Wisconsin Sports on the go with Trag
Wisconsin Sports on the go with Trag is a podcast aiming at bringing you Wisconsin sports news and opinions everyday! Follow the podcast and find us live Sunday, Wednesday and Friday nights on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Twitch and Kick TV.
Wisconsin Sports on the go with Trag
Bucks' Hot Streak, Packers' Lions Rematch, Wisconsin's Football Recruiting Wins, and MLB Controversy – Wisconsin Sports on the Go with Trag & Aaron
What if sports could unite communities even amidst brutal winter storms? With the Milwaukee Bucks on a blazing winning streak and the Packers gearing up for a high-stakes rematch against the Lions, we bring you firsthand stories from Wisconsin’s frosty sidelines. Join me and our guest, Aaron, as he shares his triumphant recovery journey from illness, capturing the indomitable spirit of Wisconsinites who brave the iciest conditions with humor and resilience. Expect a hearty laugh as we recount tales of quirky local habits and pets’ hilarious escapades in the snow!
In the ever-shifting world of college football, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals are turning recruiting into the wild west. Discover how Wisconsin's recruiting victories with talents like Carter Smith are reshaping the team’s future, and why Bryce Underwood’s switch to Michigan is a perfect illustration of this new era. We tackle the complex quarterback situation under Luke Fickell, pondering the potential benefits of the transfer portal. Our conversation uncovers the high-pressure dynamics in powerhouse programs, comparing Wisconsin's strategies with those of Ohio State and Penn State, and considering the balance between success and expectation.
Major League Baseball’s potential rule changes spark lively debates about innovation versus tradition, particularly with the controversial "golden at-bat" proposal. What might this mean for the sport’s integrity? Meanwhile, we shift our gaze to the NFL, evaluating the Packers’ playoff hopes against the Lions and diving into the strength of top NFC and AFC contenders. From the Eagles’ defensive prowess to the Steelers’ surprising offensive surge, we examine the strategies and challenges shaping this season. Stick around for a critical analysis of the Packers’ must-win matchup and a spirited discussion on the evolving landscape of professional sports.
Thank you, howdy, how we doing everybody, and welcome into wisconsin. Sports time to go with trage. I'm your host, trage. We're coming back on a wednesday, a brisk oh my goodness, is it brisk? We got like, I kid you not. There's about 30 to 40 mile per hour winds out right now. The snow is a blowing across. It is nasty outside right now, but hey, we're, we're persevering, that's what we do. Right, it's supposed to dip into the negatives tonight here and I am just loving it, just loving it already. So I mean, yeah, yeah, it's, it's a heck of a time in the state of wisconsin, but hey, it's a heck of a time.
Speaker 2:We got a lot of good, but hey, it's a heck of a time. We've got a lot of good sports going on. Bucs currently on a pretty good burner right now. Badger basketball did cool off a little bit last night. We're going to talk about that Packers-Lions coming up tomorrow night. Can't wait for that rematch there. And then we've got some other things to get into Badger football and a little bit more. Aaron, how we doing on this Wednesday.
Speaker 3:Dude. Finally, I mean you take it for granted when you're not sick to like being sick, like that is just such a buzzkill at times. And then when you kind of come out of it, you're like wow, you know not to say that I was never going to come out of it, but it's at points it's like man can't wait to feel just normal. So people I mean I don't want to be dramatic, right, there's people on freaking, uh life support and stuff like that, like your health is one of those things just never take it for granted, though, regardless, because you don't know how lucky you are just to just to be normal or like feel relatively well. So just coming out of that I'm I'm grateful that you know I'm back to almost, you know 100 getting there trying to round the last corner.
Speaker 3:But yeah, man, that is crazy. I mean the. I remember like around here we'll see, you know some single digits, uh with windchill, but like under, you know, in the negatives. That's rare, that's rare. We might see it once or twice a year, but that's usually with windchill involved, like to just be straight up negatives, no windchill involved. That is that's. That's brutal. I can't imagine a lot of people are outside, like even walking dogs. It's not like that. I don't know. Maybe I'm sure you guys are built different, I know that.
Speaker 2:But I did see somebody walking their dog side of a dirt road today. I was just driving along there from work and it's gusting and blowing, it's nasty and I'm like who would be? Even outside right now there's a dog and dogs you know doing his business right there on the side of the dirt road and I'm like, oh, come on, man, like go behind a tree or something.
Speaker 2:Like, oh, I would not be walking my dog in this kind of weather, like even he would be, like he'd walk out the door, you know, and he'd be like no, I'm not dealing with this today I remember, I remember one time you know we're we're living in our old place and uh, it was an apartment building and we went downstairs and he was going to go outside and I had him on the leash and got him out the door and big, I mean it was snow and it was gusting A big, just breeze came through a blowing snow over the place and he stopped, he looked at me, look back, shook his head back inside. I don't got to go that bad, I can hold it for now. I can hold it for now.
Speaker 3:That's incredible, that's I mean that tells you like dogs are smarter than I mean, obviously, but it's like wow, like that's saying something. And the only thing else I'll ask you like, are there people there were kids coming to school in shorts and short sleeves and like you ever see people walking around in wisconsin like rocking that now, like they're kind of a psycho, don't you think, like I, I get it being a tough? There's built different, then there's nuts.
Speaker 2:Those people are nuts you know, but we got around here where I live we got people driving their lawnmower around like it's a car, like they'll just drive their little tractor mower down the street. I mean, we had one guy back high school. He used to drive his tractor mower to school all the time. We called him Ricky Bobby. I was like this is my guy, this is this is Ricky Bobby right here, can't hate that guy.
Speaker 2:No, he was good, he was good, he was good stuff. He was good stuff all the way around. I hope he's listening to that because he was good stuff. So so we got lots to get into, lots to get into tonight. It was an exciting day for Badger football. I guess you could say we had the early signing period happen there. Aaron, you got the list of the rankings. What do you got for the Big Ten rankings? I know the Badgers came in there kind of towards the middle of the pack.
Speaker 3:Yeah, big Ten rankings. So this is kind of including signing day. So I mean, you know, take it, I guess with a sort of grain of salt, but just so far how these teams are looking, I guess with a sort of grain of salt, but just so far how these teams are looking. So, through the Big Ten, through the top ten, you got Oregon number one, unfortunately, and then Ohio State number two, unfortunately, but then it goes, you know, michigan, usc, penn State, Nebraska, washington, your Wisconsin Badgers right there, and then Maryland at nine, and Rutgers, I mean ranking above Indiana, above Illinois, above Iowa, some teams in there, like just a little surprising man. Another kick in the chest for Purdue. I mean they finished dead last. I mean I get you know it makes sense, but man, it doesn't seem like it's ever going to get better right there, right now.
Speaker 2:No, no, not at all. But the Badgers in there, I mean, they got in there, they're about middle of the pack at this point. You got to look at the teams above them too. You know, you have your Oregon, ohio State. Those are your money spending teams. Right, those are the teams that are going to get you. I mean, you got Michigan's probably. You said Michigan's up there near the top.
Speaker 2:Three yeah, bryce Underwood. I mean that, that's what it took. That's what it took to get a five-star quarterback to flip, scrub from LSU to come up there. You know what? I hate it, I really do. I hate this stupid NIL and everything like that for that fact.
