How much money the basketball program receives is one of the major concerns that Wisconsin supporters have regarding the athletic department. Gard seems to have to be very inventive with his roster every year, and he appreciates underappreciated players. At his Garding for Cancer fundraiser, he was questioned about the basketball budget. He claimed that the resources have increased, but don’t hold your breath.
The challenge for Badger basketball and Gard was to swiftly explain this. The other teams in the league have also raised their budgets. Gard said that the market has also increased and that the competition continues to invest in its resources.
The cost of a player has increased, although Greg Gard may have more money for basketball.
Because there are no rules governing collegiate athletics, the cost of athletes keeps increasing annually. Every high major is vying for the best talent, and the bidding war is just getting worse as demand for it increases. Fans are blaming the departing athletic director for the issue this has caused for programs like Wisconsin, which have been slow to adjust to the NIL field.
The necessity for more financial resources for his initiatives appears to have just dawned on Chris McIntosh, the former Wisconsin AD. The Badgers have recruited more top-tier talent, and the early signs indicate that he is committed to giving more to football. And what about basketball?
It appears that McIntosh was pampered by the fact that Gard discovered how to win on a low budget, while Gard has been operating on a poverty budget for some time. But if Wisconsin wants another shot at a title, that has to change.
The most recent information on Donovan Davis indicates that Iowa State may once again defeat Gard in a bidding battle. Which is still happening. Kager Knueppel could potentially serve as yet another case in point. Gard appears to be unable to compete with out-of-state schools swooping in if a recruit in Wisconsin becomes a 4- or 5-star player for basketball.
Gard acknowledges that there is more money, but don’t expect too much; the growth of the market nationwide will ensure that the roster remains largely unchanged.
