Wisconsin Badgers Thread

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

[MVP2110]

Read on Twitter

Sounds like positive things for us here. Would you a heck of a pickup for Gard and co.

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, sounds like he's going to pick Gard.

I'm going to probably take flack for this part - I hope Gard is still there for him next year. I understand I'm in the "no fun" camp, but they're going to have a solid team next year but Gard is risking his job with this insane schedule next year (aided by a tough Big 10 draw). Maybe iron sharpens iron or maybe 16-14 with a ton of close losses to much better teams than this year.

[chonestown]

Yeah, sounds like he's going to pick Gard.

I'm going to probably take flack for this part - I hope Gard is still there for him next year. I understand I'm in the "no fun" camp, but they're going to have a solid team next year but Gard is risking his job with this insane schedule next year (aided by a tough Big 10 draw). Maybe iron sharpens iron or maybe 16-14 with a ton of close losses to much better teams than this year.

Well, expectations will be higher but they should be. Scuttlebutt is Freitag is a precursor to landing one or both of Knueppel and McAndrews. If they get Freitag and at least one of that duo, I think you have to see what Gard has with these last two recruiting classes unless this year is a complete bust. Last year they were outmanned. Full health, they won't be this year.

As always, the portal could throw everything askew, so predictions more than one year out are a low faith enterprise.

[MikeIsGood]

I've been checked out tbh. Is this the kid who was a decent WR recruit, too?

[ReasonablySober]

I've been checked out tbh. Is this the kid who was a decent WR recruit, too?

Yup.

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, sounds like he's going to pick Gard.

I'm going to probably take flack for this part - I hope Gard is still there for him next year. I understand I'm in the "no fun" camp, but they're going to have a solid team next year but Gard is risking his job with this insane schedule next year (aided by a tough Big 10 draw). Maybe iron sharpens iron or maybe 16-14 with a ton of close losses to much better teams than this year.

Well, expectations will be higher but they should be. Scuttlebutt is Freitag is a precursor to landing one or both of Knueppel and McAndrews. If they get Freitag and at least one of that due, I think you have to see what Gard has with these last two recruiting classes unless this year is a complete bust. Last year they were outmanned. Full health, they won't be this year.

As always, the portal could throw everything askew, so predictions more than one year out are a low faith enterprise.

They might be a fringe top 15 team and barely finish over .500 is what I'm saying. See: 2020-2021 season for the example. There's kind of a debate now that most prior years you'd be rewarded for going 18-14 or whatever with a brutal schedule. Last year the committee favored teams that went 21-11 against pathetic schedules.

I probably shouldn't care because why not challenge yourself and have fun games - but as a lukewarm Gard stan at this point that is definitely a fan of the recent recruiting/portal work, I have seen this before a lot of times where they have a very competent/good team and lose some close games and the seat heats up quickly because none of the corncob fans care about playing a tough schedule/losing close ones.

[chonestown]

I probably shouldn't care because why not challenge yourself and have fun games - but as a lukewarm Gard stan at this point that is definitely a fan of the recent recruiting/portal work, I have seen this before a lot of times where they have a very competent/good team and lose some close games and the seat heats up quickly because none of the corncob fans care about playing a tough schedule/losing close ones.

corncob fans

Wha happen to the meatballs? Don't you-a like the-a meatballs?

Yeah, I could see that scenario, but with a veteran PG, a bargain store non-problematic Davidson and a real good frontline, I feel the team is tuned up for a good season. Prototypical good Gard team. Worry is they don't have a higher gear, but that's life as a UW fan.

I dunno, I'd rather be optimistic.

[Kerb Hohl]

I probably shouldn't care because why not challenge yourself and have fun games - but as a lukewarm Gard stan at this point that is definitely a fan of the recent recruiting/portal work, I have seen this before a lot of times where they have a very competent/good team and lose some close games and the seat heats up quickly because none of the corncob fans care about playing a tough schedule/losing close ones.

corncob fans

Wha happen to the meatballs? Don't you-a like the-a meatballs?

Yeah, I could see that scenario, but with a veteran PG, a bargain store non-problematic Davidson and a real good frontline, I feel the team is tuned up for a good season. Prototypical good Gard team. Worry is they don't have a higher gear, but that's life as a UW fan.

I dunno, I'd rather be optimistic.

Yeah...I guess why not go out fighting and we're probably going to be at almost a decade of Gard, I am actually moderately excited for the next 3-4 years if they have Chucky, Storr, Essegian, Winter (rising stock), Gus, probably Freitag, maybe Kon plus others. Obviously you can't predict any certainty with the portal but for better or worse, that's the lane the Badgers are going in in the new era, you can actually kind of expect most of these guys to be there.

But if they can't find a slightly higher gear to beat this schedule then maybe after 8+ years of Gard I probably shouldn't care if they move on since I'd imagine they'll find at least a decent replacement.

[MVP2110]

BOOM! Gard lands his highest ever rated recruit

[jschligs]

Wow, that's big time. Especially if we get some follow up recruits. Gard lives another year!

As much as I get annoyed with Gard, this was huge for his tenure here and also the fans opinion of him. Badgers gonna be pretty good!

[Matches Malone]

[TroyD92]

I saw in a few places that he didn't have a lot of teams recruiting him towards the end. Any reason for this?

[Kerb Hohl]

I saw in a few places that he didn't have a lot of teams recruiting him towards the end. Any reason for this?

I'm just speculating from a handful of writeups I saw that his shooting isn't great...I could see him falling in the rankings as they update.

On the other hand, the Badgers had lasered in on him for so long that may also be a reason for other teams dropping out.

[MikeIsGood]

Sweet, good for Gard and the staff, good for the team. Love that we're adding another athlete - not necessarily in the run-and-jump sense (though I imagine so), but if he was a 4-star WR recruit too you figure he's a good one.

[ReasonablySober]

Excellent.

[chonestown]

Gard's been good at identifying talent early and it's heartening to see him close on one of those prospects.

[Diggr14]

Bigtime get. Floor general and leader.

Now they need Kon and or McAndrew or both.

[RiotPunch]

Well done, Gard. I'll back off a bit.

[ReasonablySober]

Well done, Gard. I'll back off a bit.

Same.