Speaker 2:Because you go through this, you almost have to have a group of guys who are constantly recruiting and keeping recruits happy. Because you look at LSU and they're like, oh, we got Underwood in the bag, right, we're ready, we're going out, we're getting other guys, we're getting other guys to bolster this thing up, and then all of a sudden Michigan just slides in, opens up the window a little bit. They're like, hey, we got a little extra over here, you want to come up here. And then all of a sudden he's gone and now you have to. Just now, if you're LSU, you're like, okay, I got to dive back in and try to flip somebody else, which then affects a different school. So I mean it's the wild west. That is the greatest analogy you can give. This thing is it's the wild west and it sucks. It really does. There has to be some kind of contract system and everything else, but we don't want to get into that today, because that's a whole I mean five hour show that we don't want to even spend a minute on here.
Speaker 2:So the badgers they have a pretty good day in the signing period. They have a pretty good day with some of the guys that they're bringing in now. Uh, some, the big name right, carter, carter smith, quarterback. There, he's coming in. Four star, this guy, all around, fantastic quarterback. He's got mobility, he's got a good arm, he's got that kind of killer instinct in him where he wants to take a game over and he wants to be the guy like he's going to pile drive you. He wants to be the guy to lay the boom on you. Now that could get dangerous. Being a quarterback. You don't want your quarterback putting himself into harm's way. But Carter Smith is a tough cookie and that's the kind of guy you want, especially in a team like Wisconsin where you're not built with a lot of playmakers. You're hoping to get some playmakers, but you're not built with a lot of playmakers. This is a playmaker. This is a guy who he's going to make the throw for you, but he can also run for it. He can find lanes right. Running lanes that's a big thing too with quarterbacks is finding the right lane to run through to get those five, 10 yards, get a first down. Those are little things that Carter Smith could do for you. So a huge signing there. Mason Posa, the linebacker, their four star. This guy is going to be a bruiser for him.
Speaker 2:On the defense. So fantastic defensive signing there. Hardy Watts offensive line they got a couple of good offensive linemen coming in now to Wisconsin. This is great. This is great because we're getting offensive linemen, something that you know. You look at the Badgers. Last season, the offensive line I thought at moments shined and at other moments kind of hurt. So offensive linemen was a big need. Same with the defensive line. I was like they need to go out and get some defensive linemen. They did that. They go out and get some defensive linemen. They did that. They flipped Jalen Williams. He was committed to Michigan decommitted. Now he's on his way to Wisconsin. That is fantastic. He could be a very I would say I don't want to say sneaky he's going to be a steal. Right, he's going to be a steal. I think this guy has got all the tangibles. You want a great defensive lineman, so I like Jalen Williams coming in there. Jameer Scott defensive back there, four-star, adding some depth in that cornerback room that we've seen in the transfer. I mean they've had most of the 2023 classes out the door at this point and a lot of cornerbacks, a lot of cornerbacks hitting the transfer portal now from Wisconsin. So getting some depth back in that cornerback room, that's going to be huge. So I like that signing there.
Speaker 2:Nicholas Clayton, the edge rusher, there, four star, coming in, like I said, the defensive line, that's where you needed it. You're getting your help there. You have logan powell, offensive lineman, coming in there four star. And then you have eugene hilton jr. That is, uh, ty hilton's son. He's coming into the badgers. They're wide receiver, they're four star coming in, so a playmaker right, if he plays like his dad did. I mean, they're going to have some success there in Wisconsin with him. So I love that class. I really do. I love the class. Those are some of just the four stars.
Speaker 2:We could go through days of talking about the entire recruiting class and everything like that, but I don't want to spend that much time on it here. I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anybody. Lay, I didn't. Didn't miss anybody. Um, leighton Locke did come into uh, not really Brain Lock's brother, not really sure on him, yet he had the ACL tear in his senior season, so not a lot to really go off of in this last season here. All it is is junior season, so we'll see what he kind of does. I mean, the ACL makes you nervous. Makes you nervous about what he's going to be able to do for the Badgers there. And then they also. I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss just want to make sure I don't miss anybody here uh, michael rosick from watoma, wisconsin, I believe. He's six, six, eight and 305 pounds. He's an offensive lineman. That's a big guy. That is a big guy and I love that the badgers got him in state like keep, keep the roots, keep the big, big fellas at home. I love that the Badgers got him in state Like keep the roots, keep the big fellas at home, don't let the big fellas go out, keep the big fellas in Madison. So I like that one there. Other than that, I mean those are your major signings on this day. Like we know, this could all change and these are just the early signing period. There's going to be a lot more to come here for the Badgers here, but a pretty good signing class. Right Now.
Speaker 2:The question is the question that everybody is trying to answer, because you see, you look on Twitter, you look all over the place. You see you know guys are tweeting out like this this quarterback has entered in the transfer portal. Should we go get him? This guy has entered in the transfer portal. Should we go get him? I'm going to be honest with you, aaron. I really think the Badgers got to wait. I think they got to wait. You got to get that offensive.
Speaker 2:We heard Luke Fickle talk today and Luke Fickle said that there's a possibility that he hires two coaches one for offensive coordinator and one for the quarterbacks coach. First off, I love that. I want a quarterbacks coach and I want an offensive coordinator. I don't want my offensive coordinator trying to figure out my quarterbacks. I want a guy who I can bring in, a quarterback guru, because you know what attracts good quarterbacks a guy who can get them to the next level. Bring in that guy. Next and foremost, bring in an offensive coordinator that's going to run a system that fits the guys in your system currently and what you could bring in, and with that and with that I believe you're going to draw the rest of your needs. Let's just say they hire that UNLV offensive coordinator with the go-go offense there. He's going to bring guys with him.
Speaker 2:When guys from UNLV or elsewhere love this offense, they're like, hey, he's going up to Madison. They're going to be like, hey guys, luke Fickle, I'll come up there and play, I'll come ball out, wide receiver, I'll come up there. I like that offense, I like what Carter Smith is, I like what you guys are doing up there. I want to come into that system. So I feel like, if you get, it's not just all about Luke Fickle, it's about hiring the right offensive coordinator, because with the right going to draw the offensive talent, they're not going to come into a system where they don't feel like they can succeed.
Speaker 2:You know, you look at what you know deterred good quarterbacks and deterred wide receivers from Madison in the old regime right, it was, the Badgers were a run heavy offense. You weren't. If you were a quarterback, you're not going to throw the ball a lot, you're not going to be shown with that. You know. Wide receivers same thing. But you got running backs. You got offensive linemen because they were going to be on display night in and night out. This guy, you know, you bring that go-go offense that's displaying everybody, that's an all-around offense that's bringing everybody into the fold. So now you're a high-powered, more of a I wouldn't say nfl pro style, but you're a spread it out kind of team who's going to play on all three levels. That's what you want. You want to bring in that guy.
Speaker 2:So I feel like at this point, before I'm even trying to figure that out, I'm trying to figure out my offensive coordinator right now, and then I think the pieces fall into place. Now my question is, aaron, with okay, you have Carter Smith coming in, you have Mabry from last year. Are you bringing in a bridge quarterback? Because Mabry is going to be going he's a redshirt last year or this current season now, but technically last year, as we're talking, and going into next year he's going to be not a true freshman but a redshirt freshman. And then you're bringing in Carter Smith, who everybody is high on.
Speaker 2:Do you bring in a bridge quarterback or do you, if you feel comfortable with Carter Smith or with one of these other guys, do you just let it ride? Do you just say, okay, hey, maybe we're going to take a hit for a year with inexperience right, inexperience happens, you're going to take a hit for a year, but I want this guy to grow from year one. I want Carter Smith to be the guy and I want him to know that he's the guy. Bring him in, let him play. Maybe he's going to experience his hiccups while playing. I mean, yes, you're throwing him to the wolves a little bit, yeah, but he's going to get that experience against some pretty good teams next year with that daunting schedule the Badgers have. I mean, aaron, are you bringing in that bridge quarterback or are you just saying you know at this point, bring in the offensive coordinator. If he likes what he sees in Carter Smith and thinks he can work with him right off the bat, let it ride.
