Open Jim
Join columnist Jim Polzin for the exclusive Open Jim podcast. Jim’s unique insights into Badger sports come into play as he responds to reader questions, thoughts, and theories. From mid-court at the Kohl Center to the 50-yard line at Camp Randall and everything in between, Open Jim takes you behind the scenes of Badger sports.
Most Recent Episode
Episode 56 Open Jim Snippet: Rating Wisconsin's volleyball season & looking ahead to the bowl game
Jim Pozin returns to the podcast, first discussing the Badgers' run in the NCAA volleyball tournament and rating the entire season before answering mailbag questions, predicting the Reliaquest Bowl outcome (5:53), if playing USC and Oregon will help the Badgers with recruiting (6:55), and what a "successful season" will look like for the UW men's basketball team (8:11). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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More Episodes
Episode 55 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Sitting down with hockey's Kirsten Simms & a football mailbag
Jim's Gem is an interview with Badgers sophomore hockey player, Kirsten Simms. Then Jim Polzin has suggestions for what to watch out for on BadgerExtra (7:40) before answering questions from the mailbag. Both are football related, one on the impact the team's record will have on recruiting (8:26) and the other, who will become the core of Wisconsin's running game in the future (11:08). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 54 Open Jim Snippet: Getting to know Badger volleyball player MJ Hammill & football and men's hoops mailbag questions
Jim Polzin goes one-on-one with Badgers setter MJ Hammill to find out the significance of wearing number 6 and her future plans, before previewing what to watch for on BadgerExtra (10:45) and answering mailbag questions starting with a question about if the football team would be better with Chryst or Leonhard at the helm (11:22) and whether fans can expect to see Connor Essegian next season (14:29). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 53 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: One on one with men's hockey coach Mike Hastings & a football mailbag
Jim Polzin returns with a new episode of Open Jim. Men's hockey coach Mike Hastings joins the podcast for Jim's Gem, discussing the team's current ranking and more (00:55). Then Jim previews the what to watch for on BadgerExtra (12:08) before answering fan questions about what the Badgers football team can do to finish on a positive note (12:57) and then a two-parter about what Luke Fickell is doing this week to make a change and what he should do during the offseason to improve (16:09). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 52 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Previewing the UW men's hoops team plus a football mailbag
Jim Polzin starts off the latest episode with a detailed breakdown of the Wisconsin men's basketball team in Jim's Gem including a discussion about the season's schedule, before letting listeners know what to watch for on BadgerExtra this week. Then, Polzin answers two mailbag questions about the football team, the first about Braedyn Locke and the second about the Badgers' chances to win-out the rest of the schedule. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 51 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Wisconsin hockey updates
Jim Polzin's Open Jim spotlight is on the Badgers men's and women's hockey programs with BadgerExtra writer Todd Milewski (00:37) and previews what to watch for on BadgerExtra (12:06) before diving into the mailbag. @Jeff_Ostach asks about the Badgers being able to upset Ohio State Saturday (12:59), then answers @MikeFromWisky's question about the UW volleyball team and how many fans would pack the stadium to see them play in Camp Randall (15:57). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 50 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Getting to know Will Pauling
Jim Polzin starts off with Jim's Gem and an interview with Wisconsin WR Will Pauling before previewing what to watch for on BadgerExtra and diving in to the mailbag with questions about whether the Badgers football players are on-board with the new coaching staff (8:30,which positions still need time to get used to the new scheme and why UW struggle on 3rd and short. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 49 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Expectations for the Wisconsin Badger football team
Jim Polzin leads off the latest episode of the podcast catching up with BadgerExtra football beat reporter Colten Bartholomew about what he expects to see from the Wisconsin Badgers on the football field the next few weeks. Then, Jim previews what to watch for on BadgerExtra (13:48) before answering two mailbag questions about Bryson Green and the UW receivers (14:12) and whether Polzin has changed his mind about how the football team finishes out the season (16:46). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 48 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Meet Wisconsin volleyball's Izzy Ashburn
Jim Polzin opens the podcast chatting with UW setter Izzy Ashburn about everything from her leadership skills, to why she chose Wisconsin and how may of her serves she thinks Jim could get a piece of. Then, Jim previews what's coming up on BadgerExtra before answering mailbag questions about Cade Yacamelli (12:30) and whether Maema Njongmeta will enter the transfer portal (15:28). For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 47 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Jake Chaney, UW inside linebacker and Billy Idol fan
In the latest Open Jim, Jim Polzin catches up with Badgers inside linebacker Jake Chaney to ask everything from being recruited in high school, to his Billy Idol fandom and, of course, the 2023 football season. Then, Jim previews what to watch for on BadgerExtra, before answering fan questions about what to expect when conference play begins and predicting Leonhard and Chryst will do after this season. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 46 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Getting to know Jason Maitre, UW cornerback
In Jim's Gem, Jim Polzin interviews cornerback Jason Maitre to discuss his reactions to Saturday's loss, what the biggest problem the Badgers had during the game, what he thinks is the most difficult position in football, his volunteering with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program and more. Then Jim previews what to watch for on BadgerExtra this week, plus answers fan questions about the football team and the transfer portal. For the full episode, subscribe at https://go.huskerextra.com/Showdown.
