The Wisconsin Sportscast

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, the Green Bay Packers have a new President: Ed Policy. Lucas doesn’t know too much about him, and Oates knows him more from his old man Carmen Policy. What we do know: Ed Policy is a legal guy and has been with the Packers for over a decade.

Now with Mark Murphy out, and not knowing a whole lot about Policy, that means we have one question: What will be the legacy of Mark Murphy? While the Packers haven’t been a “mom-and-pop” operation for a while, he helped turn them into a mega-corporation, says Oates. Just look at Titletown. Teams make money from more than just football these days, for better or worse.

But on the field, Oates says that his changes to the management style had a negative impact on the team. “Historically in Green Bay, when football has been left to football people, the team has done really well,” Oates says. Murphy? Not a football guy. What does that mean for Policy, another legal guy? Only the future can tell us that.

Then, the Florida Panthers beat out the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. A seven game series that’s frantic and fun? What more can you ask for? But Lucas wants to know: what happened to MVP’s coming from the winning team? Doesn’t matter, says Oates, even if he wanted to see the Canadians win the cup.

Willie Mays has passed away, as another one of sports greats has left us. But Lucas and Oates agree, at least they got to watch him play. Some people will try and argue that others are better, but those arguments come from people who never even saw them play, says Oates.

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Boston took home the rings and won the NBA Championship. Which leads to one question: do you love to watch Luka Dončić play, or do you hate watching him play? Oates says you can’t discount his ability, maybe even one of the best. But he has no defense, he likes holding the ball, and he just can’t stop complaining to the officials. Lucas says he’s always been like that, and he still has time to grow, but still, Luke on the floor is the definition of “Love-Hate relationship.”

Then Lucas asks the question: if you’re building a new franchise, who do you grab: Tatum or Brown? Plus, Joe Mazulla has made it to the limelight, but does that really matter? If you grabbed the average person off the street, would they know his name?

Bryson DeChambeau won this weekend’s U.S. Open, beating out Rory McIlroy on some tough greens. It’s not as fun to watch, Oates says, when all you can see is everyone struggling with the greens. But that’s no excuse for McIlroy he says, and that there is something in his head that’s stopping him from winning another major.

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates break down why Dan Hurley would turn down a seven-figure offer with the Lakers to stay with UCONN. For one thing, it simply might not have been enough money. It’s a mom and pop operation! At least says Lucas. 

But Oates points out that coaching a college team is much different from coaching a NBA team. Need an example? Lucas has many.

Then, the Badgers basketball team has a new forward: Andrija Vukovic. Hailing from Serbia, Lucas and Oates just aren’t sure what to think about the new signing. Not out of skepticism, but simply because there’s no tape of his playing. But still, this brings the number of new players on the Badgers up to six next season. Is this the new normal? Yes, says Oates.

Caitlyn Clark is back in the news this week, as she fails to make the US Women’s Olympic Basketball team. Oates says that this is because she won’t be playing too much, but this is a mistake. The WNBA has eyes on it, something they haven’t had in a long time. You have to seize the opportunity to help grow the entire sport of women’s basketball. Simply put: Caitlyn Clark is a name, and a name is something women’s basketball needs right now.

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates react to the news that the Kohl Center is looking to restrict premium seating as they expand the size of the hockey rink. It’s just another way to spite the longtime fans in favor of the big money donors, Oats says. Both Lucas and Oates have been hearing from angry season ticket holders who are now learning that the seats they’ve held for decades are now moving, possibly all the way up to the 300 section.

Meanwhile, Craig Counsell returned to Milwaukee last week, and it went about as well as expected. Oates says he’s a little surprised it went on as long as it did, but if Counsell was expecting a warm welcome home, well he went home disappointed. And while the Brewers won the series, Lucas says they have to figure out their starting pitchers situation. Robert Gasser is out for elbow soreness, bringing another hit to the already patched-together starting pitching staff. 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates react to the NCAA agreeing to a historic settlement to end class-action lawsuits brought by student athletes. Thousands of former and current college players will receive a share of $2.8 billion in damages. The settlement also clears the way, for the first time, for schools to directly pay student athletes through shared revenue plans. 