Speaker 3:I think after what's transpired the last couple of years, obviously having to go to Braden Locke, which wasn't ideal for you guys, for Wisconsin, that's not what you wanted to see. You had higher-ranked guys above him both years and they both go down. Oh my God, here comes the Ducks already. But no, it's all good.
Speaker 2:There's John.
Speaker 3:Missed him there. But yeah, I mean I think this is a pivotal year for Luke Fickle. Like I think there's too much riding on this. Like if you feel like Carter Smith, like I remember you know not to bring up Penn State already, but it's one of those things Like Sean Clifford was in his sixth year, he had that COVID eligibility year. Like if he didn't have that year I think they would have went, even though it's not a James Franklin thing to do. I think they would have said, you know what drew hours, our best chance to win. Right now that's where. That's where we're going, like even though, like, the ceiling's higher with a guy like Carter Smith but maybe the lows are lower only because it's inexperience. You know he's overwhelmed, you know you're trying to learn a college offense, you're playing the game at a higher level in high school, obviously. But, like I said, I think this is such a pivotal year for Fickle. It's a pivotal year for getting back on track and I mean that schedule is one of those things.
Speaker 3:You can look at a couple different ways. You can say, uh, if we bring in a bridge guy, he might be able to navigate that better, because you know that's, that's uh, you know gut check every week there for like four or five, six weeks, whatever it is. Um, I still think like, if you're comfortable with carter smith coming in, I mean I wouldn't be surprised if if in portal, you know Wisconsin gets a guy from you know UNC or Duke or you know like just one of those, you know one of those random schools, maybe not a guy from like Bama or something, but you know we see that too. Like we see a guy you know four string on Bama, oh, I can maybe go compete for the job in Madison. Oh, maybe that might happen. So I mean I think they should have, I don't think they should have any reservation not to play Carter Smith, other than if a guy comes in he looks more ready to play, you know week one of the season or in your scrimmage game I'm sure they have a scrimmage game out there as well. It's like maybe you just say you know what we're going to go experience here.
Speaker 3:But if Carter Smith wows you, I wouldn't be afraid to put him in there or at least to share some. You know some drive, some you know drive here, drive there, some reps, like that type of thing. Because, like you said, I think getting him experience in this first year is important. I don't think like because the NFL, we can talk about how the Packers groom their guys and stuff like that, because the NFL, we can talk about how the Packers groom their guys and stuff like that.
Speaker 3:College, I mean, if you're afraid to break a guy's confidence in year one, maybe he's not the guy. You know what I mean. Like, college is the breeding ground for the NFL and you want to show you're the guy, even if you're not Like, even if you're not ready. If you have a guy that's extremely timid, I don't know if that's who you want your starting quarterback to be anyway. So, yeah, I I'm torn on it, but I think whoever gives you the best chance to win right now, you start them, and if it's not Carter Smith, you get him involved every single quarter of the year.
Speaker 3:I don't think you shy away from getting him some reps, some, you know, some drives, that type of thing, cause, like I said, there's a lot riding on this season. I think Luke fickle's job is basically like, if they come out and win four or five games, I think he's in deep trouble. So, even though with the gauntlet of his schedule I. I think wisconsin holds him to a little bit higher of a of a standard than you know. Five wins back-to-back years and then you know he got his, he got paid. So it's not like you know he's got there's. The hot seat is starting to warm up gradually and quickly there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I agree 100% If you feel he's ready. You just got to fire it in at some point, right, you just got to. I mean, we did see he did talk today. Luke Fickleden he said he is going to have a meeting with Tyler Van Dyke too to discuss his kind of future there. He said that he wants to continue playing. That's what Tyler Van Dyke said, that he wants to continue playing. You know, that's what tyler van dyke said he wants to continue playing it. You like the heart that the guy has? I mean, we never. It sucks because we never, truthfully, outside of the first two games, which you kind of count as preseason games, right, we never really got to see tyler van dyke. So it really makes you wonder and I know, aaron, you're not a huge fan on tyler van dyke or anything like that, but more so than Brain Lock though.
Speaker 2:I think with his running ability it would have changed a couple of the games that Wisconsin had against Penn State or maybe against Oregon too. Also, he makes a little bit better of decisions, which Brain Lock's trouble was, and it could have changed a lot of things. So I don't know if Tyler Van Dyke does come back. He is that bridge guy for you already. Maybe Carter Smith beats him up for the job. Those are some of the things that you kind of got to look at there. So just getting to some of the comments here before we move on.
Speaker 2:John did say quick question on Wisconsin. Is their biggest issue? Nil money Seemed like their biggest donor was Pepsi, if I'm not mistaken, and then he did say Herb Kohl on the backside of that, if I'm not mistaken, and then he did say Herb Cole on the backside of that. I know they use the. It's called the Varsity Collective. So essentially I was trying to gain more on that so you can donate. Basically is what it is. It's a collective agency to try and donate in there. But you know you have to with Wisconsin. Yes, nil will constantly be a problem because they're trying to spread it out between programs essentially and they don't have the funding like Alabama or like some of these other teams or Oregon, right, because they're backed by Phil Knight and everything like that. They don't have that kind of funding in there, so they're not going to be the team that's going to go out and spend that big money on just about anybody. They can spend it on coaches, but that's about as far as the you know they got to spend out there. So, and he also went on to say there, a new football practice facility and NIL are the top two funding priorities for the Badgers, but some donors are wary of the latter. I did see that they I mean they are building that new practice facility, so that's going to be a big thing too for the Badgers. So hopefully, right, hopefully little that new practice facility, so that's going to be a big thing too, uh, for the badgers. So hopefully, right, hopefully little. Things like that are going to draw some uh guys in there also, success, success draws guys to universities and also, like we were talking about offensive coordinators, having the right guy in the system and everything like that that's going to draw people in.
Speaker 2:So brantley gilbert did also say how do you think the badgers o-line is compared to others O-lines? They didn't have a bad offensive line this season. I mean by any means they didn't have a terrible offensive line. I mean they had holes at times and I do believe there were a few games there where some of the guys were playing injured in those games too, so that definitely didn't help. So I mean they didn't have the deepest offensive line. I think they're definitely getting deeper with these last recruits that they're bringing in there. They didn't have a terrible offensive line.
Speaker 2:They just, to Wisconsin standards, what we're used to seeing. We're used to the road graders, we're used to the big fellas in there who are just going to push and shove you and they were going to bury you with the run. And in this air raid it changed their. And in this air raid it changed their, assignments changed, what they had to do within the offense changed, and I don't think that some of these guys like Jack Nelson were just off the top of my head thinking about Jack Nelson were equipped for the air raid offense, the style of offense that you know what they wanted to do. I think he's actually I know he's one of the guys who's going to go play in the Reese's senior bowl there, along with Hunter Waller. He's going to be in there too, I know. I really do think he's going to do better in the NFL. He's going to. I think he'll get drafted, he'll end up somewhere and I think he'll do better in the NFL. Just because it's a different their rates kind of a different style for offensive linemen you got to be a little bit offensive coordinator is going to bring into this Wisconsin Badger team, so we'll wait and see.
Speaker 2:On that one, john did also say Ryan Day fired. Obviously. If he doesn't win the national title there, who would replace him? Though? I don't know. I really don't know, do you think?
