VIDEO: Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery Gets in Verbal Altercation With Illinois Assistant After Game
By Michael Luciano
Head coach Brad Underwood and Illinois looked poised to snatch control of the Big Ten away from a faltering Michigan State, but Fran McCaffery's Iowa Hawkeyes put those plans on hold in a close victory in Iowa City. After the game, McCaffery could be seen getting into an altercation with Fighting Illini assistant Ron "Chin" Coleman, with the 60-year-old walking away at the end instead of shaking hands.
Little verbal confrontation between Fran McCaffery and Illinois assistant Ron “Chin” Coleman after the Iowa win. pic.twitter.com/YguUYJJeGO
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 2, 2020
McCaffery, frequently in trouble thanks to his mouth, didn't enjoy Illinois fouling late despite facing what he thought to be an insurmountable deficit. This could be a classic difference of opinion, however.
Here’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery addressing how tensions boiled over at the end against the #Illini.
— Gavin Good (@itsallG_O_O_D) February 2, 2020
Iowa didn’t like how Illinois kept fouling at the end. Called it a “non-story” at the end of his remarks. pic.twitter.com/4kU3190GdU
The normally electric Ayo Dosunmu struggled to get going for Illinois, while star cenetr Luka Garza once again led the Hawkeyes to another win in the Big Ten.
Streak SNAPPED!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 2, 2020
No. 18 Iowa tops red-hot No. 19 Illinois, ending the Illini’s 7-game win streak! Luka Garza dropped 25/10 for the #Hawkeyes. ? pic.twitter.com/nomuD1lnCM
Without audio, it's hard to determine if Illinois or Iowa started the verbal confrontation. The only thing we can take from this game with any degree of certainty is the fact that the Hawkeyes are legit contenders to win the Big Ten this year.