Greg Gard's praise of new AD will have fans noticing some hidden Chris McIntosh shade

Greg Gard met with reporters after an open Wisconsin basketball practice this week. He was asked about Shawn Eichorst, the new Wisconsin athletic director, and Gard didn't miss a beat. He was effusive about the new head of athletics and how great it is for both the school and his own basketball program. He wasn't shy about how important it is to have a guy like Eichorst at the helm, and through his praise, Wisconsin fans were picking up some shade thrown at Chris McIntosh.

Gard never said McIntosh's name, but his praise of Eichorst had undercurrents of "this guy is way better than the last guy." He said things like "breath of fresh air" and "he's been here from day one." Even the idea that he's "put wind in our sails" suggests things are better now. Which implies that things weren't as good before.

And that's not a new thing; it's long been assumed that Chris McIntosh didn't care too much about the other programs. That he was a bit checked out and aloof to things like men's basketball. That Gard wasn't getting an increase in his budget and was sort of fending for himself. Whether that's perception or reality, it's there nonetheless. One thing is true: McIntosh was rarely seen around the men's basketball program, and Eichorst only started on Monday and has already been around a handful of times.

Greg Gard sings the praises of the new AD Shawn Eichorst and what he brings to Wisconsin

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For Gard, he's not throwing shade on purpose at McIntosh, but he's clearly happy for the "breath of fresh air." He spoke at length about how Eichorst is bringing something special to Wisconsin, how hard he works, and how available and helpful he's already been. These are things that Wisconsin fans have wanted to see from an athletic director, and it seems like it's already happening.

Greg Gard even mentions that Eichorst has been at donor events, at practices, and meeting with people. He even said that all the coaches are genuinely happy to have Eichorst here. That seems to be another moment that will make Badger fans smile.

There is also a lot of praise for what Eichorst is bringing to the table. Gard said, "It's a home run hire. I thought it was exactly what we needed at this point in time. The experience he has, the places he's been, what he's been exposed to, what he's seen, what he has had success with, and the fact that he's been here. That's such a huge player."

Eichorst has already won over Gard, and according to Gard, the other coaches. Eichorst now will need to prove it to the fans, as there still seems to be plenty of consternation. Once there's winning and the programs are being funded, more money is coming in, and all the other things that fans have been demanding to see at Wisconsin under McIntosh start happening, that will go a long way. Fans are hoping to say the same thing: "breath of fresh air" and "home run hire."

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