Everything Greg Gard said after loss to High Point

Mar 18, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard answers questions during a press conference before a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images The Wisconsin Badgers saw their season come to an abrupt end in an 83-82 loss to the High Point Panthers on Thursday, bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed for the second time in three years.

It was a heartbreaker for the Badgers, given how well this team played down the stretch run and how in control they were at several points of the game, including in the second half. A go-ahead fastbreak layup with 11 seconds proved to be the killer for Wisconsin, who heads home without seeing this team reach its fullest potentiall. Following the loss, head coach Greg Gard, guard Nick Boyd, guard John Blackwell, and forward Austin Rapp spoke with the media, crediting High Point and noting how unfortunate the circumstances are for his team.

Here’s everything Gard said after the loss to High Point on Thursday. Opening Statement GARD: First of all, congratulations to High Point. They played a terrific game, hit some unbelievable shots.

And that’s the heartache that comes with this tournament is that the team plays exceptionally well and you get sent home when you don’t take care of things you need to take care of. But extremely proud of my group to get us to this point. They’ve grown immensely.