Exhibition basketball isn’t supposed to have too much meaning or barring on a season, but when the Wisconsin Badgers take on Wisconsin-Platteville on Oct. 30 that will be the furthest thing from the truth.
It will be a massive family affair as Greg Gard goes in to his first full season as UW’s head coach and will see his brother Jeff Gard on the opposite bench. Jeff is the head coach for the Pioneers.
As if that wasn’t going to be special enough, the brothers will be matching up their teams in a game to benefit brain cancer research as a way to honor their father who passed away one year ago.
In partnership with the UW Carbone Cancer Center, the event will be a celebration of the doctors and researchers working at UW-Madison striving to find a cure. The game will also serve to recognize those who fight or have fought bravely and valiantly against this disease and the community impacted by cancer and the support they provide in this fight.
Both coaching staffs and team personnel will wear lapel pins with the Brain Cancer Awareness Game logo and a Gard family photo appears on the special, commemorative game ticket. Fans in attendace will receive a grey, “Brain Cancer Awareness Game” wristband upon entry.
UW Carbone Cancer Center physicians see approximately 400 patients every year with brain and central nervous system tumors. Nearly 78,000 new cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed this year and there are nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. living with a primary brain and central nervous system tumors.
The UW Carbone Cancer Center is truly “Wisconsin’s cancer resource.” It is recognized throughout the Midwest and the nation as one of the leading innovators in cancer research, quality patient care and active community involvement. UW Carbone Cancer Center is the only comprehensive cancer center in Wisconsin, as designated by the National Cancer Institute.
Wisconsin will use this as a tune-up for its 2016-17 season opener, against Central Arkansas on Nov. 11. As for the opposition on Brain Cancer Awareness night? The Pioneers finished last season 11-14 overall and were just 5-9 in the tough WIAC conference.
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