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2017 NCAA Tournament: Which Sweet 16 coach is most capable of winning championship?

By Daniel Benjamin

Feb 27, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self embraces guard Frank Mason III (0) after he leaves the court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 73-63. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self embraces guard Frank Mason III (0) after he leaves the court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 73-63. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard (middle) reacts after a foul is called in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard (middle) reacts after a foul is called in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers

Greg Gard has done a fantastic job in his nearly two years as the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.  Gard took over the program on an interim basis in the early part of the 2015 season when long-time coach Bo Ryan decided to retire on December 15.

Gard has the 25th-ranked Badgers peaking at the right time. He is making his second consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16.

Wisconsin was known for its tough, physical defense, and fundamentally sound offense under Ryan. The same can be said about the Badgers under Gard.

Wisconsin (27-9) enters NCAA Tournament regional semifinals versus Florida having won five of six. The Badgers have held five of their last seven opponents to 62 or fewer points. The Badgers rank 18th in the nation in defensive efficiency and sixth scoring defense at 61.5 points a game.

Gard is 42-17 as the main man in Madison. However, things didn’t start out very good for Gard as the Badgers lost 7 of his first 9 games as head coach last year. Wisconsin turned things around with an upset over No. 4 Michigan State. Gard guided the Badgers to a 15-8 overall record and two wins in the 2016 NCAA Tournament before a lost in the Sweet 16 to Notre Dame sent them home. Gard was named 2016 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year.

Prior to taking over the reigns of the Badgers, Gard served as an assistant under Ryan from 2001-08. The 46-year-old was also previously an assistant coach at Wisconsin-Platteville.

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