OT: Mich - UW Howard Actions

[Big Papi]

This clip shows pretty well how Howard swatted at Krabbenhoft after he saw Krabbenhoft pushing Michigan players.


https://twitter.com/itsantwright/status/1495552481836912640?s=21

Krabbenhoft did more than push.  He threw gas on fire. You can see when he initially enters into the picture and is jawing that the Michigan players start to become enraged at him and start to go forward. I'm guessing he said some bad things. I don't know about Gard but he should be suspended.

I agree that we should do away with the end of game hand shake line. Do it pregame or not at all.

[NCMUFan]

A slap (even though that's what I thought it was at first look) it wasn't.

Better video - it's a punch. He should be gone, likely for season, maybe for good.

Looks like the UW assistant coach's head gets snapped into the player behind him.
Looks like Howard connected pretty well.
Keep the ugliness in Madison.

[MU82]

Krabbenhoft did more than push.  He threw gas on fire. You can see when he initially enters into the picture and is jawing that the Michigan players start to become enraged at him and start to go forward. I'm guessing he said some bad things. I don't know about Gard but he should be suspended.

I'd agree Krabbenhoft should get a game or two for escalating a tense situation. Also agree that there's not enough info to suspend Gard based on what I've seen on available videos.

But you simply can't reach across a pile and strike an opponent on the head. 5 games minimum for Howard.

[Jay Bee]

We need Alando Tucker to chime in, hey

[MU82]

The Athletic's Chris Branch's take:

First, watch the video. You'll notice the handshake line is proceeding as usual, until Howard tries to walk past Gard without shaking hands but tells Gard, "I'll remember this." Gard becomes angry at this, physically stepping in front of Howard to discuss their issues.

Howard was mad. He puts a finger in Gard's face, yelling — ostensibly about that unnecessary timeout. A near-melee ensues, including Howard throwing a sort of open-hand punch/slap at Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft. Players got involved and a couple of real punches were thrown. No one was injured, but it was an ugly scene.

Michigan and the Big Ten condemned the altercation. Suspensions are possible. Don't be surprised if Howard faces a lengthy suspension or even termination. That feels harsh, but things aren't great at Michigan right now. It might be a final-straw situation.

The even-keeled takeaway: Two things can be true here. Gard probably shouldn't have called that timeout. Take your win, head to the locker room and celebrate properly. No need to filibuster in front of your opponent after you've won handily.

Howard probably should've given a begrudging handshake and gone home, stewing on the loss in the safe confines of his own locker room with no national TV cameras in sight.

[Uncle Rico]

There have been a lot of grumbling through the years about Wisconsin basketball and how they play (A lot of coaches in the leagues through the years feel they're a dirty team).  Howard is newcomer, coming from the NBA.  He was pretty dismissive of the Badgers last year after another Davison issue.  This was boiling up with him. 

Does it excuse his behavior?  Nope.  Should he be suspended?  Yup, and for the season IMO.  Do I think a lot of coaches in the league get it and secretly applaud it?  Yup.

[Jay Bee]

^^^ all that's fine, but I'd add in "don't be a little b1tch if the other team responds to you pressing their bench with 15 seconds on the clock"

[wadesworld]

Do Wisconsin and their opponents leave (and enter?) their court from the same tunnel?  Why did the Wisconsin team stay out on the court after Michigan was going to their locker room after the scuffle?

[StillWarriors]

Do Wisconsin and their opponents leave (and enter?) their court from the same tunnel?  Why did the Wisconsin team stay out on the court after Michigan was going to their locker room after the scuffle?

Davison was trying to get everyone to stay out there to go sing "Varsity" to the student section. No idea what that UW tradition is, but I saw a video of that somewhere.

[Uncle Rico]

^^^ all that's fine, but I'd add in "don't be a little b1tch if the other team responds to you pressing their bench with 15 seconds on the clock"

Yeah, he should have been more concerned with how his team has played this year and there miserable performance in the 2nd half yesterday.  That's definitely true

[NCMUFan]

If this has happened in the past with Howard, it will probably happen again.
Is this serious enough for Michigan to be Howard's third strike?

[Uncle Rico]

If this has happened in the past with Howard, it will probably happen again.
Is this serious enough for Michigan to be Howard's third strike?

Yes, I believe so

[GoldenWarrior11]

Howard went after Turgeon last year during the B1GT, having to be restrained by assistant coaches before being ejected.  No one - much less a head coach, even more so on national television - should ever strike an opponent (player, coach, administrator, fan, etc.).  Reading the transcript of the postgame interview with Howard, he didn't even apologize or even sound apologetic.  He was defiant and self-justifying in attempting to rationalize why it was ok for him to strike someone in a handshake line. 

