In Madison, anticipation is building as Wisconsin's head coach Greg Gard prepares to face Iowa's Ben McCollum for the first time. Gard holds a deep respect for McCollum, who boasts a remarkable coaching journey.
While Bo Ryan made waves with his Division III success at UW-Platteville, McCollum arguably surpassed that with an impressive run in Division II at Northwest Missouri State. His stint at Drake was brief but impactful, setting the stage for his current role at Iowa, where he succeeded Fran McCaffery.
Gard had this to say about McCollum: "Watching his career, he really understands what makes him successful and what his teams need to look like. He's done a phenomenal job at Iowa, which doesn't surprise anyone in our profession.
The truly great coaches can win at any level-be it Division I, II, III, or high school. If you can coach, you can coach, and McCollum is definitely one of the greats."
The Hawkeyes come to the Kohl Center riding high after an exhilarating win over No. 9 Nebraska, a victory that saw fans storm the court in celebration. On the flip side, the Badgers are eager to rebound from a tough 17-point loss to an unranked Ohio State.
Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., with FS1 providing live coverage. Stay tuned for updates and insights throughout the Wisconsin-Iowa matchup.