Gard believes in “the process,” “perpetual optimism” and the “precious present,” three rules Ryan demonstrated each day. Gard has taken these teachings and translated them to immediate success this season. And just imagine what could have been accomplished if he had the full season to teach this young and inexperienced squad.

For these reasons, it is time to keep the next hire in the Badgers family and continue the proud tradition of Wisconsin athletics built by former UW star athlete and athletic director Pat Richter and legendary football coach and current athletic director Barry Alvarez.

Gard is the guy. He knows Wisconsin basketball, and there is no reason to look elsewhere.

I understand UW has to post the job opening. That is fair, and everyone deserves a shot. But I will promise you this: Coach Gard will have the best career of any candidate out there. And he will stay at UW until he retires. Just like Gasser and recently hired football coach Paul Chryst, he bleeds the red and white.

If you still aren’t sold, take last year’s national player of the year and current Charlotte Bobcat Frank Kaminsky’s words into account. When I asked him for a comment about hiring Gard full-time, he didn’t flinch.