Howard should be fired, IMO.  I have doubts that he will (probably a suspension for the rest of the season), but since this is the second emotional outburst (with one being physical and the first nearly becoming physical), there is enough there to justify immediate termination.  You can have someone that is unable to control their emotions leading young men and representing a school. 

Compounding the embarrassment is that selected national sportswriters and Michigan alumni defending Howard, even arguing that he doesn't deserve to be fired because of various un-related reasons (Bobby Knight, slap vs. punch, no blood/no knock out, etc.). 

[Markusquette]

Howard is a kitten

[BrewCity83]

Here's a UW staffer adding some jackassery to the situation:

https://twitter.com/Eddie_Rado/status/1495488738948005889

[Dickthedribbler]

I hope and pray that Michigan and UW meet in the B10 Tournament.

[BrewCity83]

Howard was pressing at the end to try to narrow the losing point spread to help Michigan's NET number.  Gard countered with the timeout to protect the spread and help UW's NET number.

Blame the NCAA and it's use of a formula that encourages blowouts.

[forgetful]

Howard was pressing at the end to try to narrow the losing point spread to help Michigan's NET number.  Gard countered with the timeout to protect the spread and help UW's NET number.

Blame the NCAA and it's use of a formula that encourages blowouts.

Except the NET number doesn't include margin of victory anymore.

[Jockey]

Not excuses for Howard.  He should be suspended for the rest of the year.


But Gard is an A$$.  Who the F calls a time-out w / 4 seconds to go, up 14 ??

( and Gard said it was cuz he did not want his subs to turn the ball over !?!? )

It was pretty obvious if watching the game.

I don't get calling out Gard for taking a timeout, but being silent about Howard having his guys use a full court press with 4 seconds to go down 15. That was an in-your-face move by Howard. Gard's timeout was the back-in-your-face timeout.

I would hope Shaka would do the same think if another coach pulled a move like that.

BTW, it really hurts defending Gard.

[cheebs09]

Except the NET number doesn't include margin of victory anymore.

True, but scoring or not would (very slightly) change your efficiency numbers. Hence the conversation the last few days about the Georgetown margin.

However, once the walk-ons go in, it's pretty much run out the clock time. Why would Howard be upset if Gard was playing the NET game if he was too?

Also, having seeing it again, I could get on board with a Krabbenhoft punishment. It didn't seem like he was trying to play peacemaker when putting his hands on the Michigan guys.

[MuggsyB]

It was pretty obvious if watching the game.

I don't get calling out Gard for taking a timeout, but being silent about Howard having his guys use a full court press with 4 seconds to go down 15. That was an in-your-face move by Howard. Gard's timeout was the back-in-your-face timeout.

I would hope Shaka would do the same think if another coach pulled a move like that.

BTW, it really hurts defending Gard.

I think the general public, if they didn't know before, have confirmation now that both Howard and Gard are losers/douchebags. 

[BrewCity83]

I would love to know what Krabbenhoft said.  He ran in there with his hair on fire and absolutely escalated that situation from a shouting match to a physical one.

[oldwarrior81]

Howard went after Turgeon last year during the B1GT, having to be restrained by assistant coaches before being ejected. 

Juwan yelling at Turgeon with the purported "I'm gonna f'in kill you"

[Warrior2008]

Given his very short history of mixing it up with other coaches, I think Howard should be done for the rest of the year and wouldn't be surprised if he's fired.  If you're pressing walk-ons with starters down 15 with thirty seconds left, then don't get pissed if the other team takes a TO to reset the 10 second call.  Given the context, Gard didn't do anything wrong and certainly not anything that warranted Howard being upset to the point of hitting an opposing coach. 

As for Krabbenhoft, I'd be curious what he said since it seems Michigan responded to whatever he was saying in the middle.  Based on that, he certainly could be guilty of escalating the situation, but regardless, Howard has to be better and should be done for the year.  There's no place for that kind of bs in sports.

[Dickthedribbler]

I will stand to be corrected if I'm wrong, but if memory serves, Krabbenhoff and Howard have some history.

I vaguely recall a couple of years ago when there was a screaming match (during the game) between Howard and the Wisconsin bench (with Krabbenhoff leading the charge) regarding rough play, cheap shots, etc.. Both took a few steps down the sideline then pissed at each other before the referees intervened.

Yesterday probably just a renewal of their friendship.