Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb expressed deep frustration during his post-game press conference following a 75-72 defeat at the hands of Milwaukee. His emotional outburst drew attention as he slammed his fists on the table, demanding an explanation for a critical technical foul assessed late in the game.

The controversial foul came with under seven minutes remaining while the Phoenix held a 59-57 lead. Gottlieb defended his reaction, stating that he did not curse or step out of his designated area, questioning why he was penalized for simply commenting on the refereeing.

“I need the league to explain to me why I received a technical foul when I did not curse, I was not demonstrative, I did not leave my box. All I said was, ‘That’s the same play as the other end.’”

Despite the setback, which ended a three-game winning streak and placed the team at 10-7 in league standings, Gottlieb highlighted the need for fair officiating throughout the game.

The defeat has raised concerns about the team’s chance for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Phoenix remains 2.5 games behind the league-leading Wright State with three regular-season games left, positioning them within striking distance of a potential tournament spot.