NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - HIGH POINT VS WISCONSIN

March 19, 2026

Greg Gard

John Blackwell

Nick Boyd

Austin Rapp

Moda Center

Wisconsin Badgers

Media Conference

High Point 83, Wisconsin 82

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Wisconsin. Coach, we'll begin with your opening statement.

GREG GARD: All right, thank you.

First of all, congratulations to High Point. They played a terrific game. Hit some unbelievable shots. That's the heartache that comes with this tournament, is that team plays exceptionally well and you get sent home when you don't take care of things you need to take care of.

Extremely proud of my group to get us to this point. They've grown immensely. These three guys to my right have come a long way in their play, but also their leadership, their ability to handle adversity and grow. Extremely proud of them.

As I told them in the locker room, the worst part is we don't get to go to practice again together. Thought this group has grown together. Today sucks. Today stinks. They'll look back, how far they've come, what they've accomplished this year together, and do that with a lot of pride with the bonds that they've formed over the past six months.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Coach, what was the game plan after High Point missed the free throw? What were you looking to do in the last two seconds?

GREG GARD: We took our timeout to obviously stop the clock. We had a roll play. The inbounder had a few options. One of the options was throw it deep to Nolan. Rapp was back there, as well. We knew we had to advance the ball to try to get something more than just a half court heave. We wanted to get the ball into the front court if we could.

Q. Coach, was there anything from High Point's offense that surprised you, whether it was the exceptionally high volume three-point shooting or the offensive rebounding? They were able to hammer the offensive glass early on in the game.

GREG GARD: Yeah, we knew they went to the offensive glass. That's evident in their numbers, it's evident on film. I thought we got better at keeping them off the glass in the second half.

But the three-point shooting, yes, I mean, we've seen Johnston make some circus ones today off one leg. It's exactly what I saw on film. His ability to shoot the ball and get it off quick. Hausen's ability to shoot the ball. Obviously Martin made some great plays, middle ball screens.

They hit timely threes. Fletcher hits one. Anderson I believe hit one. They bank in one. So it took that type of 15 threes for them to be able to counter what we were doing. It's a credit to them.

You can take 'em, but they were able to knock 'em down.

Q. Nick, you had an amazing career, been to the Final Four. Encapsulate what it's been like to have so many March Madness appearances?

NICHOLAS BOYD: Yeah, man, I just thank God. Came a long way, man, from nothing, you know? Just trying to make a way. Got to do that with FAU. San Diego State welcomed me with open arms. I came here, you know? Expectation was always high. Came with high expectations. We had a bunch of great guys. We had the highs and lows of the season.

As I look back, man, I'm just grateful for every moment I spent. I'm a little different. I'm high energy, I'm competitive. Sometimes I can be a lot to accept. These guys open they arms and allowed me to be myself. Change my life forever as I go on my next journey, wherever it's at.

I'm just grateful for my experiences. Man, I just want to spend as much time as I can with these guys. All three schools I went to, I have lifelong connections with these people. That's why I think the transfer portal is such a beautiful thing in that sense.

Q. John, you had a tremendous first half. Things went a little bit differently in the second half. What did you see out there in terms of any adjustments that High Point made in terms of guarding you?

JOHN BLACKWELL: I think I was getting to the same things in the second half. Just mentally staying there. We have a big half. Finishing around the rim. Things I could have done better, but...

Credit to them getting the win, playing some good defense.

THE MODERATOR: Gentlemen, thank you very much for your time and congratulations on a great season.