“It’s a first step in regaining control over what’s going on. Reform is needed. Right now, there are no guard rails on the transfer portal or NIL (name, image, likeness) money,” says Oates, a former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “Coaches and administrators will take as much slack as you give them. NIL is so out of control, it’s unbelievable. Something has to be done.”

Oates says the NCAA’s settlement might be a legal framework for schools to treat student athletes like employees. 

“This might be a prelude to 60 or 70 schools breaking away and becoming their own bosses,” says Oates. “That way universities can start to bargain for some level of salary cap…and do away with NIL.”  

In the meantime, Lucas says fans are becoming fed up with the dramatic roster changes every season. The Wisconsin men’s basketball team lost more than half dozen players to the transfer portal this year, including stars AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn.  

“When talking to some Badger boosters, they are really upset about Chucky Hepburn. That one put them over the edge,” says Lucas. “I don’t hold this personally against Hepburn. He’s just a product of this new system.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas recently caught Badger alum Sam Dekker hit the game-winning shot for the London Lions in the British Basketball League. 

“Isn’t it great to see him still playing the game and still having success at it?”asks Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “My question to you, Oatesy, where does Sam Dekker fit in the greatest high school players of all-time in the state of Wisconsin?”

Oates thinks Dekker leading Sheboygan Lutheran to a WIAA state title in 2012 qualifies him for the top ten. 

“He’s one of the best athletes that has ever played basketball in Wisconsin. His whole game is predicated on movement,” says Oates, a former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “Bo Ryan rode him hard but he could never wipe the smile off of Sam Dekker’s face. He was born to play basketball and you could tell the way he plays.” 

Lucas likes that Dekker remains a diehard Milwaukee Brewers fan. 

“He loves his Brewers. You talk about a fanatic,” says Lucas. “He’ll get into it with any troll on the internet.” 

When pressed by Lucas, Oates says Messmer High School’s John Johnson tops the list of Wisconsin basketball greats. Johnson led Messmer to a state title in 1966.

“John Johnson was just a phenomenal player. He played center, he played point guard, he played everything. He was a great passer, great rebounder, and a great defender,” says Oates. “He ended up averaging 28 points a game in his two seasons at Iowa. And then he had a lengthy NBA career.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas highly recommends the new ESPN docuseries on college basketball stars Kamila Cardoso, Kiki Rice, and Caitlin Clark.

“Caitlin Clark is so huge. You just get a better feel for the people around her, the pressure that mounted throughout the season, and how she dealt with it all,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “After watching it, I have even more respect for (head coaches) Dawn Staley of South Carolina and certainly for Lisa Bluder, who retired from Iowa on Monday.”

Oates, a former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist, says women’s college basketball has been steadily growing for years. 

“Clark handled the spotlight really well. She was the Taylor Swift of basketball and I think it helped the entire sport,” says Oates. “Women’s college basketball has taken a giant leap forward and I think the WNBA is going to experience that as well.” 

Also on the podcast, the veteran sports journalists appreciated the digs leveled at Bill Belichick during The Roast of Tom Brady. But not much else. 

“I spent three hours watching that and I can’t get it back,” says Lucas. “It was pretty brutal in terms of language and a lot of locker room humor. Some of it had me turning away because it was so crude.” 

To that, Oates responds, “This is the new Mike Lucas.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates recap the Milwaukee Bucks’ messy season. Oates says the Bucks’ defensive game got better once Doc Rivers became head coach in the middle of the season. But he didn’t think the combination of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo was ever going to work. 

“Giannis dominated the ball for years in Milwaukee’s offense. Damian dominated Portland’s offense. Could they have worked that out and gotten along? Probably. But both are at their best when they monopolize the ball,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “This was a poorly put together team right from the start. Why do you hire a rookie head coach for a veteran team? That was stupid.” 

