Pregame notes: Gard revels in UW's NCAA streak
BUFFALO - Meeting with reporters set to cover the NCAA East Regional, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard was able to wax nostalgic about the consistency of the UW program.
“I have a 15-, 13- and an 8-year-old and they've never seen an NCAA Tournament without Wisconsin in it,” Gard, a native of Cobb, said before eighth-seeded UW’s first-round game against No. 9 Virginia Tech. “To be a program that's gone to 19 straight NCAA Tournaments is an astonishing accomplishment. It's obviously a tribute to the players and coaches that have been here before us.”
The streak started in 1999 under Dick Bennett. Gard came to UW as an assistant under Bo Ryan before the 2001-’02 season with the streak at three. UW went to 14 consecutive tournaments under Ryan and the Badgers are making their second straight appearance under Gard.
Remember that UW failed to reach the NCAA Tournament from 1948-’93, a span of 46 seasons.
Forty-six.
“Obviously, everybody that's in our program has been to tournaments every year,” Gard said. “I think that's something that we constantly remind them of and make sure they don't take it for granted.”
Combined with the football team’s success, the Badgers are in the midst of a historic run.
UW has seen the football team qualify for a bowl game for the last 15 seasons (2002-'16). No NCAA program has seen its men's basketball and football teams reach the NCAA Tournament and qualify for a bowl game for a longer stretch.
Texas has the No. 2 mark at 12 seasons (1999-2010). The next-longest active streak behind UW is four, shared by North Carolina and Baylor.
Like Gard, UW football coach Paul Chryst was born and raised in Wisconsin.
“I think when you are leading your home-state school, there's an extra sense of pride in that,” Gard said when asked about the basketball team’s NCAA run. “Obviously, I know we represent the state and Badger fans and alumni across the country.
“But obviously, those in the state, it's a little extra special to it, because I'm one of them. I sat in that seat or watched it on TV or whatever for a lot of years and have witnessed how far the program has grown over that time.”
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Familiar foe: When Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams looks at UW he sees … ACC rival Virginia.
“They would be the only team that we've played that's similar in philosophy, relative to pace of play, relative to their defensive thoughts,” Williams said before the Hokies faced UW on Thursday night. “This Wisconsin team throws it inside much more than this Virginia team, but that's personnel-specific. Last year, Virginia's team threw it inside much more.
“Wisconsin's played 34 games and three of their 34 games they've had 70 possessions. Three. We played 32 games and we've had 15 games that have had 70 or more possessions. The three games for Wisconsin that have had 70 possessions in it were all in overtime. And so just that in and of itself is very UVA like.”
For what it’s worth, Virginia Tech and Virginia split two regular-season games, with the home team winning each game.
The Cavaliers pounded Virginia Tech, 71-48, in the first meeting. The Hokies won the rematch in two overtimes, 80-78.
NCAA experience overrated? UW boasts four senior starters, with Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig having played in 14 NCAA Tournament games apiece.
The Hokies last made the field in 2007.
Gard downplayed any advantage for UW.
“Experience may have been a bigger thing back in November,” he said. “Now we're through this point. They've played through a rigorous conference schedule. We have too. We've both seen tournament environments, so I think you can kind of throw that out.…
“It will be a matter of who does what they've done well all year better for the 40 minutes all night.”