Gard vs. Gard: Wisconsin Beats Platteville 69–53 in Final Exhibition Tune-Up
Nolan Winter led the Wisconsin Badgers with a 17-point double-double, pushing the team past a rocky start to defeat Platteville 69–53 in their last exhibition game before the new season.
Family Rivalry and Charity Event
The game, hosted at the Kohl Center, featured a family matchup between Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard and his brother Jeff Gard, who leads the Platteville Pioneers. The contest was part of the annual Garding Against Cancer charity event.
Sloppy Start and Recovery
Wisconsin began sluggishly, allowing Platteville to take a 7–0 lead within two minutes. Transfer forward Austin Rapp turned the momentum with consecutive three-pointers, trimming the deficit to one. Though those were his only threes of the game, Rapp finished with 14 points and contributed significantly to the Badgers’ win.
First-Half Struggles
The first half exposed several issues for Wisconsin: errant passes, poor shot selection, and ineffective rebounding. These miscues kept the Pioneers competitive despite their roster being overmatched in talent.
“Wisconsin’s lack of aggressiveness while rebounding gave Platteville opportunities for second-chance points and kept the game close.”
As the second half unfolded, Wisconsin’s skill depth and stronger execution allowed them to pull away and secure a double-digit victory, signaling areas to refine before the regular season opener.
Author's Summary
Wisconsin overcame early inconsistencies to top Platteville 69–53, closing their exhibition slate with a reminder that sharpness and rebounding will be key for their regular season ahead.