Lucas says Milwaukee’s roster is looking long in the tooth. 

“I just went back and looked at their average age and the money that they are spending on three or four players. They have some issues moving forward,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “It’s an old, old team. Khris Middleton is 32. Lillard is 33. Brook Lopez is 36! Goodness.”

Also the podcast, the veteran sports journalists review the latest portal prospects added by the Wisconsin men’s basketball team. And Lucas has thoughts on your Milwaukee Brewers.

“Christian Yelich got off to a blazing start. I think he’s missed 17 games now. Boy, they need his bat,” says Lucas. “And I have to admit this, too. I had a lot of trouble seeing Craig Counsell in a Cubs uniform. It just didn’t fit. Craig Counsell, a Cubbie? No.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates don’t have many complaints about how Green Bay handled this year’s NFL Draft. Oates says keep an eye on second-round pick, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. 

“Cooper will be the star of this particular draft.  If they are going to go to four down lineman they need speed at linebacker to run things down. The Packers really appear to have increased their speed at that position,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “I thought Green Bay’s first four picks were outstanding. They nailed areas of need with players they liked.”

Also on the podcast, the veteran sports journalists take a look at the basketball players Wisconsin is picking up from the transfer portal. The Badgers have a commitment from Northern Illinois forward Xavier Amos. 

“What really caught my eye is that [University of Virginia] coach Tony Bennett was actively recruiting Amos,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “He’s from Chicago. Howard Moore will be pleased with that. As a sophomore, he started 25 games. Averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates assess how the transfer portal and name, image, likeness (NIL) money are impacting the Badgers men’s basketball team. Since the season ended, stars Connor Essegian, AJ Storr, and Chucky Hepburn have all sought greener pastures. 

“You know what the most sobering thing is for Wisconsin? They aren’t in the top-tier in terms of NIL money…. Now all of a sudden, Wisconsin is a feeder program,”says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “The system is broken. It’s complete chaos. College basketball coaches are pulling their hair out waiting for the next shoe to drop.”

Also on the podcast, the veteran journalists sum up what the Green Bay Packers need heading into the NFL draft. Lucas hopes Green Bay can snag Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. 

“He’s an impact player. He can play corner or safety,” says Lucas. “I’m not sure DeJean will be available. But the Packers are in a pretty good strategic position. They have five picks that should be premium picks and picks of value.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates review the 2024 Masters Tournament in which Scottie Scheffler won another green jacket. Tiger Woods made the cut at the Augusta Nationals for a record-setting 24th consecutive time but finished with one of the worst scores of his long career. 

“Watching Tiger play was kind of painful. He finished, like, 16 over. 16 over!” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “He looked in rough shape. He was pained. It was like he was struggling just to get up to the green. It reminded me of Willie Mays playing for the Mets or Johnny Unitas throwing passes for the Rams. It was just so out of character.” 

Oates says this year’s Masters showed a new generation emerging in professional golf. 

“There were a lot of guys, 30 and under, all over that leaderboard. Man, they really crush the ball,“ says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “How demoralizing would it be to play golf with Scottie Scheffler? He hits it 330, straight down the middle, off every tee.” 

Also on the show, the veteran journalists are pleased with how the Milwaukee Brewers have played in the first few weeks of the season. 

“They’ve been hitting the cover off the baseball,” says Lucas. “It’s like the Bambi’s Bombers revisited.”

Lucas and Oates are loving the recent rule changes enacted by Major League Baseball, especially the pitch clock. 

“It’s outstanding…it’s restored some of the game. It restored the stolen base. Offensive baseball had become too one-dimensional,” says Oates. “The Brewers have taken advantage of that so far this year. They’re running. They’re aggressive on the bases. Nice job by [manager] Pat Murphy to recognize that and go with it.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates debrief the men’s and women’s NCAA championship games. Purdue and Iowa both lost to UConn and South Carolina respectively, but at least the Big Ten was represented in the finals of both tournaments. 

