Does Bucky NOT have a Basketball NIL?

[cheebs09]

Gard's on a warm seat and playing up to his base why he's losing players. Easy to just blame the craziness that is NIL.

[MUfan12]

Best part of MU becoming a very good program is that I don't have to give a crap about UW. The basketball fan base in state is such a front running one that they tend to be pretty quiet outside of our matchup in December.

[CountryRoads]

Gard's on a warm seat and playing up to his base why he's losing players. Easy to just blame the craziness that is NIL.

I'd be surprised if he's their coach this time next year. Seems clueless on how to navigate this new landscape and just points fingers at everyone but himself. Despite losing 3 in a row to them, it's good for MU as long as Gard is the coach. They're pretty much irrelevant now.

[PointWarrior]

Madison's the only school with an active "alumni network."

Tonight, my wife and I went to an outdoor concert. I was wearing my gold Marquette hat. A guy with a Marquette polo shirt comes up and we have small talk. Turns out he was an engineering grad who has a job with a suburban Charlotte engineering firm - along with 4 other Marquette alums. Seems the owner of the company also was a Marquette grad.

Between the "Harvard of the Midwest" and the "active Alumni network" - the delusions are grand at UW-Madison

[Hards Alumni]

I'd be surprised if he's their coach this time next year. Seems clueless on how to navigate this new landscape and just points fingers at everyone but himself. Despite losing 3 in a row to them, it's good for MU as long as Gard is the coach. They're pretty much irrelevant now.

I'll disagree.  Gard isn't a fool.  This isn't some impossible to understand concept.

UW doesn't have the resources or collectives built is what is really at play.

Plus football > basketball for their fans.

[Viper]

I'd be surprised if he's their coach this time next year. Seems clueless on how to navigate this new landscape and just points fingers at everyone but himself. Despite losing 3 in a row to them, it's good for MU as long as Gard is the coach. They're pretty much irrelevant now.

doubtful they play .500 ball next season with their current roster. The AD, McIntosh, is a football guy (former UW player) but he'll probably move on from Gard at that point, though not sure of the financials of that.

[Viper]

Between the "Harvard of the Midwest" and the "active Alumni network" - the delusions are grand at UW-Madison

I'll use the Brett Favre analogy. Favre could toss 3picks and still fire heaters through double coverage. No conscience.
Badger basketball had a 50 yr run w/o a ncaa tourney bid. No matter. Badger guy still talked trash like they were ucla. Football? Mention the late '80's and the veer offense that produced a winless BIG season. Badger guy starts to mumble incoherently before beating his chest about that '92 Rose Bowl.
Red football and basketball have been solid since the early '90's, sure. But to Badger guy UW is Alabama football Duke basketball in a blender. I think you have to live in-state and NOT be a Badger fan to fully grasp this cult of delusion. academics? Don't get me started.

[Uncle Rico]

I'll use the Brett Favre analogy. Favre could toss 3picks and still fire heaters through double coverage. No conscience.
Badger basketball had a 50 yr run w/o a ncaa tourney bid. No matter. Badger guy still talked trash like there were ucla. Football? Mention the late '80's and the veer offense that produced a winless BIG season. Badger guy starts to mumble incoherently before beating his chest about that '92 Rose Bowl.
Red football and basketball have been solid since the early '90's, sure. But to Badger guy UW is Alabama football Duke basketball in a blender. I think you have to live in-state and NOT be a Badger fan to fully grasp this cult of delusion. academics? Don't get me started.

🙄

[brewcity77]

I actually wonder if this is a move by UW to move on from Gard. Barry's hand was forced by Bo's retirement timing and Gard was never McIntosh's guy. So say the NIL coffers are dry, leave him with a gutted roster, and if (when) he fails put all the blame on Gard and bring in a new coach, new style, and suddenly announced the NIL coffers are full to bursting for the new guy. I'd be very curious to know what happened to his buyout with his latest rolling extension.

[cheebs09]

I actually wonder if this is a move by UW to move on from Gard. Barry's hand was forced by Bo's retirement timing and Gard was never McIntosh's guy. So say the NIL coffers are dry, leave him with a gutted roster, and if (when) he fails put all the blame on Gard and bring in a new coach, new style, and suddenly announced the NIL coffers are full to bursting for the new guy. I'd be very curious to know what happened to his buyout with his latest rolling extension.

After the firing of Chryst, I'm not sure I'd see McIntosh prolonging anything. It almost feels a crummy season could be more expensive than just pulling the plug now.

[Hards Alumni]

I actually wonder if this is a move by UW to move on from Gard. Barry's hand was forced by Bo's retirement timing and Gard was never McIntosh's guy. So say the NIL coffers are dry, leave him with a gutted roster, and if (when) he fails put all the blame on Gard and bring in a new coach, new style, and suddenly announced the NIL coffers are full to bursting for the new guy. I'd be very curious to know what happened to his buyout with his latest rolling extension.

YEP

[Uncle Rico]

I actually wonder if this is a move by UW to move on from Gard. Barry's hand was forced by Bo's retirement timing and Gard was never McIntosh's guy. So say the NIL coffers are dry, leave him with a gutted roster, and if (when) he fails put all the blame on Gard and bring in a new coach, new style, and suddenly announced the NIL coffers are full to bursting for the new guy. I'd be very curious to know what happened to his buyout with his latest rolling extension.

If it is, it sure is a ham-fisted way to do it.

I know there are guys out there with Wisconsin ties currently experiencing success as coaches but I'm not sure Nate Oats or TJ Otz are pining for that gig.

