The Wisconsin Badgers are circling the wagons around head basketball coach Greg Gard.
Gard and the program have been under serious fire all day Tuesday after the Wisconsin State Journal revealed secretly recorded audio showed several seniors airing grievances with the face of the basketball program. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Multiple players complained about Gard’s attitude towards players and their belief that he didn’t care about them. Personally, it sounded like a lot of complaining, but it’s still been an ugly day for the team.
The #Badgers seniors asked for a meeting with Greg Gard in mid-February. It lasted 2 hours and a 37-minute portion was recorded and shared. The story: https://t.co/XLwc4ddfKi
— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) June 22, 2021
Well, Gard released a statement to tamp down the flames and said in part, “I am fully committed to their development as basketball players, students and young men. And I am willing and open to conversations with our players any time in an effort to achieve their goals and those of our programs.”
He also added that he was “incredibly disappointed” that somebody leaked the secretly recorded audio to the press. You can read the full statement below.
Statement from head coach Greg Gard pic.twitter.com/nz3QAPeqtU
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) June 22, 2021
Furthermore, athletic director Barry Alvarez and his replacement Chris McIntosh both expressed support for Gard.
Statement from Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez pic.twitter.com/3i4xDOlTB7
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) June 22, 2021
#Badgers Chris McIntosh on audio recording/Gard: “In terms of going forward, Greg has our support. Does (this) make it easier for us? It doesn’t. But I think we understand what coach Gard is all about and how much he does care about his players….
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) June 22, 2021
Whoever leaked the audio should be ashamed of themselves, and I hope they’re eventually publicly identified. There’s zero excuse for recording a private conversation between a coach and his players.
It’s totally unacceptable, and I’m glad to see the program is 100% backing Gard.
And I truly am rooting for all of those guys for their futures. But this getting out affects all of them. I hope they know that. Future employers/coaches aren’t going to want a guy that is recorded saying “we will never talk to you again or win for you”.
— Sam Dekker (@dekker) June 22, 2021
Sports can be tough at times, and they’re far from always easy. However, you don’t just cave in because things are going south.
ICYMI: Our friend and former #Badgers basketball player @BenBrust joined us this morning on @ESPNMilwaukee & @ESPNMadison.
Ben shared his instant reaction to @JimPolzinWSJ‘s article about Greg Gard’s meeting with seniors of the Wisconsin Men’s Basketball team last season. ???? pic.twitter.com/ajFbAInTOH
— Wilde & Tausch (@WildeAndTausch) June 22, 2021
Hopefully, more and more former players step up and defend Gard. He’s here to stay, and that’s the way it should be.