Speaker 3:he gets the can if they don't.
Speaker 2:I mean mean it's ohio's you like we talked about last time. Their standard is so high. I don't the way that it's set up now. I'm pretty sure in the latest college football playoff um bracket they would have tennessee at home and tennessee is going to be no pushover at home there for Ohio state If they lose that first game. Yes, yes, 100% yes.
Speaker 3:Getting all the way to the.
Speaker 2:I'm not like, I don't know if it's national title or bought, I don't know if it's national title or bust I, you gotta be within the final four. I really do think you gotta be within the final four for that roster. For that roster to get B, as you know they're $20 million roster plus there. I mean to get you know to only if you lose to Tennessee. I mean that's first off. You lost on your home field. That completely knocks you out at that point. But people in Ohio state they take that, that game against Michiganigan, more serious than anything else. Anything else. It doesn't matter if they lose to wisconsin, it doesn't matter if they lose to penn state. It's that game against michigan. And what he has not been able to do is get his guys up for michigan, get him ready for michigan and get his play calls for michigan right. He can't coach in that game. He looks like he's lost at times.
Speaker 2:You know they had a drive against Michigan where they threw the ball the entire length of the field and it was like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. They're down the field, touchdown. And then all of a sudden they go back to the run game and they're like trying to be this powerhouse run team when they have all these weapons on the outside who are just standing there run block and it's like the run game Isn't there, let's spread them out again. But they kept. You know where is Michigan strength? It's in the, it's in that D line, it's right there in front of you and you kept trying to run into their strength Like I get you got to, you got to at least. You know has been won by whoever controls the run game. That's what it's been like through the years and I get it. But I mean, change the narrative, throw the ball around. If you won that game and you didn't win the run game but you won it through the air people would have got over it.
Speaker 2:It's the fact that you, at your own place, at your own place, michigan walked in there and they outplayed you on that day and you got out coached and you got out classed and you got out styled and then to have the melee after the game there where guys are throwing punches and they're losing their mind. I mean I did. Dan patrick did say that you know those michigan guys are nuts because he can't spike a flag in the astro turf, but I I thought that was funny. He's like you can't even do it like, why are you trying to do it? You know, and I like, yeah, that's true, that's true there. But I mean, yeah, and like John just said, they're a 22-point favorite. You're a 22-point favorite at home against Michigan.
Speaker 2:Who, if you can't beat Michigan this year, how are you going to beat them with Bryce Underwood? They have no quarterback. They have some random guy playing quarterback at this point and it's a great story. I believe his name is Warrens. I think is his last name there, if you haven't heard his story. Fantastic story. He had cancer, beat cancer. He's a fantastic guy. Like I prayed when I heard his story on college game day. I was like I hope you beat Ohio State now. Like you are a great dude. He still goes back to the children's hospital and everything like that hangs out with all these kids and he was at one of the little kids' birthday.
Speaker 2:But the way that Ohio state played like if they were a three loss Ohio state team right now and the way that they played against Michigan would have been the last time we would have seen them before the playoffs. I would not have been able to vouch for them to make the college football playoff. They wouldn't be in the same boat as an Alabama right now, where they're somehow still in the picture. I would have been like no, not even a chance, because you went in you at your own place as a 22 point favorite. You got. You got outmanned like you look like you were lost, like you were the team that was struggling this year. So just, I mean, I don't think it's national championship or bust, but I think it's final four. I really do.
Speaker 3:I think it's final four or bust and I even think, yeah, to piggyback off of that, I think in the final four you know, in this the semi, I think in the semifinal at that point, if they were to come out and play that way again, I think that even could cause him to get. It depends how they go about playing these games too. I don't think Will Howard is on the level he's good. I don't think he's even that great. I mean he's good. I don't think he's even that great. I mean he's good, though no disrespect to him Like he can play, but he's not like.
Speaker 3:This is kind of the first time you've seen Ryan Day there without you know Justin Fields, who was amazing. Jt Barrett great Like, not outstanding, but like they're all a tier above. Like Will Great Like, not outstanding, but like they're all a tier above Like Will Howard's probably the least talented of all the Ohio State quarterbacks in the last like 10 years. I'll put it that way Like he's. He's not bad by any means, but he is not. So now I don't know if Ryan Day got in his own head and thought you know, will Howard throws picks here and there like Like can I fully trust him, but like against Oregon, I mean he balled out Like he has the ability to throw up massive points. I mean I saw him against Penn State. I mean, granted, people were running wide open, which I didn't understand, but I mean it's one of those things. Did Ryan Day just think you know what? This time we're 0-3 in the last three meetings. I'm going to take it to the ground game, I'm going to take it out of Will Howard's hand at certain points and I'm going to beat them at their game and like maybe he got, you know, paranoid, like I have to win this game and I don't want it to come down to a crucial mistake or something like that. Maybe there's that, but you can't make excuses to lose to a team, like you said, I mean 22-point favorite at home. You're 0-3 against them. You know there's so much riding on the line of you know where you're going to be seated in the college football playoff with Oregon, penn State, everybody else in the Big Ten you got to worry about, and not only that, but you know the SEC Big 12, like all these other teams. So, yeah, I mean, even if Ohio State goes like I don't think him being fired, if he gets fired this offseason, I won't be shocked? I won't. I'll be maybe a little surprised, but I mean he is. He has one of the hottest seats going into the offseason.
Speaker 3:Unless they go out and win the national championship, which I don't see happening, I mean anything can happen. They ran, you know, oregon's number one and they ran them to the wire. But I number one and they ran them to the wire. But I mean, you got to think some of these guys are, I mean it's going to be interesting how they, you know, navigate after, how you know how that game looked and how they lost. But you can't, you can't be 0-4 against Oregon or against uh sorry Michigan there and lose the way you did, you know, coach, the way you did it, just all of it. So yeah, I mean it's, it's boom or bust right now, and even if they do boom to a certain degree, I, I don't know if he's safe, because that that's a place where it's it's win or else, and I don't even think he's won a national championship there. So it's, I mean, if not now, sometimes, when that's one of those things like, if he, if he gets the, can I, I, you know, ohio state is ohio, it's win or get out.
Speaker 3:So fans are getting very impatient. Let's say they lose next year. To michigan. You can't bring oh and five. You can't bring a guy that's oh like, that's your and like you said, this was the year to, to kind of put the fire extinguisher on it and to lose. That way is it's. I'm loving it, but Ohio State fans are not loving any bit and he was hated before this. He really, like a lot of people, hate Ryan Day in Ohio and you know, like I said, high standard, but this was, I mean, icing on the. This is just a bow on top of it.
Speaker 2:Isn't it crazy to have the career record that he has and to be a 10 and 2 team and your, your seat is hot. Like that's wild to me. Like that is wild to me if I had a 10 and 2 badger team. Right now I'd be praising luke fickle. I'd be down there kissing his feet right now probably not, but I'd be like thank you for bringing success back to badger football. And like we're over here, like putting ryan day to bed, like here, here's your suitcase, like see you later.
Speaker 3:Well, the same thing, I mean in some instances same thing can say like if you look at Franklin's all time record, like it's, it's damn good, and like he covers the spread against everybody except for Michigan and Ohio state, and I don't know. I just I mean, if you were, if you, let's just flip-flop. If you know, Wisconsin was Penn State, they're winning 10 games a year outside of this year, which I think was the schedule. That really the only reason. Penn State lost one game. They flirted and almost lost three or four, but it's, you know, if you're Wisconsin sitting there, let's say James Franklin's at the helm, you're losing those two games.
