Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is not usually one for press conference theatrics. When it came to today’s 77-73 loss to Iowa, his normal rules went out the window.
Wisconsin was the victim of multiple questionable foul calls down the stretch, including a touch foul on D’Mitrik Trice with Jordan Bohannon launching a three and a hook and hold call on Brad Davison after an initial foul was called on Iowa. There were other moments of officiating to look at, but the one that Gard opened with in his press conference was the Davison call. Thanks to George Balekji of NBC 15 Madison, here is video of Gard’s opening statement:
Greg Gard opens up his postgame presser holding nothing back on that hook-and-hold call on Brad Davison. Says its become the Brad Davison rule.
"It's become a joke… if college basketball is headed in this direction we're in big trouble." #Badgers pic.twitter.com/o3Zu76B1yd
— George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji) March 7, 2021
It wasn’t just Wisconsin’s leader who voiced frustration with the whistle. Even arguably the most soft spoken player on the team in freshman guard Jonathan Davis felt as though his teammate was being targeted by the Big Ten:
Most soft spoken guy on the team and a freshman in Jonathan Davis sticking up for #Badgers senior Brad Davison too. pic.twitter.com/3GZhflKNEP
— George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji) March 7, 2021
No. 25 Wisconsin fell to 10-10 in the conference and 16-11 overall in a game that was taken over by the striped shirts through the last two minutes.