The Swing: A Wisconsin basketball podcast

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Jesse and Zach recap a 2-0 week for Wisconsin, what it means for the rest of the year, chat with the Wisconsin State Journal’s Jim Polzin and answer your Twitter questions. 0:58 — Wisconsin proved its capable of playing the type of defense we’re accustomed to seeing from the Badgers. 5:34 — When Brevin Pritzl plays the way he did, the Badgers will be tough to beat. 6:45 — Is Wisconsin capable of making a run in the Big Ten tournament? 9:33 — Sold or Not Sold 1) Wisconsin should have been called for a foul on Minnesota’s final possession of regulation. 2) Wisconsin is playing its best basketball of the season. 3) If my life were on the line, I would rather have Brevin Pritzl shooting a 3-pointer than Bronson Koenig. 4) I’m fine with the court storming following the upset of Purdue. 21:46 — Jim Polzin joins the show. 36:31 — Twitter questions 1) Do you notice players standing around and not cutting when Ethan Happ gets double teamed? 2) What does it mean for Wisconsin that they found a way to win despite not getting a great night from Happ? 3) What team is the best matchup for Wisconsin in the B1G tourney? 4) What was your favorite part of Frank Kaminsky Night?

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse discuss the slow starts that have gotten Wisconsin in trouble, take a closer look at 2020 5-star recruit Jalen Johnson and are joined by former UW coach Bo Ryan to talk about Frank Kaminsky, the potential for other players having their jersey retired and what he’s seen from this year’s team. 1:40 — What we learned about the team this week 10:23 — Fact or Fiction: 1) I’m more encouraged by Wisconsin’s performance vs Illinois than I am discouraged by their effort against Michigan. 2) I’d like to see more Andy Van Vliet in the final four games of the season. 3) Wisconsin’s defense has been the biggest reason for its downfall this year. 4) Wisconsin will keep its game against Purdue within 10 points on Thursday. 23:01 — Discussing Jesse’s story on 5-star wing Jalen Johnson from Sun Prairie and where things stand with Wisconsin. 34:26 — Who does Wisconsin turn to next in its search for another recruit in 2018? 39:20 — Former coach Bo Ryan joins the show

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse tackle Wisconsin’s latest losses, talk what’s next on the recruiting trail, the potential impact of Trevor Anderson next season and answer your Twitter questions. 1:59 — Wisconsin has proven to be consistently inconsistent. 3:46 — Will Wisconsin end up with fewer wins than the football team for the first time since 1981-82? 6:18 — Fill in the Blank 1) If I was Greg Gard, I would have run ________ on the final possession. 2) Wisconsin’s fight to come back from a 10-point deficit was __________. 3) I’m confident/not confident this year is an aberration for Wisconsin basketball because _______. 4) The one must-get for Wisconsin in the next three recruiting cycles is ___________. 21:12 — Potential of going the graduate transfer route to help the roster 28:10 — Greg Gard thinks guard Trevor Anderson will help them next season 32:20 — Twitter questions

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse talk about what happened in the final 10 minutes against Nebraska, look at potential impact recruits in the next few classes and answer your Twitter questions. :52 — What the heck happened? 5:27 — How much worse can it get this season? 7:31 — Fact or Fiction 1) The loss to Nebraska is/will be the low point of the season.  2) Greg Gard was to blame for the collapse on Monday night.  3) Brad Davison has hit the freshman wall 4) Wisconsin will not play on the first day of the Big Ten tournament 22:42 — Recruiting talk on Xavier Pinson, Ochai Agbaji, DJ Carton, Nobal Days, Jonathan Davis and Jalen Johnson 32:37 — Twitter questions 1) Why does it seem like the Badgers are the only team to struggle with free throws? Why aren’t they better?  2) Is this what mediocrity feels like?  3) Is D’Mitrik Trice shutdown for the season?  4) When do we start to get annoyed with the effort of this team? Even with the injuries, giving up an 11-point lead and scoring just eight points in the final 10 minutes is unacceptable.  5) Should Wisconsin just forfeit the rest of the season and then accidentally delete any record that this season existed? 