Speaker 3:Let's say you're losing those two games. Let's say you're losing to usc and michigan or whatever, whoever right, it's, two teams are better than you rankings wise. You know all that would. Would you be, would you be satisfied over a five, six, seven, eight year, nine, ten, you know, however, long period, but like five to ten year period where you're seeing, ah, we're good, but then that happens. Ah, we're good, but then, like, we're the stepchild to these, these other teams are not afraid of penn state, these other teams are not afraid of wisconsin, in that you know dynamic lucky for you, I haven't experienced that yet, but I do.
Speaker 2:We have brewers right, it's the brewers. It's the brewers. We have seen the badgers when it was big 10 west, big 10 east. We've seen the badgers win the big 10 west, go to that big 10 championship game and then I mean ohio state would dog walk them. I mean they played some close games, right, they, they, and I mean they won the big 10 championship a couple times. They beat nebraska. I mean they, they've had their wins, they've had their losses in there. But I, yeah, I can see, I can definitely see where the kind of where we want to get rid of them comes from, because you are such a good, well-built program that you should be winning these games.
Speaker 3:But especially them. Yeah, especially they are like, they have talent and no matter who shows up to coach. I mean, if luke fickle went there he'd be walking into. Just you know, talent on talent on that. That's another thing. Like you're, you're ryan day and you're like finding a way to screw it up, almost like, don't tell badger fans that they don't want to hear.
Speaker 2:They don't think luke fickle could walk in anywhere and cut. I mean, there's there's plenty of people that think that luke fickle could mess it up, even if, even if right, so I mean we don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we don't know, it's a we see right now he there's nobody else to blame because most of, if not all, paul Chris guys have got to be gone at this point. I haven't looked through the complete list, but those guys have basically all got to be gone at this point here. So there's nobody else to blame at this point than what Luke Fickle does, than what he does here. This offseason is going to be offensive coordinator he's talking about quarterbacks coach. I'd fire Trestle and find a new defensive coordinator, or at least demote Trestle and bring in a new guy to call the defense. But I haven't heard anything about that. So we'll wait and see on that one.
Speaker 2:But it's always going to be about transfer portal too. Right, because you cannot bank on the recruiting class to fill all your holes. You have to find it out there in free agency, essentially. So it's going to be. This is a big. This could be a job-defining offseason for Luke Fickle coming up here and we will see what he does with the transfer portal. I know it opens up on Monday. I believe it opens up, so we'll see what I mean. It's nuts to open up the transfer portal while teams are actually still trying to play football.
Speaker 1:But open up the transfer portal.
Speaker 2:And you know what, maybe it's a good thing the Badgers are off, because now the only focus that Luke Fickle has is on keeping his guys who are in-house happy and keeping them here the ones that he wants at least and then also going out there and, hey, ring, ring, guy from you know wherever, come up to Wisconsin and play defensive line for me. So it's going to be a big offseason in those senses there, because he's losing guys on the defensive line. He's lost guys in the cornerback room, he's. You know, we I did see a big one and I I don't know where I saw, I just got it sent to me.
Speaker 2:But I did see a quote that was sent to me from Trek Kikawana, who was one of the Badgers wide receivers and he said that he did not feel appreciated at Wisconsin, which I don't know, because he was technically supposed to be the backup slot wide receiver behind Will Pauling and then he was kind of put in there due to injury to other guys and he did have some explosive games and I was honestly excited to see what Trek could become. He had a pretty good season for Wisconsin. Now he's going to transfer out. Did not feel appreciated.
Speaker 2:So you got to hear the other side of it, right, you don't know, you don't know where that's coming from or anything like that, but you know we did see one of the cornerbacks said that he didn't feel like he was, you know, appreciated, or almost appreciate, I guess, in the cornerback room, by the cornerbacks coach. So I mean there's, you know, pieces and bits on this staff that Luke Fickle definitely has to try and adjust or get in their you know headspace or call them into their office and send them packing. I don't know what he's got to do, but he's got to. You know, you got to make these guys feel comfortable when they're there, feel like they're appreciated and like they're working towards something no-transcript.
Speaker 2:So it's kind of one of those things where you just kind of wait and see. You know, trek said this. If, let's just say, will Pauling or one of these other guys transfers out too and they're like I didn't feel appreciated in this system, okay, well, now it's like okay, well, now it's like okay, now it's a big thing. But if trek, saying that he didn't feel appreciated and phil longo got fired, I mean I, I don't know where the correlation is there, because your offensive coordinator's gone. So if you didn't feel appreciated, it's because the offense wasn't correlated or kind of aiming towards you. Now he's gone. Maybe you were going to be more involved in so and so's new offense when he got in there, but now you not. So I don't know. We'll wait and see how it's all going to transpire there. So, some good stuff though.
Speaker 2:Early signing period for the Badgers Got a pretty good class already started and we will see what they do in the transfer portal, as that's going to open up here, coming up, I believe, on Monday. I believe that opens up on Monday. So we'll see. I mean I back some big splashes early on there, we gotta. I mean you're waiting for all these other teams who are currently in the playoff race or in bowl game races right now to see what happens with them. So wait and see what happens in all these games. So a big weekend of college football coming up, though we're gonna get into those games on friday here on the show when we preview those conference championships could be should be some great ones coming up there. So, aaron, there was some news coming out of the mlb. Juan soto did say or well, I don't know if it was juan soto or if it was uh, dingle nuts there, what's his name? The, uh, the agent there, what the heck is his name?
Speaker 3:uh, scott, no boris boris yeah, boris, there.
Speaker 2:I don't know which one said it, but they said that juan soto will be probably, possibly maybe signing a deal at the end of this week here. You know, that's probably to entice other teams to up the ante and try to give them more money or up the contract, but we'll wait and see if that's the truth there. But we did see as we got. Holy crap. Oh, john sent me the whole transfer list here. Uh, cole, the crew is transferring out yes, quarterback there is transferring out yes, quarterback there. And then, uh, linebacker, leon lowry that's the guy he was. He he was going to commit in, then he decommitted, then he committed back, so it's okay. And then, amir snowden he was a good, a big time recruit when they got him back in 2023, but he's the guy who said that he did not feel like he was appreciated or anything in that, uh, cornerback by the cornerback coach there and he didn't feel like he was appreciated or anything in that cornerback by the cornerback coach there and he didn't feel like he was being listened to. So that's the guy that I was talking about there. So we'll see what kind of happens there.
Speaker 2:So let's get into that new rule that came up with a new rule, aaron. Well, not, it's not implemented yet, but they're. They're talking about it right now. It's called the golden at bat is what it's called there. So, essentially, the golden at bat is what it's called there. So, essentially, the golden at bat is each team would be allowed to choose any one time in a game to bring any player to the plate there, even if it's not his turn in the batting order. So, yeah, I I want to hear what you think, aaron. I want to hear, kind of, what you think about this. Do you think it's a good role? Do you think it's something that's going to benefit the game, or do you feel like it's going to be something that, uh, we probably should just leave it how it is?
Speaker 3:oh man, this is uh, this is a real uh toss-up for me, coin flip. However you want to say it, baseball is to me the most like I'm not going to say the most pure, but it's. The way baseball is played today is so similar to how it was forever. I think you can make the. The NBA implementing the three-point shot has changed the game drastically. The NFL, all the rule changes, I mean nfl has a laundry list of rule changes. You know, if you talk to people to watch the nfl in the 70s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and they, they talk about it today, it's like two different sports.
