Dec 9, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) talks to Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during the second half at McKale Center. Zachary BonDurant-Imagn Images

Greg Gard pitting John Blackwell and Nick Boyd against each other to ramp up Badgers practice intensity

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Lorin Cox | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 6:20 PM ET

A little friendly competition is going a long way for Wisconsin Badgers summer basketball practices.

Greg Gard is getting this year's team a lot of time scrimmaging on the court, and he's been intentional about structuring those matches to ramp up the intensity.

He sees guards John Blackwell and Nick Boyd as his team's two most competitive players, so he has been pitting them against each other on the court.

"I've intentionally kept them on opposite teams just because they’re both alphas," Gard told reporters last week. "To have them, spar off or face off against each other is good. I think it's good for both of them to keep pushing each other's bar a little higher."

Boyd transferred in from San Diego State, where he put up career highs in points and assists this past season.

He gives the Badgers more of a pure point guard than they had last season, allowing Blackwell to play more as a scorer off the ball instead of the team's primary ball-handler.

Both guards can run the offense and push each other to be the best versions of themselves. They're setting the bar for the type of intensity Gard wants from his team this season.

Still can’t believe we got this demon

Boyd, Blackwell, and Rohde backcourt will feed generations with Winter and Rapp both shooting 50% from 3 pic.twitter.com/NqiuFWiUqZ
— Dr. Marte (@Badgers_44) June 12, 2025