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In what has been a, oh what’s the word, tumultuous week for the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team, head coach Greg Gard spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon about Kobe King leaving the team and Brad Davison being suspended for the Michigan State game on Saturday.
Unfortunately we were unable to send a reporter to the media availability but luckily the internet exists so we are able to ascertain what was said. What a world!
- The team, as a whole, found out on Saturday about King’s decision.
#Badgers head coach Greg Gard stated he and team were informed about Kobe King before practice on Saturday
— Jake Kocorowski (@JakeKoco) January 30, 2020
But the Purdue game may have been the tipping point for King’s tenure in Madison.
D'Mitrik Trice said he saw frustration from Kobe King during the Purdue game. Said King was tearing up at halftime. #Badgers
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) January 30, 2020
Based on this kind of explosive Jim Polzin article it sounds like King ran his decision by a handful of players on the team that he considers his closest friends. You should read that whole article, though, because I’d argue that it is far more damning than anything Tyler Herro happened to say about Wisconsin’s offensive system.
D'Mitrik Trice said Kobe "seemed pretty set" on transferring when he addressed the team Saturday. Trice said it wasn't his place to talk him out of the choice, only to support him. #Badgers
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) January 30, 2020
- Gard had nothing but respectful things to say about King’s decision. But it does sound like there are some sour grapes still about the decision.
Gard on Kobe King:
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) January 30, 2020
He has the right to do what’s best for him. I love him like one of my own. We’ll support him anyway we can.
Gard unwilling to divulge his one-on-one conversation with King: "Everybody is entitled to their opinion. He's entitled to that opinion and those choices."
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) January 30, 2020
- Gard was not happy with Davison’s suspension and didn’t think it was the right decision by the B1G.
Gard on language from Big Ten re: Davison suspension -- said it's a very dangerous slope. "Where are we going with these flagrant 1s?" Asks if this will be the new norm.
— Jake Kocorowski (@JakeKoco) January 30, 2020
- Was Gard responding to B5Q’s poll about Davison being a dirty player? Well,,,it hard to say.
Greg Gard said he does not agree with the suspension of Brad Davison but said he agreed with the foul call. Says it should have been a flagrant-1 call and then dropped. "I've known Brad Davison since eighth grade. I will vouch for his character until the day I die." #Badgers
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) January 30, 2020
- Uh oh, you know it’s a big deal if The Don is getting involved.
Greg Gard said there is no appeal available for Wisconsin with Brad Davison because the commission's suspension was less than three games. Wisconsin did ask for an appeal. Barry Alvarez was also involved. #Badgers
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) January 30, 2020
- Apparently Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reached out to Gard this week.
Greg Gard said Tom Izzo called him late last night: "It's good hear thoughts, experiences, opinions on a variety of topics. We talked about a variety of topics last night." #Badgers
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) January 30, 2020
I wonder if Izzo is vouching for Gard because of this...
Tom Izzo once said Todd Lickliter was a great coach and Iowa was stupid to fire him.
— hawkize (@hawkize) January 30, 2020
Almost as if good coaches push for bad coaches to remain on their schedule. That’s why they’re good coaches. https://t.co/naiNazKXv5
- Here are most of Gard’s comments on both matters.
A message from head coach Greg Gard pic.twitter.com/iEKHgL1gJ3
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 30, 2020
- Shortly after that Polzin article that we linked to above (seriously, go read it if you haven’t) was posted, this was posted. Coincidence? Who knows?
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 31, 2020