Speaker 3:Um, baseball, I mean you're starting to see, I mean the pitch clock was a big one. You know that was something that a lot of people were against until, you know, they realized you know, hey, this is actually making the game. You know you guys aren't stepping out of the box every two seconds and adjusting the jock strap. The list goes on. I mean you got guys, you know, in the in and out of the batter's box for two minutes and there's two pitches thrown, like it's ridiculous. But this one, I, I have a couple different ways of looking at it. You're, if you're not worried about so much the I don't know if it's integrity of the game that that might be taking it a little far, but that could be integrity, yeah, I mean you're, you're making it almost like an arcade version, in my opinion.
Speaker 3:Doing this because, okay, let's say, you know, I was on with Brent, the Yankees guy last night and I'm like, all right, aaron Judge has, you know, a place where he could come up and or, I'm sorry, volpe has a place where he can come up, but they're going to, they're going to hit Judge, because Judge is one you know, he's one swing away from a home run every time. Basically, that's how you look at him. It's like, okay, now you robbed Anthony Volpe of an at-bat, which I mean you'd go with the better guy. I mean it's a business decision. Like, you want to win a game, you want to win a game, but like, does that spill over into like Anthony Volpe being like, hey, man, you know what the hell Like. Now you caught. Now there's a little bit. You know these guys have egos, I don't care. You know there's guys that want to win more than others and that will prioritize winning over others. But there's guys that are like, if you yank me from the lineup like Alec Boehm is a pure example of that If you yank that guy from a lineup, or you implement or, I'm sorry, you substitute somebody for the goal net bat in his place, he's going to like cry and throw and lose his mind, like he's going to, and you might not see it in the dugout and he loses his mind and you might not see it in the dugout, but guess what, in the clubhouse he'll be losing his mind. So there's a lot of like I said, if you're looking at it from a couple different angles, if you're trying to make the game more exciting, I think it's a great idea.
Speaker 3:If your only focus is let's make people watch nine innings of baseball instead of tuning it out in the fifth inning Sure, because I think this is it's seventh inning or later, you can do this. I mean, you know that's oops, sorry, that is one of those things you want to see where it's like ninth inning, you know you got whatever Devin Williams versus Otani, you know you. Just you throw a great closer out there and one of the best hitters in the game, whatever, but it's like I don't know that that would be like you know, hey, you know the NBA, you start, you know hacking Bogut back in the day on the on the Warriors. Oh, guess what? I'm going to have Curry shoot his free throws, though, like that's not how it works. You know what I mean. Like you're, you're changing, like how it's actually how it transpires. So I wouldn't hate to see it and see how it works. I think they'll do the same thing with, like how they did with the pitch clock, all that. Implement it in the minor leagues, see what happens, I guess. But there's going to. This is one of those things.
Speaker 3:I think I've heard Michael Kay talk about it. They're worried that baseball is dying and they're going to try anything just to kind of put some gasoline on the sport to make it more exciting. But I don't know, man, I guess I'm old school get off my lawn type of thing. But it's like, imagine a playoff game and it's like bottom of the ninth and now you're doing a goal that bad, it's just like I don't know it's not pure, that bad, it's just like I don't. It's not pure, like it's. It's it's kind of you. You're forming a situation that's not really there out of thin air, and you're like, okay, I'm gonna substitute him now and like I don't know, I don't know how to feel about. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I really, and I don't even know if I like it. I just I'll accept it if it comes down the pipeline, but it's a little. It's a little much of a stretch, I think.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I agree. And John says there he mentioned going to try and get more runs on the board there and that MLB, right, mlb realizes higher scoring, more views, and that's what they try to do with the pace of play. That's what they've tried to do with a lot of things in there. This is where, so, as a manager, right, let's just say you go into, uh, you're going into the eighth inning and you feel like this inning I have say, judge is coming to the plate and soto was coming to the plate and I don't know who would have added after him.
Speaker 2:But let's say, volpe, right, you have three of the best hitters in the yankees lineup coming up. I'm gonna throw my closer in there. Right, I'm gonna throw my closer in there to knock it down. Knock them down so that the bottom of the order, or whatever it is, comes up. I have my setup man. Whoever's left in my bullpen, go pitch to him. Now with the rule, one of those guys gets on judge just batted last inning. Now he can come up again and it doesn't affect anything. He can just come up again and it's like okay, so now what does a manager do? So I feel like then, if you make this rule, then you have to have a golden pitcher rule where you can bring in a pitcher.
Speaker 2:If he's already been in the game, right, you can bring him in. You can just bring him in. What I hate the most is that some of my favorite moments in mlb history are the guys who were not supposed to do it. Yes, if Shoei Ohtani hits a bomb in the bottom of the ninth in a golden at bat, fantastic, like that's great right. But what if? Just what if Gavin Lux hit that bomb instead? What if Gavin Lux hit that bomb instead?
Speaker 3:Well, and yeah, like I'll let you go, I'm not going to cut you off there, but even like the Freddie Freeman thing, cause he's battling the injury, you know, like that was like a Kirk Gibson 2.0, you know, you saw the comparison video Like what? If you know Dave Roberts is like, oh man, like you know Freddie's a great hitter, but like he's not him, you know it's, it's you're, you're changing the path of how you could like, yeah, keep going there but it's you could and you know you could almost have.
Speaker 2:Okay, say, baser loaded one out, right, aaron, judge comes to the plate, pops up to the pitcher right, just pops up Bam. Well, shoot, I haven't used my golden at bat, aaron, go hit again.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's come on, stay in there, go hit again. You can't let that happen. Yeah, you can't let that happen.
Speaker 2:I just feel like I understand what they're trying to do. I get it. You want your superstars up to the plate in superstar moments. I get that. I understand that. You think that's going to drive up viewership. You that's going to drive up viewership. You think it's going to do us. One at-bat in a game is going to drive up viewership that much.
Speaker 2:We're all sitting there on our phones. We're like oh my God, I can't wait. I cannot wait for the golden at-bat. When's he going to do it? When is Craig Council going to do it? And it's like no know. Willy Wonka, we like got the Willy Wonka with the golden ticket here. Who is going to go to the chocolate factory?
Speaker 2:I don't care. Like I'm not here to care, like this is so, it's so stupid. I'm not even going to say about messing with the game because I thought the pitch clock would mess with the game. I thought all that crap was gonna mess with the game. I, I got used to it, I got over it.
Speaker 2:But this, this is dumb. This is just dumb. Why would you? Okay, so normal baseball rules. If we have somebody come up to the bat for somebody else, they're out of the game. Like that's how it works. That's how it works. So it just doesn't make sense. We're implementing this stupid, stupid rule is stupid rule now or trying, or it's in the talks of implementing this stupid rule. I just I I don't think it's going to benefit the game, I really don't. And if it's going to create higher scoring games, I I don't buy that either, because in those moments, in those moments I I don't feel like it's going to drive up. You know, aaron judge comes up and he pops out. I mean what are the odds aaron judge is going to drive in runs. Every singlearon judge comes up and he pops out.
Speaker 2:I mean, what are the odds aaron judge is going to drive in runs every single time he steps to the plate in that golden at bat you know what I would do if you want to use the golden at bat, if you want to use that rule, fine, okay, we can do it, we can do it. But if I'm in there, I'm saying that that golden at bat, okay, you want to use it? It's two outs, two outs, that's what it counts and I'm not saying you're wrong, I don't.
Speaker 3:I don't want to make you sound like, but now you're completely like the runner on second right and I, I don't people.
Speaker 2:No, you screw them, you screw the inning. Like this is if you use the golden at bat. It's do or die. It's do or die no, you are using this in a suicide moment I get that.
