Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard will be suspended five games, equating to the remainder of the regular season, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Jeff Borzello Monday night.
Hefty fines are expected, as well, after Howard’s altercation following a loss at Wisconsin Sunday. An announcement was expected later Monday.
After the 77-63 loss to the Badgers, Howard hit Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft’s face 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 appearing to throw 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.” Yahoo! Sports was first to report news of the decision.
“The Big Ten Conference is aware of a physical altercation involving Michigan Head Coach Juwan Howard at the conclusion of the Michigan Wolverines and Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball game. The conference is in contact with both member institutions 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,” the conference said in a statement Sunday.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement that he apologized to Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh, and university president Mary Sue Coleman was reaching out to Wisconsin chancellor Rebecca Blank.
The loss dropped the Wolverines to 14-11 this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.