Wisconsin coach Greg Gard’s son tallies first points as a Badger in win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin basketball’s season-opening win over Holy Cross was not as decisive as the 85-61 final score indicates.

The Badgers trailed the Crusaders, ESPN BPI’s No. 331 (of 364) team in the sport, 13-3 in the opening minutes of the game, 23-7 midway through the first half and 36-35 at halftime. A second-half surge led by transfer wing John Tonje created enough separation for the final score to indicate wire-to-wire dominance despite the Badgers’ significant early deficit.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s opening win over Holy Cross

That separation, importantly, led to a great moment for Badgers head coach Greg Gard and his son, Isaac.

Isaac, a junior walk-on guard, got one minute of action in the game’s closing moments. He made that limited action count, drilling a three-pointer for the first points of his college career:

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1853640140146483256

Isaac joined the team as a walk-on ahead of the 2022-23 season. He appeared in five games that season, then six games in 2023-24. He was just 0/2 from the field over those 11 appearances as a freshman and sophomore.

The reaction of Wisconsin’s bench says it all, highlighted by John Blackwell leaping in the air.

Greg Gard highlighted that reaction when speaking about the moment postgame:

“It’s a credit to [Isaac],” Gard said. “He’s put time into it. He’s made himself a better player. He’s gotten bigger and stronger, it’s amazing what a weight room four days a week will do for somebody…I’m standing there as I’m trying to get guys in the game, and I knew the shot clock was winding down a little bit. Just the reaction of his teammates. To them, yea, he’s coach’s son, but he’s one of the guys. And they know at home, he’s my son. But at practice, he’s one of the guys. It’s neat. It’s obviously cool for him.”

The Badgers’ head coach continued to reflect on the moment:

“I don’t think his mom was at the game tonight, so I’m sure…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-coach-greg-gard-son-140511350.html

Author : Badgers Wire

Publish date : 2024-11-05 14:05:00

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