Despite losing their two best players from last season and projected to be a bottom feeding team in the Big Ten, Wisconsin has defied the odds and is currently ranked No. 11 in the country. Much of the unexpected success is due to the incredible job head coach Greg Gard has done, and now, he's getting some well-deserved recognition.
Gard has been named to the Naismith Coach of the Year watchlist along with 14 other coaches.
What an honor for Coach!#Badgers head coach Greg Gard has been named to the @NaismithTrophy College Coach of the Year watch list
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 21, 2025
📝 https://t.co/r87nhbQiyQ pic.twitter.com/j1CdVlggO5
Gard named to Coach of the Year watchlist for second time since 2022
The annual award, which goes to the most outstanding coach for on-court success that season, has put out its midseason watchlist, which includes 15 coaches who could potentially win the award. Gard will be competing for the trophy against coaches like Tom Izzo, Bruce Pearl, Rick Pitino and more. No Wisconsin coach has ever won.
The Badgers were projected to finish 12th in the Big Ten in preseason polls after losing AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn to the transfer portal, but Gard has Wisconsin firmly in the running for a Big Ten regular season title. At 21-5, the Badgers have already almost eclipsed their win total from last season with five games plus the conference tournament remaining.
Gard, along with his team success, has also turned John Tonje, a graduate transfer from Missouri, into a National Player of the Year candidate. Tonje has averaged 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 41% from three and over 90% at the charity stripe.
Gard and the Badgers next chance to improve their dominant season will be Saturday at home against Oregon.