I mean, I’ve been told different things. I’ll hold comment and let those people that are making those decisions, you know, walk from there. Maybe I’ll learn more as I look at things and we move forward.”
On whether he was bothered by Michigan’s decision to press in the final seconds: “They can do that. Play the game all the way out, and we did the same thing by taking a timeout to help my players get organized.”
On his relationship with Howard prior to today: “I would say, you know, obviously he hasn’t been in the league as long as some of the others, so the time is different in terms of time in the league. And no, we haven’t had any discussion after (the incident).”
Wisconsin guard Brad Davison
“This is on a unified front of us three up here and on behalf of our team. We have the utmost respect, love and appreciation for our coaches, our coaching staff, our support staff and as our teammates. We always say we love to go to battle each and every day with each other. That’s the toughness and the togetherness that we lead with at all times. We do that on the court, and I thought we did a great job with that today for 40 minutes. We’re really proud of the performance that we had. Really proud of the way that we handled things throughout the game. And we’re super thankful to have the opportunity to chase after the goals that are in front of us. We’re proud of the win. We’re proud to be Badgers. We’re proud to play for our coaching staff. We love playing with one another. And we’re looking forward to the best is yet to come because all of our goals are in front of us. So we’re looking forward, we’re not looking past. It’s on a unified front. That’s all we’ll comment on the actions after the game. We’re not going to worry about what happens next for them. We’re just going to continue to look forward and focus on our team and continue to do things together and the Badger way.”
On Howard swinging at Krabbenhoft: “Coach Krabb is my guy, ever since I was being recruited since eighth grade. I have the utmost respect for him and I don’t see him as a coach as a friend. I see him as a brother and family. Like I said, you know, that’s what our program is and that’s what our team is, a family. We’re always going to stand up for each other. We’re always going to support each other. When things happen, we come together. That’s when we battle through adversity, whatever that may look like. It just ties us closer and closer together. We all love Coach Krabb. Coach Krabb is our guy. He will continue to be our guy. He’s like family to all of us.”
Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis
On whether it’s hard to show restraint during fights: “It’s pretty hard because like Brad was saying, we’ll fight for our brothers and our coaches. But also, you know, we’ve got bigger things to look forward to. The game was already over. We already won. And we’re moving on to bigger and better things.”
Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl
On whether anything during the earlier parts of the game contributed to the fight: "No. I would say it was just a good, 40-minute basketball game. Physical game. Just Big Ten basketball."
Contact Michael Cohen at mcohen@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_Cohen13.