Is this going to be it for Greg Gard with Wisconsin? That seems to be what a lot of peo[ple have on their minds right now. The Badgers entered the NCAA Tournament with a ton of confidence and some even thought UW could push for a trip to the Final Four.
High Point head coach reveals biggest challenge to beating Wisconsin
Instead, the season is over and the Big Dance has ended before it could even get started. In stunning fashion, No. 5 Wisconsin just lost to No. 12 High Point 83-82. No one saw this coming. High Point was the better team and the Badgers couldn't stop them from hitting a 3-pointer late. A first-round exit for Gard and his players? You've got to be kidding.
Wisconsin getting upset by High Point is all on head coach Greg Gard
As you'll be able to see in the social media posts below, Wisconsin fans indeed are quite livid with Gard. This was a group that had other coaches worried about playing them in the tourney. Yet, they couldn't even take down a mid-major squad? Come on.
Fire Greg Gard fire Doc Rivers. Typical Wisconsin sports does it again…
— Cole Spacek (@22_short) March 19, 2026
Greg Gard is 3-6 in the NCAA Tournament since his back-to-back Sweet 16s in 2016 and 2017.
— Cole Amundson (@playformarch) March 19, 2026
Since then, there has been only one year (2021) that Wisconsin's season ended as the lower-seeded team.
Greg Gard with zero good wins against non conference teams all season what a disgrace #Badgers
— AndyB (@FatSportsFan) March 19, 2026
Greg "First Weekend Exit" Gard
— Logan (@LoganLi2224) March 19, 2026
Fire Greg gard. Right now
— Lee Anderson (@ColdOne6545) March 19, 2026
Another Greg Gard NCAA flop. “Shocked”
— that one guy (@be_prosperous1) March 19, 2026
Greg Gard should not have a job tomorrow
— Mike (@MikeMarron9) March 19, 2026
At this point, you've just got to feel terrible for John Blackwell and Nick Boyd. The two stud guards had been brilliant this season and even Dusty May of Michigan hyped them up leading up to the tournament. The fact that we've seen the last of Boyd and potentially Blackwell (transfer candidate) with the Badgers is deflating.
All the signs were pointing to the Badgers going on a deep run too in the Big Dance, as the close loss to Michigan recently reminded us all that this group could hang with anyone. Unfortunately, a stunner was posted and all we can do is tip our cap to High Point.
As for Gard, he has some serious explaining to do. His record of late in the NCAA Tournament has not cut it and the upset defeats are becoming too consistent. He's been the leader of this program since 2015, but this may end up being what sends things over the top. Is a change needed for the Badgers to get back where they belong? Depending on who you ask, the answer is a resounding yes.