College coaches start a brawl

Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard hit Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft in the postgame handshake line between the teams, setting off a brawl involving coaches and players from both sides.

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard stopped Howard in the handshake line, leading to the two men exchanging words before being surrounded by a few players and coaches. Howard put his finger in Gard’s face and grabbed Gard’s sweater before Krabbenhoft came over in the middle of the scrum. Howard then reached out and struck Krabbenhoft’s face.

Both teams began pushing and shoving, with Michigan forwards Moussa Diabate and Terrance Williams throwing punches. Wisconsin guard Jahcobi Neath also appeared to throw a punch.

The Big Ten said it would review the matter for “swift and appropriate disciplinary action.”

This isn’t Howard’s first incident with an opposing coach since taking over at Michigan in 2019. At last year’s Big Ten tournament, Howard was ejected after getting into a shouting match with Maryland coach Mark Turgeon. The two head coaches exchanged words before Howard began walking toward Turgeon, with Howard needing to be held back by his assistant coaches.