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Episode 45 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Catching up with UW O-lineman Tanor Bortolini
Jim Polzin leads the podcast with an interview with UW offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini before answering mailbag questions from fans about the Badgers as they get ready for Washington State. For the full episode, subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 44 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: A chat with UW DB Rodas Johnson plus fan questions
Jim Polzin starts the show interviewing UW defensive back Rodas Johnson, before answering fan questions about football playing time and men's basketball. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 43 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Season predictions, NIL money and more
Jim Polzin opens the podcast with season predictions for the UW football team in Jim's Gem before answering fan questions about NIL earners, offensive changes and the men's basketball starters. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 42 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: 3 takeaways from football's summer practices
Jim Polzin returns to the podcast and kicks off with Jim's Gem-- Jim's three takeaways from football camp and answers fan questions about the football and women's basketball programs. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 41 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Which teams would be the best fit for Big Ten expansion?
Jim Polzin dives in to the conference realignment discussion and shares which programs he thinks would fit in best in the Big Ten. Then, Jim answer questions about which men's hoopers have the best shot of earning more playing time and whether he thinks Braelon Allen will enter the NFL draft after the football season ends. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 40 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Jim's confidence meter at each position
Jim Polzin kicks off the podcast giving his confidence meter at each position on the football team in Jim's Gem as the Badgers get ready for camp. Then he answers questions about the Badger making the college football playoffs and men's hoops recruiting. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 39 Open Jim Snippet: Polzin's top UW football players at each jersey number
Jim Polzin is back with a new episode of the Open Jim Podcast! Jim's Gem is all about the toughest six choices he had to make when choosing the top UW football players at each jersey number before diving into the mailbag to answer questions about the football team and men's hoops squad. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 38 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: NIL's impact on the men's basketball program
Jim Polzin opens up with comments on how NIL impacts the Wisconsin men's basketball program before answering questions about wither he think Knueppel ends up at UW and concerns about Mike Tressel's 3-3-5 stopping Michigan and Ohio State. For the full episode, subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 37 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Deep dive into the Wisconsin football schedules
Jim Polzin does a deep dive into the future Wisconsin and Big Ten football schedules as the conference expands before answering fan questions about the importance of star ratings in football and basketball recruiting. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 36 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Men's hoops and football recruiting, plus women's hoops rebuilding
Jim Polzin starts off with an analysis of PG Daniel Freitag's commitment to Wisconsin before answering fan questions about in-state football talent leaving for out-of-state colleges and what's happening with the women's basketball program. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 35 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Are we headed for two super conferences?
Jim Polzin opines on how the Big Ten expansion is going to impact the college sports landscape before answering fan questions about men's hockey and what the future holds for Graham Mertz and how his future performance will reflect on UW and Paul Chryst. For the full episode, subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 34 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: Big Ten expansion and the UW football schedule
Jim Polzin opens the latest episode of the Open Jim Podcast with some of the possible outcomes of the Big Ten's expansion to 16 teams on football schedules. Then, he answers fan questions about Coach Fickell's recruiting and how Phil Longo will handle the pace of games. For the full episode, subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 33 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: How CFP expansion impacts the UW football program
Jim Polzin weighs in on the Badgers' request to put in a heated field under Camp Randall's football field in Jim's Gem before answering fan questions about the men's basketball program. For the full episode, subscribe at For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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Episode 31 Open Jim Podcast Snippet: The running back situation; scholarship spots in men's hoops
In this week's episode, Jim Polzin talks about the unique positions the Badger's running backs might be in this season in Jim's Gem, before answering fan questions. For the full episode subscribe at https://go.badgerextra.com/Subscribe.
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