MADISON, Wis.– On his fifty fifth birthday on Wednesday night time, Greg Gard coached his Wisconsin crew to an 85-73 victory over Northwestern, within the Massive Ten Opener. With the win, the Badgers improved to 6-2 on the season, and 8-3 in Massive Ten openers below Gard.
Following the sport, Gard met with the media in attendance in Madison.
On what was going proper offensively for Badgers in first half
“Properly, simply the way in which we moved the ball. I imply, you’ve 15 assists, 17 baskets. It would not get an entire lot higher than that. I believed we have been actually sharp, good in transition. Once we did get within the half court docket, I believed we did not over dribble very a lot.
We bought the ball transferring and clearly we performed actually effectively. In order that’s, as I advised the crew, that kind of factor we will be. We have proven it in spurts, and now the problem is you chase consistency. As a result of the second half, we weren’t merely sharp, so lot to love, but in addition rather a lot to get higher at.”
On causes for change in beginning lineup
“Yeah, there have been a number of the explanation why. Matchup was one in every of them conserving or placing Nolan on the 4 just a little bit is extra pure for him. I feel it offers us a scoring punch off the bench, which we have not had. I did not assume we have had sufficient of it.
And it additionally, you realize, Austin’s bought to get higher. You already know, there’s some issues there. And I believed we’d be just a little higher bodily and on the glass and defensively within the paint, you realize, so we simply bought to maintain serving to guys get higher. So I believed Aussie responded to it effectively.
Thought he did a very good job of driving, enjoying off two toes, scored one and had an help on the opposite one. So that is what we bought to proceed to construct on it and get extra of that from him. As a result of clearly, everyone knows he can shoot it. It is the opposite issues that I need to see him add to and enhance in his recreation.”
On if that could be a change that may very well be long run in lineup
“I do not know but. I’ll watch Marquette late tonight. I have never seen a second of Marquette but. So, we are going to see. It was a matchup factor with Martinelli for essentially the most half. There have been a number of causes, I simply went by way of all of them.
However, we are going to see. I do not get too wound up in who begins. You already know, clearly, Aussie performed extra minutes than Aleksas did.
No matter is finest for the crew, is de facto how I have a look at it. I will not play musical chairs. However I believed Aleksas did not do something to discourage me from beginning him once more. So, we’ll see what the matchups dictate.”
On Andrew Rohde’s work in decide and roll, passing talents
“I feel that is simply how I realized in June, once we first bought right here, we have been doing our Summer season exercises. I felt simply watching him passing was extremely or most probably, his finest ability of many expertise, however I believed he was an distinctive passer. Actually felt comfy with the ball in his arms, concerned straight, like enjoying quick with it, made good selections, his measurement and his means to Periscope over the protection at 6-5, and discover folks.
You already know, that is a extremely good ability that he has with the ball in his arms, and so seven assists, no turnovers within the first half. Like I mentioned, I believed he was distinctive when it comes to igniting lots of factors for us.
On John Blackwell being such a key participant on each ends of the ground
“Yeah, I feel he is, he is gotten higher, you realize, he bought on the ground as a freshman with simply effort and his defensive means and did not, you realize, attempt to chase scoring, one thing younger gamers do, and that bought him on the ground as a freshman, and he is continued to enhance his recreation, you realize, I feel he is modified and modified his physique in a great way.
He is leaner, he is just a little faster, he is fairly sturdy, you realize, and he is actually unselfish and like he he is fairly environment friendly. I believed he did a extremely good job of Martinelli tonight when he was matched with him, saved the ball out of his arms so he simply needs to do no matter it takes to assist this crew win. And clearly each ends of the ground, he was actually impactful.”
On the place ball display screen recreation improved since San Diego
“Properly, I imply, we have labored on some issues, we watched what we realized from the movie, particularly with the TCU recreation, and I did not really feel we did a very good job from a training workers standpoint, and that is all on me.
Of, actually giving them the most effective snapshot of what that recreation was going to be like, and it put them after which we had guards placing our bigs in unhealthy positions, their guards not serving to our bigs, and bigs not serving to guards.
So we went again to, you realize, actually bringing down the way you learn these ball screens, and particularly should you’re getting blitzed and laborious edged. And it had labored on that.
In the future we spent engaged on weight ball screens. The subsequent day we labored on center ball screens and simply the reads of that, and that is the place we needed to get higher. However I felt I used to be not pleased with myself, for our workers, when it comes to even throughout that recreation, I simply didn’t really feel that we have been prepared.
We did not do a very good job of serving to our guys, placing them in place to have the ability to assault that just a little bit higher. And it is a studying alternative for everyone. In order that they pull them aside, study from it, after which work at it to get higher.”
On Blackwell reaching 1,000 profession factors
“I imply, you realize, his story has been well-written, I feel, or been advised that we have been the lone excessive main in his recruiting. First time I noticed him. I preferred him. I preferred how he performed, however I feel the factor with John is his character.
You already know, he is a consummate teammate. He is a extremely good, assured communicator with me. We speak at lots of these little aspect breaks. When he is standing by me and we’re within the huddles, he’ll come to me early.
And I feel he simply has a confidence about him and belief. I’ve an distinctive belief in him, and he does with me, and that is what it’s a must to have when you’ve a pacesetter like that and an skilled participant, and also you belief him, and also you belief what he says and ideas he has, and then you definitely once more, you realize, you maintain him accountable and hold mentioning areas he has to get higher at.
However you realize, he is mentioned he is a employee. He is within the health club rather a lot. He is made himself into a extremely good participant, and he is enjoying on a extremely good crew. So simply blissful for him, as a result of he is put in lots of time, and he is overcome lots of doubters when no person else was lining up actually to recruit him. So I by no means, I by no means get too wrapped up in who else is recruiting any individual once we’re in, since you belief your eyes, you belief your intestine, and it clearly has served effectively with him.”
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