“I think what happened — if you want to draw parallels between the two —  is they both ran into a really good team,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “South Carolina is deep and they are good. And the UConn men’s team is a complete team. They waltzed through this tournament two years in a row and that just doesn’t happen.”

Lucas notes that you can’t blame Big Ten stars Zach Edey and Caitlin Clark. They both scored 30 points (or more) in the finals.

“The Boilermakers had eight assists on 24 makes. All eight assists belong to one player, Brandon Smith. Nobody else had an assist in the game!” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “I wish Clark would have had a little help in that title game. The South Carolina bench outscored Iowa by 37 points.”

Also on the podcast, the veteran journalists examine why the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t clicking this season. Finally, Lucas and Oates discuss the solar eclipse.

“I never heard that phrase before, the path of totality,” says Oates. “I’ve also heard it called the zone of totality.” 

“The zone of totality?” responds Lucas. “There’s no way that’s played in Wisconsin basketball.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates analyze the men’s NCAA Final Four. Oates thinks UConn is still the team to beat. 

“To some extent, the pressure is off Purdue and Alabama for getting to the Final Four. And even if there were pressure on NC State, they’d be oblivious to it. They don’t look like a team that was on the NCAA tournament bubble,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “UConn has just dominated teams in this tournament for two consecutive years. There’s a lot of pressure to repeat.” 

So far in the tournament, the Huskies’ average margin of victory has been nearly 28 points. The veteran sports journalist thinks Purdue — assuming they overcome No. 11 seed NC State — may be able to stop UConn’s impressive streak.

“What I’m not sure about UConn is their outside shooting. It’s been hit or miss,” says Oates. “So if Purdue’s umbrella of outside shooters are hitting three-pointers, Purdue will win the game.”

Lucas thinks the Boilermakers’ star center Zach Edey will continue to keep frustrating players. 

“We’ve seen Edey play really high-level basketball throughout his career. But I’ve never seen him better,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “And Edey is getting the benefit of the doubt on foul calls. He drew 16 fouls against Tennessee. 16!”

Also on the podcast, Lucas and Oates can’t wait for the Milwaukee Brewers’ home opener. 

“It’s a fan’s delight, opening day, because everyone is thinking about the future,” says Lucas. “Optimism covers the entire game itself.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates react to the news that the Badgers are losing sophomore guard Connor Essegian to the transfer portal. Last season, Essegian made the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team and played in every game. It was a different story this year. 

“When Essegian had chances, he didn’t make the most of it. But the coaching staff didn't do him any favors,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “There were multiple points this season when they could have used his scoring ability — or even the threat of him scoring Essegian was capable of averaging 11 or 12 points in the Big Ten and they essentially wasted his year.” 

Lucas says Essegian remained an upbeat, team player despite averaging 20 fewer minutes per game compared to his first year with the Badgers. 

“When he did enter the game, he seemed to rush himself knowing that he might not be out there for very long. So he took shots he wouldn’t have taken otherwise,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to Indiana. He’s a Hoosier. They could use some players, too.” 

Essegian didn’t see any playing time during Wisconsin’s loss to James Madison in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. After a pretty good run in the Big Ten tourney, the veteran journalists say the Badgers lost their composure in Brooklyn. 

“That was one of the worst first halves maybe ever,” says Lucas. “They picked it up in the second half but where was the fight in the first half?”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas coaxes Tom Oates into divulging his tips for filling out a bracket in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

“Take your Final Four and work backward. .... Remember the first weekend is always chaos,” advises Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. But he says look out for the teams that may be better than they appear on paper. “Auburn is absolutely the most underseeded in the tournament.”

The veteran journalists are also thrilled that the Badgers played up to their full potential in the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin defeated No. 3-ranked Purdue to make it to the championship game but fell to offensively strong Illinois.

“I thought we saw the best of point guard Chucky Hepburn against Purdue and Illinois,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “And a different player —  almost each game — is the leading scorer. Which is balanced. But I worry a little about how the Badgers are physically.”

