Does Howards’s behavior begin to become a problem?

The fact that people seem to legitimately have to hold him back... is a problem. We can spin it how we want, but if he wasn't held back against Wisky last year, is he still our coach?

Does he just get ejected last night if nobody steps in? Or does he fly off the handle?

I don't think we know and the fact that we can't say that we've seen his hot head limits - to me - is a problem.

Should be noted that the curve is more parabolic than linear. 

Wow! The comments on the NY Post column are straight out of the George Wallace playbook. It's scary how these people have been allowed to crawl out of the woodwork into today's society.

As long as he doesn't threaten violence or act out he can coach. I'm over last year, and this is no last year.

Some people might be intimidated by Juwan's size, demeanor or skin color. We need to treat him the same. In fact, we need to call out haters here.  He was being a basketball coach, nothing more.

Keyword:your friend

You don't care about reading and writing either, so who cares.  Make sure your glass house never gets asswaulted!!!

I agree with you about last year. This however is nothing like last year. Davis had a similar tirade same game. Juwan has a strike, but he doesn't have to act any different than any other coach in the game. As long as he doesn't threaten violence, or much worse, act out, we need to treat him the same as all other coaches in the game.

Well, i found the other guy here who agrees with me. He should have lost his job last year. Ironically, for those that think we should *lose more* first... don't worry, seems like its happening. 

Firing him for that was the right move, whether that hurt us or not.

But that is a super unpopular opinion around here. But if Izzo HIT another coach, we would have 19 threads about him, rather than just today's 6.

What you are saying is spot on. 

In an ideal world, conduct, on its own, can lead to consequences.  As an example, hitting another coach = firing.

In reality, these things are ALWAYS viewed through the lens of what value a coach brings to his team weighed against the coach's negative conduct.  

So, for example, if Nick Saban allowed a player to play while possibly concussed, it's highly unlikely that he would be fired because he consistently wins, recruits at the highest level and has brought his program unprecedented success.  When 4th year Brady Hoke does the same thing, it's used as part of the reason to relieve him of his duties. 

If Juwan were winning consistently and had Michigan bball ranked in the top 10, the fanbase would be jumping to his defense and it would be unlikely that this would result in anything more than a passing story.  But, Juwan's team is struggling mightily for the second year in a row (this season, far worse than last), so he has far less leeway on incidents like this.  I don't see this leading to Juwan being fired, but between this incident, what happened last year and the absolute dumpster fire that is our current roster and overall play, his seat may be starting to warm up a bit.

lol "slapgate"

Seeing far too many jackasses act like Howard Will Smith'd the circumcised dick from Wisconsin.

Let’s not forget the weird interaction he had with Mark Turgeon

This is admittedly a low bar, but to add to what you said, Coach Howard is the Buddha compared to Bobby Knight.

So is Howard only being criticized and carrying “unfair baggage” because he’s black? Or did he “put himself on thin ice for smacking an opposing coach and nearly starting a post game brawl?” 

I honestly don't think that Juwan is being unfairly treated because he is black.  He hit an opposing coach and had to be restrained by his team in the process.  That is an offense that can lead to firing regardless of skin color.  On this topic, I think that most of the media coverage of Juwan has been that BECAUSE he is black and came from a humble family, he has the ability to better relate to many top prospects and their families.  I don't see many in the M fanbase accusing Juwan of bring an "angry black man," just of being an "angry man" just as we say about Izzo.

I also don't think that the fanbase is treating him negatively because of him being a part of the Fab 5.  Almost every fan that I know is completely on the side of the Fab 5 and thinks that they got a raw deal for doing what everyone else was also doing.  In fact, I think that him being a Fab 5 member, AND bringing the Fab 5 back into the fold of M basketball, has actually endeared him to the fans. 

The Comparison to Bobby Knight isn't a fair one.  Totally different eras.  Bobby Knight got away with shit that today would get him fired because times were different.  That is true of so many aspects of society; what was acceptable only a few decades ago just wouldn't fly today.  

Bottom line, Juwan's incident in which he slapped an opposing coach put him under a good deal of scrutiny.  That is on him.  Even if last night's incident is nothing major, knowing that he is under said scrutiny, Juwan needs to have the self discipline and common sense not to fuel the perception that he is a hot head who can't keep it together.

Add in the sentiment that his teams are/have been underperforming and I think you've nailed the crux of the reasons people are taking issue with this incident.  It's never just one thing, but rather a multitude of factors.