Greg Gard Calls Out Key Player in Loss

The Wisconsin Badgers topped Ohio State in Columbus on Thursday night, but a few days later, questions swirled again after a close loss to Northwestern in Madison.

The Badgers fell to the Wildcats, 54-52, on Sunday, and it was another frustrating loss in a season that is starting to trend downward quickly.

Greg Gard Calls Out Tyler Wahl

After the game, head coach Greg Gard (who has received plenty of criticism lately) called out one Tyler Wahl after a disappointing performance (h/t Raul Vazquez of Badger Blitz). 

Greg Gard on Tyler Wahl:
"He’s got to find a way. One rebound.. I think he can help us more than that and he has to finish in the paint… He should be finding a way."

Wahl's line:
2-for-5 for five points, one rebound and four assists#Badgers

— Raul Vazquez (@RaulV45) February 6, 2023

Wahl finished the game with five points, a board, and four assists and went just 2-5 from the field. In the victory against Ohio State, Wahl also scored five points, shooting 2-10 from the field, and he scored just nine points against Illinois before that.

Wisconsin entered the weekend as a bubble team, but a loss to Northwestern won’t help their case, even with the Wildcats winning their 16th game of the season.

Here’s one of the two field goals Wahl made in the game, but Greg Gard wants to see more out of the senior forward.

Tyler Wahl's on the board.@tjwahl01 x @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/Pvj5sNMxT5

— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) February 6, 2023

Northwestern won the rebounding battle 33-23, and it has now been four straight games where Wahl has failed to meet his rebounding season average (5.8).

Wisconsin faces Penn State on Wednesday, and last time the Badgers faced them, Wahl scored 10 points but shot 3-10 from the field, although he did have five rebounds.

If things don’t change for the Badgers quickly, an NIT trip could be a much more realistic option than a bid in the NCAA Tournament.