No. 5 seed Wisconsin faces No. 12 seed James Madison in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday night. It has the makings of a classic upset, but Oates thinks Wisconsin has the tools to make it through to the next round.

“What James Madison does well is shoot the three with multiple three-pointers and they defend the three well. Wisconsin just has to crush it in the lane,” says Oates. “I think this game comes down to Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl and how much damage they can do. That or someone like AJ Storr or John Blackwell getting in there and taking it to the rim.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates discuss Green Bay adding top-notch running back Josh Jacobs to its roster while releasing longtime Packer Aaron Jones.

“I thought Jones would have been a perfect match with Josh Jacobs,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “However, the Packers have a lot of picks in the draft and they can go find themselves another running back. But I can guarantee you one thing, whoever they draft won’t be as good as Aaron Jones.”

The veteran sports journalists also preview the Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s postseason prospects. The Badgers had some discouraging losses in February but delivered an admirable showing during their last regular season game against no. 3 Purdue. Lucas says all eyes are on Wisconsin center Steven Crowl.

“How do you explain Crowl disappearing in some of these games?” asks Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “He was invisible in the Purdue game except for the foul problems. The Badgers can’t win key games without Crowl.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates continue to wait for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team to shore up its defensive game. The Badgers scored 83 points against the Fighting Illini and still lost by eight points. 

“Wisconsin has to play defense for 40 minutes like they play for about 20 minutes every game,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “Sometimes, the Badgers just can’t get a stop and it’s been at critical times in games. 

Lucas thinks the Badgers have had lackluster ball pressure all season.  

“In what’s been the case a lot this year, Wisconsin didn’t have finishing power. They couldn’t close out Illinois when they needed to and they went down in another defeat,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “And that bench has really shortened up, hasn’t it?” 

Also on the podcast, the veteran sports journalists — like basketball fans across the country — have caught Caitlin Clark Fever. Lucas notes the Iowa’s star point guard has broken more than the NCAA’s all-time scoring record.  

“She's putting people in the seats and not just at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but around the league,” says Lucas. “What a boost for women’s basketball.”

Oates says Clark has earned all the attention. 

“Caitlin Clark doesn’t take a backseat to anyone,” adds Oates. “She’s a sensation and fun to watch.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates talk about how to deal with college fans storming the basketball court after a big win. After Wake Forest’s recent upset against Duke, fans injured Blue Devils star Kyle Filipowski. 

“How do you even contain it? There were kids on the floor before the final second ticked off in that Duke game against Wake Forest,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “Security has to really concentrate on the visiting players and coaches because that’s where the problem comes in.” 

Lucas says the enthusiasm behind court-storming is integral to the fabric of college athletics. 

“But does anyone put their phone down?” asks Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “Part of the problem with everyone who was storming the floor in that Wake Forest game was no one was paying attention to where they were running.” 

The veteran sports journalists also pay tribute to Badger great Howard Moore, who is being honored at the Kohl Center before the Wisconsin men’s basketball game against Illinois on Saturday. 

“Man, I miss Howard,” says Lucas. “Howard would keep after players — relentlessly — to get their degree. He wore the ‘W’ on his chest.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates provide the history for why former Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan deserves to be inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

“What he did at UW-Platteville — alone — is worthy of getting him into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “Bo didn’t get there by recruiting 5-star players. He’s a phenomenal coach…. It’s ridiculous he’s not in already.” 

Lucas says Ryan has great passion for the sport. 

“If you watched his practices, he didn’t vary from day one to the final day of the regular season,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “Bo is a big-time yes.” 

The veteran sports journalists also discuss Wisconsin’s recent loss to Iowa and what that means heading into March Madness. The Badgers' shortcoming can be summed up in one word: Defense.” 

“Wisconsin still uses Bo Ryan’s defense and it’s very involved with a lot of rules. A lot of rotation,” says Oates. “Wisconsin has made an absolute living out of playing that great team defense but this team doesn’t seem to be real attuned to it, for whatever reason.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates recap the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Lucas says the better quarterback won. 

