Who Are the Biggest Villains in Wisconsin Basketball History?

4. Juwan Howard & Hunter Dickinson

Jan 1, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard talks with center Hunter Dickinson (1) at Crisler Center on the sidelines against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-USA TODAY Sports

Coming in at No. 4 is perhaps the biggest no-brainer on this list because Juwan Howard and Hunter Dickinson have made Michigan vs. Wisconsin a hated rivalry game on and off the court.

It dates back to February 20, 2022, when the Wisconsin basketball team defeated Michigan 77-63 at the Kohl center.

Coach Howard was unhappy that Greg Gard called a timeout during the game’s final minute despite holding a double-digit lead — which could have been a legitimate gripe if he wasn’t using a full-court press against UW’s walk-ons for no apparent reason.

Then, after the final buzzer, known bad guy Greg Gard stopped Howard in the handshake line to try to speak to him (how dare he), they exchanged words, and all hell broke loose.

Howard quickly escalated the situation, pointing his finger in Gard’s face and grabbing his shirt. He would later strike Wisconsin Badgers assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the face, which incited a brawl involving coaches and players.

A fight broke out between Michigan and Wisconsin during the postgame handshake line. pic.twitter.com/AiWIwyzj8w

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 20, 2022

But that’s not all…

Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson added some fuel to the fire on an episode of the RoundBall Podcast, which he does with…you guessed it, Jordan Bohannon, calling the Wisconsin basketball team “scumbags.”

“Wisconsin, I mean they’re just… they’re just… they’re scumbags, it’s what it is,” said Dickinson about his perception of Wisconsin. “I’m sorry, they’re just scumbags. Like, nothing I can say about Wisconsin is going to fire up the matchup even more, so it’s like, it already is what it is; they’re scumbags.”

“Wisconsin, they’re just… scumbags”
– @H_Dickinson24

🎙 https://t.co/YPViqUA3Z6 pic.twitter.com/REte6nrX4X

— RoundBall Podcast (@roundballpod) January 2, 2023

Then he showed up to the Kohl Center on Valentines day (how can you not be romantic about basketball?) wearing a black ski mask to “steal a W.” Spoiler alert — he did not steal a W.

More recently, in a matchup with the Wisconsin basketball program at the end of February, Dickinson collided with Tyler Wahl, who fell to the floor. No foul was called, and the play didn’t get reviewed.

Fans on Twitter, however, saw something that the broadcast appeared to miss. Dickinson seemed to attempt to step on Wahl while on the ground.

Hunter Dickinson is a scumbag—pun intended. pic.twitter.com/7feK7F6hFZ

— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) February 27, 2023

I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention that Dickinson goes on to hit a three at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime – where the Wolverines would pull away and win the game 87-79.

That said, the Wisconsin basketball vs. Michigan rivalry is good for the sport, and there is no shortage of reasons this one will continue.

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