In a stunning twist to this year's March Madness, the No. 5 seed Wisconsin Badgers were toppled by the No. 12 High Point Panthers.
The game reached its climax when Panthers forward Chase Johnston sank his first layup of the season with just 11 seconds remaining, sealing the Badgers' fate. For Wisconsin, it’s a heartbreaking end, yet it fits a pattern within their basketball program.
Greg Gard's March Madness Struggles
Since taking the helm in 2015, head coach Greg Gard has amassed a respectable 237-128 record, guiding the Badgers to eight tournament appearances over 11 seasons. His teams have consistently excelled in the Big Ten, topping the regular season in 2020 and 2022. However, Gard's postseason record tells a different story, with a 7-8 tally in March Madness and no Sweet 16 appearances since the 2016-17 season.
The pattern of falling to lower seeds has been a thorn in Gard's side. Recent years saw losses to No.
12 James Madison in 2024's round of 64, No. 6 BYU in the round of 32 in 2025, and now, the Panthers.
High Point's comeback from a 10-point deficit underscores the Badgers' recurring March woes.
Depth Issues Plague Wisconsin
Wisconsin's strength in the Big Ten didn’t translate to tournament success, largely due to depth issues. With only three players-Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, and Nolan Winter-averaging over 10 points per game, and just eight players logging over 15 minutes per game, the team was stretched thin.
This lack of depth was evident against High Point. The Badgers had only seven players suited up, compared to the Panthers' nine, who capitalized with 28 bench points, including 14 each from Cam’Ron Fletcher and Chase Johnston.
In contrast, Wisconsin managed just 13 bench points.
Chase Johnston's Heroics
Chase Johnston was the game-changer for the Panthers. Known for his unique style and wearing the eye-catching #99, Johnston had exclusively shot three-pointers all season.
His game-winning layup was his first two-point basket of the year. Beyond that crucial shot, Johnston was pivotal down the stretch, scoring 11 of the Panthers' final 21 points and making all four of his attempts in the last five minutes.
His clutch performance drew admiration from across the basketball world.
As Wisconsin faces another premature exit, questions loom about Gard's future. His track record in high-stakes games leaves fans and analysts alike pondering the direction of the program.