Following the Wisconsin Badgers’ heartbreaking loss to Florida in the Sweet 16, Gard received a few unexpected texts.
After a heartbreak of that nature, the one the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team experienced in their 84-83 overtime loss at the buzzer to the Florida Gators, it can be easy to shut people out and remain to yourself.
In many stories and updates across the Badgers following, players and coaches were in disbelief that their season ended like that and that the four seniors- Zak Showalter, Nigel Hayes, Vitto Brown, and Bronson Koenig had played their last games as members of the Wisconsin Badgers.
For head coach Greg Gard, he will now enter an era where a majority of the players on the roster are his recruits moving forward. Only Ethan Happ will be a returning starter that was recruited by Bo Ryan, and with only a handful of his recruits left on the team, the pressure is on Gard to stay relevant in the Big Ten from here on out.
Moving on from the Florida loss, Gard received two texts from unexpected people, showing their support and reassurance. Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines coaches Tom Izzo and John Beilein both sent Gard text messages following the loss. The context of the messages have not been released in its exact form, but the underlying message was of support and comfort.
Izzo and his Spartans were knocked off in the Round of 32 by Kansas, while Michigan endured a heartbreaker of their own in the Sweet 16, losing by one to Oregon, who is now in the Final Four
“They’ve been there, done that,” Gard told UW Badgers; Mike Lucas. “And if you’re in this long enough, you’re going to be on each side of that coin. They were both more reflective on the whole season. Coming from those two guys specifically, knowing how much experience and time they’ve put into this profession, it meant a lot to me. They’ve seen the good and the bad. They’ve lived this — like we are now.”
While rivals on the court, Gard and Izzo have a long-standing friendship that dates back to when Gard was serving under Ryan. The two found themselves on a recruiting trip together in Chicago and sparked up a conversation. From there, Gard has looked at Izzo as a mentor and someone he models his coaching after.
“I looked at Greg,” Izzo said, “and I saw myself.”