Juwan Howard suspended for rest of season which is too long

We all knew that Juwan Howard, Michigan basketball’s coach, was going to get suspended and on Monday we learned it would be for the rest of the regular season. 

It was pretty clear that Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard was going to be suspended following the brawl with Wisconsin after the Wolverines’ loss on Sunday.

Just about everyone has had their take on what happened. We have all had the chance to review the film and there was plenty of blame to go around.

But it was Michigan that handed down the harshest punishment and it was reported by Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports that Howard was being suspended for the rest of the regular season.

That’s a total of five games and that seems like too much, especially when you consider the fact that Greg Gard wasn’t suspended a game and was fined just 10K compared to 40K for Juwan.

As I said on Sunday, Juwan shouldn’t have (open-hand) punched anybody but it doesn’t happen if Gard doesn’t put his hands on Howard in an aggressive way and multiple times.

This wasn’t a one-sided thing. Both sides were to blame, equally in my eyes and it’s wrong that Howard is going to miss the rest of the season and Gard no time at all.

Not surprising that Wisconsin wouldn’t hold Gard accountable

I give Warde Manuel credit for dolling out the punishment he saw fit, even if it went beyond what the Big Ten would have done.

Either way, it’s ridiculous but not surprising that Wisconsin wouldn’t do anything to Gard. But the Wolverines just have to move on. The good news is that Juwan Howard wasn’t fired. That would have been ridiculous and it was ridiculous that some even suggested it.

Most that did, didn’t bother to gather any facts or look at the context of the situation but then again, Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh didn’t either so why would the national media?

Hopefully, this will be a rallying point but regardless of what happens, Howard’s punch is the defining point for the rest of the season whether it turns out good or bad.