College Basketball: Green Bay’s coach suspended for criticizing refs

Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball coach Doug Gottlieb is facing consequences for his choice of words following a 75-72 loss to Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Sunday.

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Gottlieb, a former national radio show host, is known for giving hot takes. On Sunday, he took aim at officials for the Horizon League while pounding the podium in frustration.

Gottlieb was called for a technical foul during the loss to Green Bay’s rival. He called out officials for not calling the game consistently, believing the Phoenix deserved a foul call when Milwaukee’s Stevie Elam stole the ball from Preston Ruedinger.

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The Phoenix had to foul Elam with one second remaining. He drained both free throw attempts.

The Panthers hit two free throws on their previous possession to take a 73-72 lead. 

“I need the league to explain to me why I got a technical foul when I did not curse. I was not demonstrative. I did not leave my box,” Gottlieb told reporters after the game, via WFRV 5. All I said was, ‘That’s the same play as the other end.’ Okay. All we ask is that there’s a fair game. 

“That’s what we ask. Okay? And again, I understand if you’re not calling that, that’s fine. You had the exact same play at both ends in the last play of the game, the exact same play, the exact same play. So I need the new commissioner of the Horizon League (Jill Bodensteiner) to explain to me what a technical foul is.”

Bodensteiner appears to have gotten back to Gottlieb. Per WBAY.com, the Horizon League has suspended Gottlieb for Green Bay’s contest against Oakland on Friday.

 “Gottlieb’s postgame comments do not reflect the League’s values or sportsmanship expectations,” per the statement by the league. “The Horizon League considers this matter closed and will have no further comment.”

Gottlieb is in his second season as the Phoenix head coach. Green Bay is 15-13 overall and third in the Horizon League with a 10-7 record in the conference.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.