Juwan Howard must be suspended for the rest of the season

Juwan Howard created a brawl. He swung. Everything else is noise. 

Whether the Michigan coach was right or wrong — and all indications are the latter — is irrelevant. His job as a college basketball coach is partly as an educator. He’s a mentor. He’s supposed to be a leader. 

He wasn’t any of those things on Sunday afternoon in Madison, Wis., after his team suffered a 14-point loss. He acted like a child. He lost his temper. He got physical with not one — but two — opposing coaches, escalating a situation that needed to be de-escalated. 

For that reason, he has to be suspended for the rest of the season, until Michigan has played its final game. He can’t be part of this program until the year is over. 

Some will say that is too harsh. Others will say it’s too light. It is a warning: One more incident and you’re gone. This cannot be tolerated. In a statement, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said there is “no excuse” for what took place, which is a promising start. 

Howard, the 49-year-old former NBA player and Michigan star, was upset that Wisconsin coach Greg Gard called a timeout in the final minute resetting the 10-second half-court clock. Michigan, down 15 points with 15 seconds left, was pressing the Badgers backups. He let Gard know about it in the handshake line and Gard stepped in front of him to address the matter. Shortly thereafter, Howard landed what appeared to be an open-handed swing to the face of Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft. 

After the game, Howard didn’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation. He said he felt the “need to defend himself,” that someone — presumably Gard — touched him first. Howard is 6-foot-9. Gard isn’t anywhere close to that. Was Howard concerned for his knees? After the initial incident, they were separated. But Howard returned to the skirmish for more, which is when he raised his right hand, leading to more punches from what looked like Michigan players. 

Wonder where they got the idea that was OK? Right, the guy who is supposed to lead them, and didn’t apologize for the ugliness that took place. 

Overall, Howard has done a solid job in his three years at Michigan. He reached an Elite Eight in his second season and has recruited well. But he has been prone to blowups like this one. During last year’s Big Ten Tournament, he was ejected after getting into a shouting match with Maryland coach Mark Turgeon and needed to be restrained by his assistant coaches. 

Michigan and the Big Ten need to take a stand. Send a message to Juwan Howard that he has to be better. He can’t coach another game this season. 

Coming up short 

Unless there is an unforeseen development, the Big East season will end with a handful of significant games not being played due to earlier COVID-19 pauses that may impact the postseason. Creighton, firmly on the bubble, will not make up its home game with No. 8 Providence. St. John’s,…