Greg Gard discusses injuries, guard play and Wisconsin's growth entering NCAA Tournament
Greg Gard talks roster health, guard play, and Wisconsin basketball's growth as they prepare to face High Point in the NCAA Tournament.
The Wisconsin Badgers enter the NCAA Tournament playing some of their best basketball of the season.
After finishing the regular season 24-10 and reaching the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, the Badgers have earned another opportunity to prove themselves on college basketball’s biggest stage. Greg Gard’s team will open tournament play Thursday against 12-seed High Point at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, with tipoff set for 12:50 p.m. CT on TBS.
“One thing you’re always mindful of is not taking this day for granted,” Gard said. “I know it’s become commonplace here, but it’s not commonplace everywhere. This doesn’t happen easily, and it doesn’t happen by accident. There’s a lot of people, a lot of time, and a lot of effort that go into it, and a lot of people have their fingerprints on it.
“To be able to do this consistently over the past quarter-century is amazing. It’s a credit to all the players, coaches, and support staff who have had their hands in it. I just don’t want to take it for granted because it’s not easy to accomplish.”
The Panthers arrive with plenty of momentum of their own, carrying a 30-4 record and the nation’s longest active winning streak into the matchup.
Before fully turning his attention to preparing for High Point, Gard met with reporters to discuss Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament draw, offering several updates and insights into where his team stands entering March.
Potential return of Nolan Winter and Jack Janicki
One of the most notable updates from Gard after the bracket reveal centered on the health of two rotation pieces Wisconsin hopes to have available this week.
Gard indicated both Nolan Winter and Jack Janicki are trending in the right direction, though the next couple of days will ultimately determine how much each can contribute.
“Nolan and Jack are doing good,” Gard said. “The updates have been positive today. Nolan’s done more, and Jack has some more medical evaluations tomorrow. I think we’re in a good place.
“I haven’t gotten the green light or full go with either of them yet, so the next 24 to 48 hours will tell me a lot more.”
Winter’s potential return cannot be overstated for this team.
The junior forward has been Wisconsin’s most reliable frontcourt presence this season and one of the most important players on the roster overall. Winter averaged 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 56.9% from the field, giving the Badgers an interior presence defensively while also complementing their perimeter-heavy attack.
To Wisconsin’s credit, the frontcourt has continued to develop in his absence. Aleksas Bieliauskas and Austin Rapp both gained meaningful experience and took on larger roles down the stretch, growth that could ultimately strengthen the rotation when Winter returns.
“I think this has helped us become a little deeper and a little better,” Gard said. “The experience for Aussie and Alexis has been good. They’ve had more on their plate than they would have if Nolan and Jack were available during this time. Hopefully, when everybody gets back, it will elevate the whole group and give us more options and more hands on deck.
“I see it as nothing but a positive.”
Still, getting Winter back would represent a significant boost for Gard’s lineup and a welcome shot in the arm entering the NCAA Tournament.
Janicki’s situation remains slightly more uncertain, but there is a clear path for him to contribute if he’s able to return. With the Badgers leaning heavily on Braeden Carrington for energy minutes and 3-point shooting off the bench, Janicki’s defensive instincts and versatility could allow Gard to plug him into short stretches as a spark without disrupting the rotation that has formed late in the season.
Even in a limited role, the redshirt sophomore guard has shown the ability to impact games with his activity on the defensive end. For a Wisconsin team that appears comfortable with its shortened rotation heading into March, having both players available would only add another layer of depth as they prepare for their first-round matchup with High Point.
Growth and chemistry of the roster since January
One of the themes Gard returned to several times when discussing this group was how much they have grown over the course of the season.