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse talk about the ugly loss at Iowa, discuss the direction of the program and answer your Twitter questions. 1:00 — The intangibles that made Wisconsin the program it is aren’t there this year. Sold or not sold: 1) The Iowa loss will be the low point of the season 2) Wisconsin’s youth is to blame for its struggles away from the Kohl Center 3) Four losses by 18 points or more this year is an indictment of Greg Gard’s coaching ability 17:22 — Is Wisconsin’s program in trouble? Or is this just a one-year dip? 21:39 — The ability to recruit and develop is what has kept Wisconsin so consistent, and it’s what they’ll need more of in the future. 25:55 — You can plug one senior from last year’s team into this one…who is it? 29:55 — Twitter questions 1) Why are they so good at making me so sad? 2) Does it feel like there is culture rot within the program? 3) What has Greg Gard accomplished in his tenure? 4) What’s the one thing this team does well? 5) Most of these kids were recruited, in part, because of their shooting. Where is it? 6) When is Wisconsin going to change the offense to make it more appealing to recruits? 7) Where is Andy Van Vliet?

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse recap the ugly loss at Purdue, are joined by the Wisconsin State Journal’s Jim Polzin, play a little Fact or Fiction and answer your Twitter questions. 1:07 — The gap between the best in the Big Ten and where the Badgers are right now is “cavernous” 4:34 — The loss was not an embarrassment for the program 6:45 — Where do the rest of the wins this year come? 9:44 — Jim Polzin interview What’s the emotional state of the team after that blowout loss? Will and/or should D’Mitrik Trice return this year? What kind of team would Wisconsin have been if the injuries didn’t happen? Why didn’t Wisconsin take advantage recruiting wise of back-to-back Final Fours? Anything Greg Gard and his staff could have done different this year? 25:21 — Fact or Fiction 1) I think Andy Van Vliet should get minutes no matter how bad his defense and/or effort is. 2) An injured Brad Davison is doing more harm than good for the Badgers. 3) Alex Illikainen’s increased playing time is a good thing for Wisconsin. 4) If Trice and King hadn’t gotten hurt, the Badgers would be an NCAA tourney bubble team. 33:26 — Twitter questions 1) Will there every be any hope? 2) What does the future look like for the Badgers? 3) Many are talking about Ethan Happ as an NBA player. I’m not seeing it. Am I missing something? 4) Why have we lost out to Marquette with the best in-state recruits lately? 5) Trice should definitely redshirt, right? What’s the point wasting a year on a bad squad? 6) Is Badger basketball dead? How do we convince anyone to come to this team? 45:00 — Dick Yoder?

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse recap a tough couple games for the Badgers, talk about what’s holding them back, discuss whether there is still hope for this year and answer a ton of your Twitter questions. 1:05 — Wisconsin just doesn’t have the offensive consistency to support Ethan Happ 8:00 — Discussing why Andy Van Vliet isn’t playing and how he’s taking it 11:21 — Fill in the blank 1) Wisconsin’s biggest problem is __________ 2) I know I can at least count on Wisconsin to _______ every game 3) Being 9-9 this year is much different than being 9-9 two years ago because _______ 4) It would be an overreaction if coach Greg Gard _______ to shake things up 5) This is not a lost season because ________ 22:41 — Twitter questions 1) Is there any hope? 2) Best-case scenario (within reason) for this season that’s been a lot of negative so far? 3) A lot of talk about Khalil Iverson and Ethan Happ improving their outside shot…where is it? 4) Will Wisconsin make the NIT? 5) Would both the Badgers and Trice be better off having him sit and seek a medical redshirt, or bring him back for what will essentially be 1 month of a lost season? 6) At this point, the 2018 recruiting class appears to be a bust. Can they find any quality to salvage it? 7) What is Greg Gard teaching this team? Because it seems like they have not changed/improved much. 8) I’m too young to remember the last time Wisconsin didn’t make the tournament. What’s it like?