“(Chiefs QB) Patrick Mahomes led the team in rushing. He’s got one of the most deceptive gates,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “I did think it was a bad first half for a Super Bowl. I thought it dragged. I thought there wasn’t much going.” 

Oates agrees Mahomes proved why he’s the best quarterback in the league.

“The Niners played some pretty good defense for most of that game. Even the long drives at the end, they gave up ground grudgingly. The Chiefs had to string together some first downs to go up the field,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. He does think 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan forgot to study the NFL’s new playoff overtime rules. 

“He just blew that. As soon as that rule changed about each team being guaranteed a position, they should have looked at the college game and learned something.” 

Also on the podcast, the veteran sports journalist discusses whether  the Wisconsin men’s basketball team is “fragile” after losing four straight games. 

“Where’s the team that kicked Michigan State’s butt at the boards in two games?” asks Oates. “They have strayed from Wisconsin basketball in a number of ways — turnovers, defense, etc.” 

Lucas says it doesn’t help that Badgers are without reserve guard Kamari McGee due to injury. 

“McGee has been a bit of spark this season coming off the bench because he brings a little fire to the lineup,” says Lucas. “You look at the Badgers' body language during the Rutgers game, there was no fire with any of those guys.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates mull over the Badgers’ close defeat to the Boilermakers at the Kohl Center. Lucas says Wisconsin did alright defensively against Purdue’s towering star center Zach Edey. 

“Purdue is a better team. I don’t think there is anything bold about that statement,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “But when you go three for 19 from the three-point line, zero for 11 from beyond the arc in the second half — the Badgers didn’t give themselves a chance.” 

Oates thinks Wisconsin deserves credit for not giving up ground in the paint. 

“But for this team to go from good to great, they need to start knocking down threes on a consistent basis.” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “I’ve said it all year, I think (Badgers guard) Connor Essegian needs to play more.” 

The veteran sports journalists also give their takes on Green Bay hiring Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley to be the Packers’ new defensive coordinator. Both think the economics of college football will be sending more coaches to the NFL. 

“Don't you think he is another example of a college head coach who has said, ‘I’ve had enough?’” asks Lucas. “‘I can’t deal with with NIL or this transfer portal, I’m outta here.’”

Finally on the show, Lucas predicts San Francisco will win Super Bowl LVIII. Oates is backing Kansas City. Neither understands all the griping  over Taylor Swift.

“They put her on screen for like 42 seconds in the last game and people are complaining? So what?” laments Oates. “I do think the NFL is pretty damn happy Taylor Swift is going to be at the Super Bowl. I don’t think there is any question about that.” 

Lucas adds, "The Swifites are a powerful group.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates aren’t surprised by the midseason hiring of Doc Rivers to coach the Milwaukee Bucks. Rivers, an NBA veteran, takes over after the Bucks fired first-time head coach Adrian Griffin after just 43 games. 

“When the players lose respect for the coach and tune him out, you just have to go a different direction or you’re going to have to change your whole team,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “It was pretty clear the Bucks’ defense wasn’t getting any better.” 

“They’ve been just awful on the defensive end,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “But back to Doc Rivers, people just like him. Players like him. Coaches like him. The media likes him.” 

Oates says, “The beauty of the Doc Rivers hire is I think the players will be pulling in the same direction. If nothing else, I think you’ll see an immediate transformation there.” 

The veteran journalists also discuss the Green Bay Packers’ search for a new defensive coordinator.

“I just want someone who is aggressive,” says Oates, who adds experience would be a plus, too. “Because there is no breaking-in period. The Packers showed, in the second half of this season, they are ready to win.” 

Finally on the podcast, Lucas and Oates preview the Wisconsin men’s basketball upcoming games against Nebraska and Purdue. 

“(Point guard) Chucky Hepburn has really changed his game,” says Lucas. “He’s tailored his strengths to what the team needs.” 

