The Michigan men’s basketball team’s efforts to improve its postseason standing will take place without its head coach.
Juwan Howard was suspended five games, through the remainder of Michigan’s regular season, and fined $40,000 for his role in a brawl at the conclusion of the game at Wisconsin on Sunday.
The Big Ten announced the punishment on Monday night.
The length of the suspension comes as no surprise given what multiple sources told MLive on Sunday.
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard was fined $10,000 but not suspended, and three players, including Michigan’s Moussa Diabaté and Terrance Williams II, have been suspended for one game each. Wisconsin’s Jahcobi Neath was also suspended for a game.
All suspensions are effective immediately. The individuals punished were all in violation of the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy, according to the conference’s statement.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel “proactively addressed” Howard’s five-game suspension with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, according to the statement. “Concluding an assessment of the incident, the conference and the University of Michigan reached alignment on Coach Howard’s disciplinary action.”
The Wolverines are 14-11 overall and 8-7 in the Big Ten. As things stand currently, they have a case -- but not necessarily a strong one -- to be included in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field.
Michigan starts a four-game homestand on Wednesday against Rutgers. Illinois visits next, on Sunday, followed by Michigan State (March 1) and Iowa (March 3). Michigan wraps the regular season at Ohio State on March 6. The Big Ten tournament, for which Michigan’s seed remains in flux, starts the following week.
After Michigan lost at Wisconsin, 77-63, Howard and Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard got into a heated exchange in the postgame handshake line. Howard then hit Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the face, and a bad situation turned ugly. Players on both sides threw punches, including Diabaté and Williams.
“Big Ten Conference coaches and student-athletes are expected to display the highest level of sportsmanship conduct,” Warren said in a statement. “I am grateful for the partnership with Michigan Athletics Director, Warde Manuel and Wisconsin Athletics Director, Chris McIntosh. Our expectation is that the incident yesterday will provide our coaches and student-athletes with the opportunity to reflect, learn and move forward in a manner that demonstrates decorum and leadership on and off of the court.”
Michigan released statements from Howard and Manuel addressing the incident.
“After taking time to reflect on all that happened, I realize how unacceptable both my actions and words were, and how they affected so many. I am truly sorry,” Howard said in the statement.
“I am offering my sincerest apology to my players and their families, my staff, my family and the Michigan fans around the world. I would like to personally apologize to Wisconsin’s assistant coach Joel Krabbenhoft and his family, too.”
(U-M reached out to acknowledge that Krabbenhoft’s first name was spelled incorrectly.)
Howard’s statement continued: “Lastly, I speak a lot about being a Michigan man and representing the University of Michigan with class and pride, I did not do that, nor did I set the right example in the right way for my student-athletes. I will learn from my mistake and this mistake will never happen again. No excuses!”
The statement was notable considering Howard did not apologize during Sunday’s postgame press conference. Prior to his reinstatement, “all parties will meet to make a final decision prior to the Big Ten Tournament and any postseason participation,” according to Michigan.
With Howard out, associate head coach Phil Martelli is Michigan’s acting head coach. He’s been on Howard’s staff since Howard was hired, in May of 2019. Martelli was the head coach at Saint Joseph’s for 24 seasons, compiling a 444-328 record, the most wins in school history.
After Howard was ejected from Michigan’s Big Ten Tournament game against Maryland last season, Martelli took over for the final 10:44 and guided the Wolverines to victory.
Saddi Washington and Howard Eisley are Michigan’s other assistants. Director of operations Chris Hunter has been temporarily elevated to the third assistant coach position.
“Today’s disciplinary actions underscore the seriousness with which we take the incident that unfolded on Sunday,” Manuel said in a statement. “Simply put, there is no room at U-M for the behavior we saw. We will learn from this incident as a department, work to improve ourselves while operating under a spotlight, and move forward in a positive light.”
Juwan Howard suspended, fined over Michigan-Wisconsin brawl - MLive.com
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