Alando Tucker and UW

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There was an article yesterday about the "coup" attempt by Tucker last year. It was a very disturbing read that unfortunately lines up with some other things that were floating around last year. As I mentioned then this whole "secret tape" that "leaked" was just the tip of the iceberg on what was happening. This article clears up a lot of what was going on, and to be fair not all of it. Yes there were some concerns on Gard communication and frankly those concerns still exist. But what Tucker attempted was disgusting.

Some excerpts from the article...

“It was a plot,” a source familiar with both the program and Tucker said.

According to several sources familiar with the program, Tucker went so far as to tell then-athletic director Barry Alvarez he was prepared to replace Gard and lead the team when the Badgers were struggling in late January during the 2019-20 season.

“Unbelievable,” said a source who is close to Tucker and the athletic department. “Speechless. Mind-blowing. All of those.”

Sources told the Journal Sentinel after the conclusion of the 2020-21 season that rather than work to unify the locker room during a trying season exacerbated by COVID-19 protocols, Tucker instead caused tension. He did so by using his close relationship with the players to coalesce support and power around him. For example, a team source noted Tucker would tell one player to ignore the coaching points of a fellow assistant in charge of that player’s position group. “I feel sad for the seniors,” a source said. “That is what I feel sad about because the players are the ones that are affected the most.”

Tucker remained on the search committee and, according to multiple sources, lobbied for UW to hire Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier. Sources told the Journal Sentinel that Tucker hoped that if Frazier was hired as UW’s athletic director, he would remove Gard. “He truly believed Frazier would fire Greg and hire him,” one source said.
 
I knew there was a problem with the team. Unity was lost. They did not play as a "team." I believe I also mentioned that something was lacking in coaching, and there seemed to be a disconnect between guys on the floor. It's like they were playing two different games at the same time.

I'm surprised Gard didn't see what was happening, and do something about it. That said, maybe he did, but Alvarez wasn't listening?
 
I knew there was a problem with the team. Unity was lost. They did not play as a "team." I believe I also mentioned that something was lacking in coaching, and there seemed to be a disconnect between guys on the floor. It's like they were playing two different games at the same time.

I'm surprised Gard didn't see what was happening, and do something about it. That said, maybe he did, but Alvarez wasn't listening?
None of that is an excuse for what Tucker pulled. As I mentioned Gard has / had communication issues. That’s not a secret either. But at the same time it’s not uncommon in big time athletic programs.

You just don’t try and sabotage a coach and a program like that. He tried to divide not unite for his own benefit
 
Sounds like Tucker elevator does not go to the top floor
 
Tucker destroyed the team chemistry. That was his whole intent. Destroy it, then step up and say he could fix it, because Gard was responsible for it happening. His statement, to Alvarez, pretty much told the whole story. Alvarez had to be floored by it, but probably kept it under wraps, except for whomever he assigned to find out what the heck was going on. That, I'd guess, would have been Mac.

It's sad when you get a coach inside the system trying to destroy it for personal gain. I ran into it one time. An assistant who tried to undermine me. It can temporarily destroy chemistry, and continue to do so, as long as the coach is anywhere around. He was gone in less than a week when I discovered what he was doing.

Tucker won't be finding much support out there for his actions.
 
Tucker destroyed the team chemistry. That was his whole intent. Destroy it, then step up and say he could fix it, because Gard was responsible for it happening. His statement, to Alvarez, pretty much told the whole story. Alvarez had to be floored by it, but probably kept it under wraps, except for whomever he assigned to find out what the heck was going on. That, I'd guess, would have been Mac.

It's sad when you get a coach inside the system trying to destroy it for personal gain. I ran into it one time. An assistant who tried to undermine me. It can temporarily destroy chemistry, and continue to do so, as long as the coach is anywhere around. He was gone in less than a week when I discovered what he was doing.

Tucker won't be finding much support out there for his actions.
From what I’ve heard the disconnect between Gard and the team was not what Tucker made it out to be. And the relationship between Tucker and the others guys on staff was not what was characterized as friendly. Remember we heard just a few minutes of that leaked tape and the meeting was over 2 hours.

The issues seemed to be that Gard came across as a laid back quiet guy off the court and when he tried to criticize players in practice it came across as not genuine. Yes that’s part his issue but when guys like King (yes players did support him) did not like the message it caused communication issues. Hell when you think about it Coach K and Jalen Johnson had worse issues. It happens.

Tucker was being opportunistic, he knew he was on his way out and it was CYA
 
From what I’ve heard the disconnect between Gard and the team was not what Tucker made it out to be. And the relationship between Tucker and the others guys on staff was not what was characterized as friendly. Remember we heard just a few minutes of that leaked tape and the meeting was over 2 hours.

The issues seemed to be that Gard came across as a laid back quiet guy off the court and when he tried to criticize players in practice it came across as not genuine. Yes that’s part his issue but when guys like King (yes players did support him) did not like the message it caused communication issues. Hell when you think about it Coach K and Jalen Johnson had worse issues. It happens.

Tucker was being opportunistic, he knew he was on his way out and it was CYA
I hope Tucker coaching career is over. I would not want him on my staff if I was a HC the guy is a backstabber wanting to be the head guy
 
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