BIG TEN BASKETBALL MEDIA DAYS

October 8, 2021

Greg Gard

Wisconsin Badgers

Men's Head Coach

GREG GARD: It's great to see everybody. It's obviously terrific to be back here in person. Cardboard cutouts were nice and everything, but to be able to not only see student-athletes, fellow coaches, but even friends in the media, back to a sense the normalcy, which is obviously very, very good to feel.

We're off to about a week into practice. I really like our team. I know there's not a lot of returning, recognizable, household names. At the same time what I've watched develop from last spring into the summer and then so far this fall is watching a lot of younger guys become old and take their next step in their leadership, in their voice, and obviously in their production on the court.

Really an exciting group, I think a talented group. I think we have a chance to have some depth. Obviously we're very early in the stages of putting that all together. There's going to be growing pains as we go through it.

With that I'll open up the floor.

Q. How are Tyler Wahl and Jonathan Davis handling their new leadership roles?

GREG GARD: I think this day is good for them because neither one has been here before in terms of this atmosphere. That's who I was referring to when I watched last spring, when we reconvened after the NCAA tournament, got back together. Watching those two guys take ownership and leadership in our weight room, what we did with our small group workouts last spring.

Those two guys have been waiting for this opportunity, to walk into a leadership role, find their voices on the team. Obviously each lead in a little different way. They have a great mentor in Brad Davison to help them through that. Both have done really good things, not only individually to improve but to help our younger guys move towards the preparation of this season.

Q. You've been in this league a long time, enough to know what makes Big Ten basketball so great, the electric atmosphere. How difficult it was it last year to try to get through all that with such a low energy level? How excited are you being back playing in front of fans this year?

GREG GARD: You're excited to play at home. I don't know how excited you are to be on the road.

It was hard. It was challenging, especially the duration of it. I think that's one thing that I noticed. Even being here in Indianapolis in the bubble in the post-season play, you were so isolated, so quarantined. We had a few fans that were allowed in the NCAA tournament. That was a challenge. We feed off that energy.

It's going to be great. Just the events I've been around so far, the fans' fever to come back and be back, reengaged. There's always a greater appreciation in things in life when something gets taken away. When fans didn't have the opportunity and we didn't have the opportunity to engage with those fans, now that we're returning to, like I said before, a sense of normalcy, there's a greater appreciation for it. So we're looking forward to it.

Q. Last week you touched on how Steven Crowl was really stepping up in practice. How do you see him matching up against some of the larger back-to-the-basket bigs in the Big Ten?

GREG GARD: Those guys are going to be a challenge no matter who we have, whether it's Kofi, whether it's Trevion, whether it's Zach Edey, Hunter Dickinson at Michigan. We have terrific post players in this league.

The best thing for Steven was the experience he got last year every day in practice. It will be by committee. He'll have some help there with Ben Carlson, we have a grad transfer in Chris Vogt that will help up front as well along with some other guys that will be in the mix, too. He won't do it alone.

We're going to have to be a very good team defensively as a team. We've never relied really on one individual to set our defense or to spearhead it. We'll have specific assignments and guys will grow into that role.

Steven, I've been really impressed with him with how he's grown, matured, what he can do. I think the exciting part is just the unknown in terms of what the potential is for him and where he can take it.

Q. I always thought Brad Davison epitomized Wisconsin basketball. How much of an on-court coach is he? Is this a direct with you and him?

GREG GARD: Yeah, I think his role has changed a little bit, not so much in leadership but he's really tried to help with Tyler and Jonny, some of our younger guys, find their leadership voice.

To be honest with you, I've been doing this for almost 30 years. He's one of the best leaders I've ever been around. What you see on the court is how he is every day in practice. There's never a day off. If he ever is bumped up or banged up, I got to make him stay out of the gym. What you see is what you get with Brad.

He lives life that way, full of zest. The cup isn't half full; it's overflowing every day. We're extremely delighted he's back in our locker room. He's really been a great resource and mentor for our young guys.