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse recap the week that was, play Buy or Sell and answer your Twitter questions. 1:59 — Ethan Happ and Brad Davison were big for Wisconsin, but the team’s toughness overall was a big reason for the win over Indiana. 6:00 — More bad luck in the injury department for Wisconsin Buy or Sell  1) Indiana’s shooting struggles in the second half were the result of Wisconsin’s improved defense. 2) Aaron Moesch is a better option for Wisconsin than Charles Thomas, Andy Van Vliet and Alex Illikainen 3) Wisconsin will have a winning record overall and in the Big Ten the next time they play at home on Jan. 19 4) Wisconsin is not the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten this year 5) Wisconsin is, at best, an NIT team  24:40 — Is Wisconsin a better team now than when they played Penn State? 29:30 — Is Ethan Happ the best two-way player in Wisconsin history? 34:10 — Twitter questions 1) What would a successful record at the end of the next six games look like? 2) When will D’Mitrik Trice return? Should he?

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse discuss what they saw in the UW-Green Bay game, play Sold or Not Sold, talk about what Wisconsin is doing in recruiting, debate the team’s NCAA tournament chances and more. 1:55 — The wins over WKU and UW-Green Bay showed some encouraging signs 7:15 — Sold or Not Sold 1) Aleem Ford is Wisconsin’s best 3-point shooter 2) When everyone is healthy, Brad Davison is the best point guard on the roster 3) I agree with KenPom’s rankings…the Badgers are a better defensive team than offensive team. 4) Saturday marked two years since Greg Gard coached his first game…Wisconsin is in a better position as a program now than they were when he took over. 22:07 — Who Wisconsin is still looking at for the 2018 recruiting class, along with a look at 2019 and 2020 27:38 — What record will the Badgers need in the Big Ten to make the NCAA Tournament? 31:54 — On the beat with Jesse 1) Favorite basketball game he’s ever covered? 2) Favorite individual basketball player he’s covered? 3) Most underrated basketball player he’s covered? 4) Favorite basketball story he’s written? 5) His starting 5 for the last 25 years of Wisconsin basketball.

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse debate the final seconds of the Western Kentucky game, play some Fact or Fiction, chat with former Wisconsin guard Josh Gasser and answer your Twitter questions. 2:35 — It’s understandable that WKU coach Rick Stansbury was upset, but his issues with the foul call were off base. 8:32 — Considering the season Wisconsin has had, the Badgers had to beat WKU anyway possible. Aesthetics don’t matter at this point. 11:45 — Fact or Fiction 1) The official was right to call a foul on the last play of the Western Kentucky game 2) Brevin Pritzl’s 3-point percentage will be higher at the end of the season than it is right now (36.4) 3) Frank Kaminsky is the greatest player in Wisconsin basketball history 4) I am intrigued by the potential of walk-on Walt McGrory 20:13 — Josh Gasser interview 38:53 — Twitter questions 1) Frank Kaminsky’s development was not foreseeable, but players like Joe Krabbenhoft and Josh Gasser were. Those kind of players make Wisconsin unique. Who is on the roster now, beyond Brad Davison, that will be a developed player? 2) How much is left of Bo Ryan’s Swing offense at Wisconsin? 3) Everyone assumes the underclassmen will be better down the road because of extensive playing time this year. But we’ve seen development isn’t guaranteed. Why do some guys not blossom and others do? 4) Have there been any definitive trends between wins and losses — like turnovers — that we should watch for when conference play resumes?

On this week’s episode, Zach and Jesse look back at what was a tough week for Wisconsin, play a little Buy or Sell, chat with former Badgers guard Zak Showalter and answer your Twitter questions. 2:10 — If Wisconsin had managed to get one or two of those wins against ranked teams, we may be looking at this team differently. 6:10 — The technical foul on Aaron Moesch was so weak. 7:25 — What the heck now? 13:00 — Buy or Sell 1) D’Mitrik Trice is a bigger loss than Kobe King 2) Playing Brad Davison — despite his limitations with his shoulder — is a good idea 3) Wisconsin will finish with a winning record overall this season 4) This season is only a one-year bump in the road for Wisconsin and does not signal long-term concern 5) Wisconsin doesn’t need to change the way it does things (Recruiting, play style, etc.) 26:28 — Zak Showalter joins the show 40:59 — Twitter questions 1) Chances we hear of guys transferring over semester break? 2) If this season is just for development, what do you see that will make them contenders again next season? 3) Does it make more sense for Wisconsin to go to a bigger lineup? 4) The roster has flaws that can’t be fixed midseason, so what do you think are reasonable goals for the staff & team? 5) For those who haven’t seen as much of him, what does T.J. Schlundt bring to the table?