I know enough folks in Otz's circles that Wisconsin is not a destination gig for him, not that he wouldn't take it if offered since money talks and his ties with the important people of Wisconsin AAU programs and the such.  I could see him staying at Iowa State as long as the money is comparable.  Plus, his system isn't all that different from what they run at Wisconsin now.

Won't matter.  They'll probably finish in the top-4 of the Big 18 anyway. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

After the firing of Chryst, I'm not sure I'd see McIntosh prolonging anything. It almost feels a crummy season could be more expensive than just pulling the plug now.

Coaches who make the NCAAT don't get fired.  They sometimes "mutually part ways" but if Gards unwilling then they are stuck waiting for a bad season

[Dickthedribbler]

I think Greg Gard is a decent guy, and if he had a different job, I'd probably root for him to succeed.

But in the brave new world of navigating NIL in college basketball, I also think Gard is a nickel-dime poker player in a room full of sharks. When he got into coaching 25 years ago, it was pretty much x's and o's; chasing 16 year old kids around the AAU circuit every summer; and speaking at the local Catholic Church pancake breakfast every month or so. That's a far cry from bringing in an A J Storr and then watching him go into the transfer portal 9 months later. Or trying to decide whether or not to give Chuck Hepburn a million dollars a year, when 10 years ago you couldn't even give the kid a ride to class without getting in trouble.

I just don't think Gard will adapt very well to the current college basketball climate, and that will be the undoing. Reminds me of that old gambling saying-----if you sit down at a table to play with a bunch of strangers, pay close attention to how the first few hands are played, in an attempt to identify the biggest stiff, or "mark" at the table. And after a few hands if you can't identify anyone, then it's probably you.

[wadesworld]

I think Gard is just an average basketball coach, and always has been.  He went to two Sweet 16s with Bo's rosters (and system) his first 2 years.  He's had 2 Tournament wins in 7 years since and missed 3 NCAA Tournaments.  They had made 19 straight NCAA Tournaments prior to that, and prior to Gard taking over they were lower (as in a worse seed) than a 5 seed once in the previous 9 years.

This isn't a transfer portal or NIL thing.  It's not something that just came about.  He's just an average college basketball coach, who took over for a Hall of Famer.

[The Sultan]

I think Gard is just an average basketball coach, and always has been.  He went to two Sweet 16s with Bo's rosters (and system) his first 2 years.  He's had 2 Tournament wins in 7 years since and missed 3 NCAA Tournaments.  They had made 19 straight NCAA Tournaments prior to that, and prior to Gard taking over they were lower than a 5 seed once in the previous 9 years.

This isn't a transfer portal or NIL thing.  It's not something that just came about.  He's just an average college basketball coach, who took over for a Hall of Famer.

Who's done just good enough to keep his gig.

[wadesworld]

Who's done just good enough to keep his gig.

Yup.

[cheebs09]

I think Gard is just an average basketball coach, and always has been.  He went to two Sweet 16s with Bo's rosters (and system) his first 2 years.  He's had 2 Tournament wins in 7 years since and missed 3 NCAA Tournaments.  They had made 19 straight NCAA Tournaments prior to that, and prior to Gard taking over they were lower than a 5 seed once in the previous 9 years.

This isn't a transfer portal or NIL thing.  It's not something that just came about.  He's just an average college basketball coach, who took over for a Hall of Famer.

It kind of reminds me of Buzz coming in after Crean. Both walked into really experienced teams the first year. Buzz was able to retool and build strong teams. Gard hasn't been able to after those that experienced tourney success left.

[BrewCity83]

doubtful they play .500 ball next season with their current roster. The AD, McIntosh, is a football guy (former UW player) but he'll probably move on from Gard at that point, though not sure of the financials of that.

Well, they obviously won't be playing with the current roster.  They've got what, 5 immediate open scholarships?  But the way their portal recruits are rejecting Gard, it's hard to see them building a winning roster for next season.

[MU82]

I think Gard is just an average basketball coach, and always has been.  He went to two Sweet 16s with Bo's rosters (and system) his first 2 years.  He's had 2 Tournament wins in 7 years since and missed 3 NCAA Tournaments.  They had made 19 straight NCAA Tournaments prior to that, and prior to Gard taking over they were lower (as in a worse seed) than a 5 seed once in the previous 9 years.

This isn't a transfer portal or NIL thing.  It's not something that just came about.  He's just an average college basketball coach, who took over for a Hall of Famer.

Yep, I made a similar point a few days ago. His record has been just OK. That he is behind the times in today's college basketball landscape is just extra frosting on the Gard turd.

[Hards Alumni]

Kirk Penney added to Gard's staff as a special assistant to the coach.

Gard's replacement on deck.

[cheebs09]

Kirk Penney added to Gard's staff as a special assistant to the coach.

Gard's replacement on deck.

"I love that kiwi" -Badger Hate Week video

[Viper]

Kirk Penney added to Gard's staff as a special assistant to the coach.

Gard's replacement on deck.

...Kirk Penny...I was at that game in '01 when he dropped 33 on us. UW won the game by way of mystery fouls (3) called on Wade in that first half, in Madison. They were up 20,  DWade led a huge comeback with 21 in the second half that fell just short. Penny!

[WhiteTrash]

Between the "Harvard of the Midwest" and the "active Alumni network" - the delusions are grand at UW-Madison

Excuse Me?!?!  Harvard is the "UW-Madison of the Northeast"

You MU people don't learn real good.

[The Sultan]

Kirk Penney added to Gard's staff as a special assistant to the coach.

Gard's replacement on deck.

He was already on the staff.