On Tuesday, Wisconsin basketball jumped out to a significant 17-point halftime lead against the Ohio State Buckeyes behind hot shooting from guard John Blackwell. However, Ohio State stormed back, scoring a ludicrous 48 points in the second half, and nearly completed the comeback before some late-game heroics from Wisconsin Badgers star transfer John Tonje.
In the victory, head coach Greg Gard moves his team to an impressive 14-3 and in arms reach of the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans for the top spot in the Big 12 standings. Of note is that the victory by Wisconsin basketball marks Gard’s 200th win while with the program.
Wisconsin Basketball HC Greg Gard Makes History
According to @BadgerBlitz senior writer Benjamin Worgull:
Greg Gard is now 200-110 (.645) at Wisconsin, including 108-72 in the conference (.600). His conference win percentage ranks eighth-best among Big Ten coaches of the last 45 years. #Badgers
With Tuesday’s win, Wisconsin basketball head coach Greg Gard is now 200-110 while toeing the sideline for the Big Ten program. A longtime assistant under Bo Ryan, Gard became the team’s leadman following the former’s abrupt retirement in 2015. Gard went 15-8 in his abbreviated first season, which ended in a Sweet Sixteen berth. The 54-year-old has led Wisconsin basketball to six 20-win seasons but has not made the third round of the NCAA Tournament since the 2016-17 season.
With the victory, Gard becomes the fourth head coach in program history to hit the 200th win milestone. Gard joins Bo Ryan, Doc Meanwell, and Bud Foster as the only Wisconsin Badgers bench bosses to hit 200 wins. Foster, the only one with a winning percentage under .500, is the lone head coach to win a national title.
Gard Remains Void of Postseason Success
A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year recipient, Wisconsin basketball head coach Greg Gard has led the Badgers to four finishes inside the AP Poll Top 25. Additionally, Wisconsin has won the Big Ten twice under his watch. However, postseason success has largely escaped Gard during his run with the Wisconsin Badgers.
Despite his back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances at the start of his tenure, Wisconsin is just 6-6 in the NCAA Tournament with Gard at the helm. Most notably, the Badgers have won just two March Madness games since 2017. However, following a hot start, Wisconsin will likely make this season’s 68-team field, barring a significant setback.
Wisconsin Badgers:
- “Same Stuff Different Day”: Ohio State Buckeyes Fans Livid With Latest BIG10 Conference Loss Against the Wisconsin Badgers
- “Congratulations Greg Gard”: Wisconsin Badgers Fans Thrilled Over Greg Gard’s 200th Career Win
- John Tonje, Steven Crowl See Important Lessons in Wisconsin Badgers Almost Losing to Ohio State Despite 17-Point Lead Early On
- Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Posts Impressive Milestones in Win Over Ohio State; Greg Gard Wins 200th, Steven Crowl With a Record Breaker
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