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse recap the week that was, including the win over Penn State, the impact of this year’s freshman class and answer Twitter questions. 1:10 — Biggest takeaway from the week: Wisconsin’s ability to win a close game even after almost blowing a huge lead 12:10 — The bigger deal: 1) Wisconsin almost blowing a 17-point lead or the Badgers finding a way to win a close game? 2) Khalil Iverson finishing with 16 points after not scoring the last two games or Nate Reuvers coming off the bench to score a career-high 11 points and grab 4 rebounds? 3) Ethan Happ scoring in single digits for a second straight game or Penn State’s Mike Watkins having his way in the post to the tune of 22 points? 20:50 — Will this year’s freshman class turn out to be the best Wisconsin has ever had? 31:08 — Twitter questions: 1) Which team is closest to the real Wisconsin? The first 35 minutes against Penn State or the final 5? 2) Did it seem like the officials had it out for Brad Davison? It looked like several charge calls he got earlier this season were called blocks vs Penn State. 3) In your opinion, has Greg Gard lost confidence in Andy Van Vliet, Charles Thomas and Alex Illikainen? Didn’t play a minute last night. 42:49 — For the most part, only Marquette fans view Wisconsin as a rival.

On this week’s episode of “The Swing,” Jesse and Zach recap Wisconsin’s week, including a tough one at Virginia, play a little Buy or Sell, answer your Twitter questions and more. 1:26 — Everyone has been killing the 2015 recruiting class…Jesse answers a lot of the questions folks have been asking. 8:25 — How can Wisconsin develop more consistency? 9:30 — The Badgers have too many good shooters to be struggling from beyond the arc like they are. 12:28 — Buy or Sell 1) Pulling Nate Reuvers redshirt was a good idea 2) The starting lineup will not change the rest of the year 3) Wisconsin will open the Big Ten season 2-0 4) Wisconsin will make it to 20 wins this season 23:30 — Reassessing the Big Ten after the first couple weeks of the season — where do you see Wisconsin finishing now? 28:40 — Twitter questions 1) Can Wisconsin get it going against Ohio State? 2) Will Andy Van Vliet get back on the floor against Ohio State? What’s his role? 3) How concerned should we be with Brad Davison and his shoulder injury? 4) Is there anyone not named Ethan Happ that can score in the post? Or is it a jump shot or nothing with him on the bench? 5) How rough does the offense have to get before Wisconsin tries to add some tempo? 6) Was Wisconsin/Virginia the worst game in the history of basketball? 41:48 — Yes, it’s a basketball podcast but the guys give their picks for the Big Ten title game anyways.

On this week’s episode of the “The Swing,” Zach and Jesse look back at the tough three-game stretch of Xavier, Baylor and UCLA, Wisconsin’s struggles late in games, Brad Davison’s push into the starting lineup and more. 5:24 — Brad Davison is a tough SOB 10:03 — What’s the answer at the 4-spot? Is Nate Reuvers a possibility? 13:49 — Concerns with the 3-point shooting overall 22:50 — Wisconsin’s lack of depth in the front court 28:35 — Figuring out how to close out games with such an inexperienced team 34:54 — Bo Ryan’s induction into the Hall of Fame 37:08 — Active coaches shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame 40:06 — Is it ridiculous to already be talking about Wisconsin not making the NCAA tournament? 43:19 — Even more ridiculous than talking about not making the tournament…how about the tweets suggesting Greg Gard can’t coach.

Former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan is being inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend in Kansas City. He joined the Wisconsin Sports Zone Network’s “Joe and Ebo Show” Wednesday morning to chat about that and more.