Speaker 3:But now you're turning it into like an all-star game, like style type, like it's arcade-ish, right, like now you okay, now there's two outs, now it's the golden, like it's getting you know what's next. Like you said, the golden pitcher. Now you'll have Zach Wheeler come in after pitching seven innings. Oh, he's pitching them to Aaron Judge in the ninth inning because we want Zach. It's just like dude, when does it stop? You got a guy throwing underhand and now it's the golden inning and let's score 10 runs in an inning. End the game in the fourth inning, because it's a mercy rule. I mean, where does it stop? That's where I would be.
Speaker 2:Once you go down this rabbit hole.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm worried you go down that. And the most pure thing about baseball, whether you hate it or not, give me a guy in the Brewers lineup. That's like, oh my God, if he comes up we're screwed. Like, let's just like you don't want to see him in the ninth inning.
Speaker 2:In the ninth inning yeah, can I go like recent history? Yeah, literally any.
Speaker 3:Jesse Winker. Jesse Winker, right, okay, but let's say, like, as much as you don't like the guy, whatever, but if he, baseball is the ultimate team game, now you're you're more so making it about an individual because you're removing the guy that should be at. But I get pinch hitting that that's a manager strategy decision. But now you're like you know what, christian Yelich, screw, screw Jesse Winker. Like forget that guy. Like literally, go take his helmet out of his hand, go take his bat out of his hand, go take his bat and go up. Not that that would exactly happen, but you know what I mean. Like you're completely removing a guy to put your star player, like that is. I mean you talk about just a shakeup and then like the morale of some of these guys that you know what if? Like Jesse Winker's two for three that day, though? But they're like you know what? I think, yeah, you know Yelich is four for eight against this guy of all time. Da, da, da, da. What if Yelich is over four on that day? Like I'd be like dude, if I'm Jesse Winker, I'd be like go up to the manager, flip out and throw him.
Speaker 3:You know I mean like, yeah, give me the opportunity. You know you a-hole, you know I mean so, yeah, it's, yeah, there's so many things to this and, like, like I said, it's the team game If you're hitting eighth in the lineup. But you have that chance, you have that chance. Now you're modifying the chance that guy has. There's a lot of moving parts to this and, like you said, what if Aaron Judge gets out, makes the first out, and then a couple guys get on hey, aaron Judge, you know, go back up there and then he makes the third? Like it's like you said, I get it, you're trying to make it more exciting, but I don't know if this is the. I don't know what the route is. I don't have a better. You know, I don't have a comeback to that, but this is just radical. To be honest with you.
Speaker 2:I don't think this is the route, I don't think this is the right one, because, like you alluded to there, you open up this can of worms, you're opening up a mess of more and then, once you do this, you have a golden pitcher rule and once you have that, you have pitchers that can leave the game but come back into the game then, which completely disbands a different rule, and it's just. Then what can they only pitch? The one guy, and then you have to pull them after that. Like, how does it all work? Because, technically, if you uh, have a Aaron Judge bat for, let's just say, volpe, then Aaron Judge just goes back to his spot in the lineup and then Volpe stays at his spot in the lineup. So if you have a pitcher who started the game, can he come back into the game and pitch in this golden pitcher role?
Speaker 2:I mean, it's just, there's too many variables that are going to tick a lot of people off, and I don't like it. I don't like it, I don't like it at all. So we'll see what they do. It's in the talks, it's talks at this point, let's hope it stays as talks and one of those kinds of things. And you know, maybe it's like robot umpires we're going to talk about it for 50 years, but we're never going to have them, so that's something that they got to fix first.
Speaker 3:Give me the about fix the blackouts.
Speaker 2:Fix the umpires, because umpires are the biggest problem in games right now. Don't worry about this crap and let's fix the problems, the problems, not this crap. Let's fix the real problems first, then let's get to this, because we fixed the pace of play and everybody's gotten used to that. Let's not try and go down a rabbit hole right now. Let's fix the problems in front of us and then get to there. So, uh, we do have a couple comments there. The Red Shed nice to see you, buddy. Thank you for joining in tonight.
Speaker 2:Eight composite four stars in the 25 class there for the Badgers, over under five and a half, become starters at Wisconsin. I'm going to hope, yeah, I'm going to say over. I'm going to hope over. I'm going to hope that all eight guys are on the roster when we get to the, the 2025 season. That's what I'm banking on right now, because it's the wild West man, it's the wild West. You never know what's coming next, so we'll wait and see kind of what happens in there. But, aaron, let's get into. Let's talk about badger basketball here real quick before we get to some of the other stuff. The Packers and everything the Badgers did drop that game to Michigan last night there on Peacock Crappy old Peacock Hate that stupid streaming service there, but I can't. I'm going to start acting here. I was laughing there for a second Hold on and, goodness, I'm back. I'm good now.
Speaker 3:Oh goodness gracious all good, all good tickling at it.
Speaker 2:The badgers drop a game, dropped eight and one, 67 to 64. They lose that game to michigan and it was the story of the bigs aaron, we talked about it going into it. We said michigan has these two big guys. They have danny wolf and golden in there and you have to somehow control those big guys. And that is exactly what the badgers did not do in this ball game here. And Danny Wolf goes for 20 and Golden goes for 24. And I'm pretty sure I would say three quarters if not. Most of Golden's points came on dunks, so he was just throwing the hammer down on the Badgers. It was the pick and roll game. I honestly I haven't seen a lot of Danny Wolf this season. Haven't seen a lot of them. I haven't watched a whole lot of Michigan basketball there. And this guy can handle the basketball. Holy crap For a seven footer. This guy can move with the basketball. He's impressive. Came from Yale last season there and he is an impressive guy watching him move with the basketball there, him and Golden.
Speaker 2:In the pick and roll game the Badgers bigs were lost. They were lost. Stephen Crowell got in a foul trouble and that hurt. That hurt because Stephen Crowell has got to be smarter. I understand and I'm not going to say I hate blaming the refs, I really do and I'm not going to say that the reffing was perfect, like I'm not going to say it was perfect, because there was a lot of calls that were made against the Badgers, against Michigan, that I was like that should not a foul, like let him play a little bit. Like you know Steven Crowell's fifth foul, he got a little handsy but I was like you could have let that go. It was a loose ball. He grabbed around the guy like it was kind of it was. It could have been let go, but they didn't let it go. And I, you know, can't blame the reffing on that game, but Steven Crowell is an upperclassman. He's got to be smarter in that game because once he left, the Badgers kind of went to the small ball lineup and once they went small ball, you have nothing. You have John Tonje trying to guard a seven footer and I love John Tonje but he ain't guarding no seven footer and they ate the Badgers alive on the inside there and it came down to the point of they didn't make an adjustment. They did not make an adjustment for it. The bigs were beating them down in the post and it's like, okay, what do we do? Do we pack it? And I would have packed it. I'll be honest with you, michigan. Uh, they shot six for 25 on the game there. There are 24 from downtown. I would pack the paint. Make michigan beat you from the outside. Once they start beating you on the outside, then we bury it down again, then we get out there on shooters. You still want to get out on, but I want to pack the paint. Up until that point. The Badgers didn't. They stuck in the man-to-man. They stuck, you know, kind of out on. Their guys left the paint area open there and that hurt. That hurt big time there. So the bigs from Michigan ate this Badger team alive.
Speaker 2:Looking at some of the other guys in this game here, and that's those two guys. Those two guys are the ones that hurt you. You look at the rest of the scoring there. Gale had a. He had a subpar game there.
