After being called "Nobody U" by the opposing coach, Division II program Michigan Tech beat Green Bay on its home court on Wednesday.
The Huskies won 72-70, a result that surely caught Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb by surprise. The former ESPN and current FOX Sports personality -- no stranger to sharing his opinions -- is in his first season as a head coach. It was an interesting hire for Green Bay, and it hasn't gone well so far. The Phoenix are just 2-11.
Leading up to the game, Gottlieb discussed his team's scheduling in a video clip that went viral on social media. "Part of the reason I want to play better teams is like, it's 2 degrees outside, it's snowing. I don't really like the idea of 'Nobody U' coming in here," he said. "What do we learn playing a game where we win by 20? There's a methodology to it, and I'm going to have to adjust moving forward."
While he may have been speaking in generalities, it came off as disrespectful.
Michigan Tech never trailed by 20, but did face a 10-point halftime deficit.
"For the first 10 or 12 minutes of the game I felt like we were playing harder than them," Michigan Tech coach Josh Buettner said, according to the school's website. "I hope our guys are confident. We've been playing really well at home and we hung around in a Division I gym without hitting any 3-pointers in the first half. It got loud in here when the kids got going and it was a great experience for our guys who are from the greater Green Bay area. A chance to come home and play the local Division I team is a big thing for them."
Junior guard Marcus Tomashek scored 30 in the victory.
Gottlieb, whose only previous coaching experience came as an assistant at the Maccabiah Games, is still hosting a daily radio show for FOX Sports. He took some heat for that, given Green Bay's struggles, in a social media spat with ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter this week.
After Wednesday's loss, Gottlieb took to social media to refute the idea that he'd demeaned Michigan Tech: "Done with this crap. We scheduled up. Including Michigan Tech. No where ever, have I been critical of anyone on our schedule. Now, back to work."