Madison — Greg Gard appeared refreshed and relaxed.
Meeting with reporters before a Wisconsin men's basketball golf outing at University Ridge, Gard joked about his less-than-stellar work on the links and his hectic schedule, which included throwing out the first pitch at a recent high school baseball game.
"I threw a strike," Gard joked. "I think it would have got hit out, though, because it was too high. I hung it."
Gard was in good humor Wednesday in part because Nigel Hayes' decision to return to UW for his final year means Gard will have a loaded roster in his first full season as full-time head coach.