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As I get this column started, I’m going to bring up the Arizona Wildcats Sweet 16 loss tonight. Arizona has now been eliminated by a team 4+ seeds lower than them in six straight NCAA Tournaments. By the logic of the idiot “fans” that want Greg Gard fired, Arizona should fire everyone & the program isn’t what is was when they won the title almost 30 years ago, no player development & poor recruiting.
Please notice my sarcasm in that. (I’m not actually calling for Tommy Lloyd’s job!). Winning is hard & sports can be random.
Greg Gard will return as head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Hoops program in 2024-25, and rightfully so. In nine seasons as head coach, Greg Gard has posted a 186-107 (.635) career record, including a 104-70 (.598) Big Ten record, with a pair of Big Ten Titles (2020 & 2022). The NCAA Tournament is a tiny slice of what makes a coach good or not. Nobody wins against elite teams every single year. Look at Kentucky recently. How often has North Carolina, Arizona & Kansas struggled in the dance recently?
The anti-Gard crowd continues to say that we haven’t made the Sweet 16 in seven years, & that’s such a BS copout. Why?
- Making the Sweet 16 is fricking hard
- The tourney was canceled in a year UW was projected a high seed & playing as well as anyone in the country
- They lost Chucky Hepburn in the first half of the Round of 32 game against Iowa State in 2022
What makes the tournament so great is that it’s a one game takes all each round, but that’s also what makes it an unreliable measure on a coach.
The anti-Gard crowd needs to be careful what they wish for or the bubble may burst. The Indiana Hoosiers have learned this the VERY hard way.
Clemson, who’s on their way to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1980, sticking with Brad Brownell after some lean years is an example of an administration with perspective & understanding where the program fits. He has done a great job of making them relevant.
Now the main topic of this column. In the week since the Badgers’ abrupt exit in the NCAA tournament, there has been some roster news.
On Sunday, sophomore guard Connor Essegian announced that he put his name in the transfer portal. It’s tough to see him leave. Essegian had a stud freshman campaign in 2022-23, but suffered an injury in the season opener this year which kind of put him behind the eight ball & made it tough for him to crack the rotation with the play of AJ Storr & John Blackwell. I really hope Essegian plays well wherever he ends up landing.
Two days after AJ Storr announced he is testing the NBA waters while maintaining his college eligibility, has put his name in the transfer portal.
Freshman Gus Yalden is the latest to enter the transfer portal.
AJ Storr has been to seven schools in seven years. Gus Yalden has been to five schools in five years. Why would anyone be surprised if they’re moving on after one season in Madison?
The fact that anyone is shocked or saddened by Gus leaving is more of an indictment on our fanbase than it is on Greg Gard. Yalden screwed up & didn’t take anything seriously from day one. His fault. Plus, UW is opening up scholarships for potential transfers. That’s great in my opinion.
On Monday, walk-on’s Luke Haertle & Ross Candelino also put their names in the transfer portal to explore other options.
I remember the days of the Carter Higgenbottom’s of the world when the walk-on’s stayed with the UW program because of the world-class education.
I do think the transfer portal has gotten completely out of control. These kids have zero incentive now to remain loyal to a school, which makes it tough for a coach to build/continue a successful program. They need to incorporate a contract of some sorts where the player has to spend a minimum of two years with the program before you can transfer (or something in that nature).
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