“We’re getting scoring from Max Klesmit, AJ Storr, John Blackwell, and Steven Crowell. That’s the story of this team,” says Oates. “The guy that’s orchestrating all that is Chucky Hepburn…. He’s running the show.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates go over the Green Bay Packers’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Oates says the Packers outplayed the heavily-favored 49ers most of the game. Even so, mistakes were made.

“The missed opportunities later in the game really hurt. The fourth-and-1. The missed field goal. The two interceptions, one of which was a bad throw and one of which was a bad decision,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “Those hurt the most because the game was being decided at that point.” 

Lucas just wishes the NFL would figure out how to spot a ball correctly.

“This still boggles most people’s minds, that we’re in 2024 and they don’t have a better system or measurement,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “Couldn’t they set something up like Wimbledon? Where they have the technology so you know if the ball is in or out. Then show it on the screen. Wouldn’t that be the same thing?”

Lucas and Oates also think the Packers are in need of a coaching shakeup next season. 

“If it was my choice, I’d say thank you (to Joe Barry) for the way his defense played late in the year,” says Lucas. “And then I’d find another defensive coordinator.”

Finally, the veteran journalists give their Super Bowl picks. Neither think Kansas City will make it but they both like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

“He’s a difference maker like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers in their prime,” says Oates. 

“He’s the Max Klesmit of the NFL!” declares Lucas.” 

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates breakdown Green Bay Packers’ unexpected drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys on their home turf. Oates says Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur outwitted the Cowboys during the 48-32 playoff victory.

“LaFleur has really found himself in the second half of this season. His game plans and his play-calling — he destroyed Dan Quinn, the defense coordinator of the Cowboys, ” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “The way (running back) Aaron Jones has run the ball, four straight games of over 100 yards, that’s phenomenal. That sets up every Matt LaFleur has always wanted to do as coach.” 

The veteran journalists also preview the Packers’ Divisional Round matchup against the heavily-favored San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. 

“You take a look at (San Francisco’s) marquee players on offense and it’s staggering,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “Can the Packers mount any kind of pass rush against quarterback Brock Purdy?”

Oates says it may come down to Packers’ linebacker Rashan Gary.

“I think Rashan Gary is going to be huge in this game. He has to be a real force…. He’s too good to be a non-factor,” says Oates. “If Rashan Gary can make life miserable for Brock Purdy, I think that’s their best chance of winning.” 

Whatever the fate of  Green Bay in the playoffs, Lucas says Packers quarterback Jordan Love has exceeded expectations. 

“Have you ever seen anyone make such huge strides in improvement from the start of the year to the postseason than Jordan Love?” asks Lucas. “Over the last nine games he has 21 touchdowns passes and one pick. He’s playing as well or better than anyone in the league.”

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates ring in the new year with an analysis of the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers. Oates says Jordan Love's steady improvement this season has won over fans who are used to Hall of Fame level quarterbacks at Lambeau.  

“He might just be our franchise quarterback of the future, “says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “He and (head coach) LaFleur have an unbelievable relationship that is really paying off for both of them. LaFleur is running the offensive he’s always wanted to run. And Love is doing it the correct way…I’m not sure that was the case in the past with the former quarterback.” 

Lucas notes that the Packers' receiving core is the youngest in the NFL.

“You also have to be impressed by Love’s targets. His receivers. A group of relatively unknowns who just go out and make plays,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “All these guys have stepped up. Jayden Reed has been tremendous.” 

Oates agrees Green Bay's entire offensive has been playing well. But he’s disturbed by one statistic. 

“They don’t score quite as many points as their yardage totals might indicate. They go on a lot of long drives that, for one reason or another, don’t end with points,” says Oates. 

“They got to finish better,” says Lucas. “And their field goal kicking scares the hell out of me.” 

Finally on the show, is the Wisconsin men’s basketball team the second-best in the Big Ten behind Purdue? Lucas and Oates both think so. 

“The Badgers have been so good this season at attacking the rim,” says Oates. “If they can get the outside shot game going with what they have already established they can do inside, I think it’s going to be a reality elite-level offensive team.”