Emotions boiled over Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee, and this time it was not quiet.
Doug Gottlieb slammed both hands on the table during his postgame press conference after Green Bay Phoenix fell 75-72 to in-state rival Milwaukee Panthers. The outburst came after a late technical foul and a controversial sequence in the final seconds that Gottlieb believes cost his team a legitimate shot at winning.
For a program that has become one of the Horizon League’s most surprising stories this season, the frustration was real and raw.
Green Bay men’s basketball head coach Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) with an intense postgame press conference wanting an explanation why he was called for a technical foul late in the 2nd half.
— Kyle Malzhan (@KyleMalzhan) February 15, 2026
You can take a listen for yourself. Maybe the most fired up you’ll see a coach. pic.twitter.com/nTXPbYFpUb
A final sequence that changed everything
Green Bay trailed by one in the closing seconds when Preston Ruedinger attacked the rim. As he elevated, Milwaukee’s Stevie Elam stripped the ball. Moments later, Elam stepped to the line and calmly knocked down two free throws to push the lead to three and effectively seal it.
Gottlieb’s issue was not just the turnover. It was what he viewed as inconsistency.
Earlier in the final minute, Ruedinger had been called for a foul on a similar drive by Milwaukee’s Amar Augillard. From Gottlieb’s perspective, the same level of contact on the deciding play went unwhistled. In a game that tight, that distinction mattered.
He made that point emphatically, pounding the table as he described what he believed were identical plays being officiated differently.
The technical foul that still lingers
The late-game frustration was compounded by a technical foul assessed to Gottlieb with 6:58 remaining while Green Bay held a slim lead. According to the coach, he did not leave the coaching box, use profanity toward officials or engage in excessive demonstrative behavior that would typically warrant a technical.
He called for clarification from new Horizon League commissioner Jill Bodensteiner, who stepped into the role earlier this week, insisting he did not earn the penalty.
In a three-point game, every possession counts. A technical free throw can swing momentum and tighten margins, and Gottlieb clearly felt that moment shifted the tone of the contest.
Passion, progress and pressure in Green Bay
This is not the first time Gottlieb’s passion has spilled over. Earlier this season, he famously tossed a chair in the tunnel after a blown lead at home. That moment made headlines, but it also underscored how much the turnaround means to him.
Green Bay was projected to finish at the bottom of the Horizon League in the preseason. Instead, the Phoenix enter the final stretch of the regular season tied for third place with three games remaining. After winning just four games last year, they have nearly quadrupled that total.
Bigger picture in the Horizon League
The loss stings not only because of the rivalry but because of positioning. The Horizon League race is tight, and seeding for the conference tournament could hinge on a single result.
For Green Bay, the focus now shifts to closing strong. For Gottlieb, the message was simple. He is not asking for perfection from officials. He is asking for consistency.
In February, with postseason implications looming, that is a reasonable demand.