Greg Gard explains mindset behind getting technical fouls

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is known around college basketball as a coach who speaks his mind coolly and calmly. That has resulted in Gard rarely drawing technical fouls. But, when it comes to techs, is there a method to picking one up as a coach? Well, according to Gard, there is no calculated approach to drawing technical fouls.

“I don’t know if there’s ever a calculated right time. If I have to really stand up for my guys and voice my opinion, that’s one thing,” said Gard. “But if I become such a distraction that, that has to happen, I have bigger things to worry about and to work on to try to help our team. And whether some view it as a motivational thing –yeah, you’d fire your team up — to be honest with you, I think when other teams have gotten technicals, it’s actually helped us. Because it’ll give us some free points at the line.”

Gard does his best at Wisconsin not to pick up technicals and hurt his team. In his seven-plus years running the program, he has only recorded one tech; showing that despite what is or isn’t happening on the floor, he remains cool and calm.

“I don’t try to ride that emotional roller coaster and stay as even-keeled as I can. And when I need to, I probably say a few more choice things. Everybody thinks I do, just because of how they see me. But when I need to get my point across, I do.

“A lot of times when you’re in that position; I’ve had officials come to me and admit that they were wrong. And probably more often than not, just own the mistake. I respect officials that will communicate, even if it’s an erroneous call, as long as you communicate and talk that. It’s the officials that won’t talk to you, won’t communicate, have a level of arrogance that’s unnecessary — those are the ones that are a little more disturbing.”

For Gard, it’s a respect thing. He understands mistakes will be made; nobody is perfect. But if an official makes a mistake, own up to it. Have humility and communicate your error, and he will do the same.

“Like I said, I don’t coach a perfect game, players don’t play a perfect game, and I wouldn’t expect them to officiate a perfect game. But when they do have a recognizable mistake, that they admit it, own it and we move.”

Next up for Wisconsin is a matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. This will be a rematch of their contest from back in December when the Badgers scraped by with a 78-75 victory on the road. The game will be on Wednesday and will tip-off at 8 p.m. CT.