Gard said he didn’t agree with the conference’s statement about Davison’s pattern of behavior, which may have been a reference to a play during Davison’s freshman season against Marquette when he made contact with Joey Hauser’s groin area while working around a screen.

“I’ve known Brad Davison since he was in eighth grade,’’ Gard said. “I will vouch for his character until the day I die, just like I will for anybody else, my guys in my locker room. I will go to bat for them, I’ve got their back completely. I do not agree with this punishment that was handed down.”

“That’s a dangerous slope that we navigate on. Whenever there was any question that came up, I talked to the conference office. … They were all viewed as there was not any suspension or any penalty that should be handed down. So for him to be made an example in this regard, that’s where I say that’s a very dangerous slope for college basketball and our league. Where’s this going? That’s the question I asked last night and I didn’t get answers for.”

Without Davison and King against Michigan State, a team UW lost to 67-55 earlier this month, those minutes will likely be distributed between senior Brevin Pritzl and redshirt juniors D’Mitrik Trice and Trevor Anderson in the backcourt. Pritzl said Davison ran the scout team during Thursday’s practice.