Speaker 2:Trey Donaldson, one of the leading scorers for Michigan, did not score in this game. Zero points across the board there and they still end up on the upper hand here. Why? Well, you're not going to beat anybody when you shoot 34%. The Badgers shot 34%. You're not going to beat anybody. You shot 22% from downtown there and 73% at the free throw line there. You got to the free throw line. You didn't convert on five on there. I mean I'm not going to say that five missed free throws should cost you the game.
Speaker 2:You led late in this game. You had multiple leads. You had the biggest lead of this game. Michigan's biggest lead was three. That's the final score there. You led by nine at one point. You led late in this game and you went two and a half minutes in the end of the game without scoring a basket. You had zero points in the last two and a half minutes. You want to lose a close game score zero points in the last two and a half minutes. That's the easiest way to do it.
Speaker 2:What I didn't understand was and I don't know if they were blown plays or not the last I would say multiple play calls went to Max Klesman. And Max Klezman, if we all look at the box score here for a second, it wasn't great. Three for 14, one for nine from downtown, not at all hot. He was not feeling it. He hasn't been feeling it on this season. He has struggled and I I it's not like I'm I'm not sitting here saying we all have to give up on Klezman or all blaming Klezman or anything like that. He had open looks, he had good looks that he's hit in the past. He didn't hit those looks and that stinks.
Speaker 2:But late in the game, john Tonje, I believe I took a stat. John Tonje's last shot in this game was at the 6.54 mark 6.54. You had six minutes and 54 seconds left in this game and your best scorer, john Tonje, took his last shot of the game. Seconds left in this game and your best score John Tonje took his last shot of the game. I don't care what you have to do late in a ball game. Get John Tonje the basketball. Get him the basketball and let him try to win you that game. But John Blackwell had 16 points. He was getting to the rim, he was getting offensive rebounds and doing his thing down in the post there. Get him the basketball, let him try to work.
Speaker 2:You got it to the one guy and I'm not like said, I'm not trying to blame Max Klesman here at all because I like Max Klesman. I think he's a heart and soul of this team. He's great on the defensive end. He can ball out with the best of them when he's feeling it, but in this game he wasn't feeling it. And to have the last, I believe it was possibly the last four shots to Max Glesman. The last shot of the game was a half court buzzer beer by John Tonje, but outside of that your last four shots, or plus before that, were Max Glesman trying to hit big shots for you when he wasn't feeling it on that day.
Speaker 2:So I thought it was poor execution by the Badgers there getting guys open and finding your scores in this one. Because, john Tonje, if I'm late game situation I'm going to my guy Like I want everybody to be a guy and I want them to be able to hit big shots. But John Tonje has been my guy all season long. He has been that guy. Get him the basketball, let him try to make something work. If he can't get it, if he finds Klezman on a kickout because Tonje got double teamed or something, that's fine with me, but to have Klezmit be that one option, I I thought it was poor execution. I thought it was poor execution so we'll kind of I mean badgers dropped this game.
Speaker 2:The bench didn't really help out outside of kamari mcgee. Carter gilmore did have a three in this one. Jack janicki did not have a lot of minutes in this one, neither did xavier amos, so stuck with the starters for a majority of this game here. Did Greg guard outside of that? I mean you look at the stats in this game here. Free throw percentage was pretty close, three point percentage pretty close, field goal percentage pretty close.
Speaker 2:Both teams sucked, they sucked. I mean this was a big 10 battle. That was one on the inside, and that's the only thing that alarms me with that is how weak the Badgers played on the inside. They played weak on the inside. Golden and Wolf were able to have their way and that kind of nerve wracks you because you went against a physical team in Arizona. They all rebounded you by 25. You play against Michigan. It wasn't the rebounding that was the trouble, because the Badgers did have I believe it was a boatload of offensive rebounds 16 offensive rebounds in this game. Michigan had 13 there. You were close in the rebounding battle. So it's not like the rebounding was the thing that hurt you. It was the pick and roll with the two bigs that hurt you big time in this one. So the Badgers dropped this game to Michigan. Hopefully this was the stinker right, this was the stinker of the year there and we'll see a things moving forward.
Speaker 2:This was a game where the badgers they kind of played it like we've seen in the past, where they fall behind and they try to work their way back. They're having a cold shooting night, but they can do just enough to get themselves a win or get themselves back into it. It came back to biting this one. So now we know, now we know it's got it, what, what needs to happen question is, does it happen there? And the physicality of the bigs is something that I'm definitely keeping an eye on here. I, I don't know.
Speaker 2:In this one I'm like you know, we talked about ricardo greppi the other day. He's a freshman, he hasn't seen a lot of minutes, but he's about seven foot tall and he's about 255 pounds. I, in this game, instead of going small ball lineup, I would have thrown him out there. I get, he's a freshman, I'm not asking him to score, I don't need him to score. I got scorers, I got Tonje, I got Blackwell. Those guys can do my scoring for me. Put Greppy on the floor just to play defense. Just guard somebody, chris Hodges, he's a big body, throw him in there. Just throw your bigs in there.
Speaker 2:I don't know why we all of a sudden said to ourselves hey, let's go try to win it with small lineup. Let's go try to win it with small lineup. It's not going to happen in this one, because the bigs were the ones eating you alive. It wasn't the guard play for Michigan, it was the bigs that were doing it to you. So I just I thought this was a a poorly poor execution on the Badgers and I think Greg guard learned from this one. I hope he did and he's going.
Speaker 2:They're not going to play Michigan again, unless if they see them in the big 10 tournament. So we'll see what they do. But you're going to play against some teams here in the big 10 who have experienced bags with good bags, and we'll see what happens there. And you know people are looking at this. They're like number 11, Wisconsin loses the unranked Michigan. This is a pretty good Michigan team. This is a pretty darn good Michigan team.
Speaker 2:That Danny Wolf I, he is impressive. I said it before and I'll say it again that's a seven footer who can get downhill, who can work in the pick and roll game. Who can hit it from downtown? That's an impressive. That's an impressive guy right there. So definitely have to keep an eye on him there. But we'll see what happens with the Badgers. Now they have a game we're going to get. We'll talk about that game on Friday there. They have a game coming up this weekend here with Marquette and Marquette. Right now I don't know what the score of that game is. I know they were there on ESPN plus. This is the stupidest thing. I don't like Marquette. Trust me, I don't like Marquette. I hate Marquette. But Marquette and Iowa State right, this is the number five team in the country in Marquette playing the number six team in Iowa State.
Speaker 3:They're playing on espn plus you have four, four point game right now.
Speaker 2:Iowa state's up four but they're playing on espn plus makes sense of that. These like espn plus, and I don't want to make fun of any program out there, but espn plus is where they put the teams that don't get national television because they're not good and that's where they put them.
Speaker 1:That's where they put them and it's nothing against them.
Speaker 2:They're just not a powerhouse team like. They're just not that great of teams. Iowa state and marquette on espn plus. You're making people pay x amount of dollars just to watch a top 10 matchup. That's ridiculous. Find somewhere to put them. I don't care if it's fs1, if it's cbssn, I don't care if it's MSNBC, I don't care where you got to put them. Find a spot to put them. Pay for something. That's just ridiculous. That's just nuts there when I saw that.
Speaker 2:So I mean I don't like Marquette, but that is terrible on the NCAA not getting them a good slot there. So I mean Marquette, wisconsin coming up this weekend. That game is going to be on Fox 1230. Start for that one. That's going to be on Saturday. So we'll talk about that game on Friday. We'll preview that one should be a great battle for the Badgers. It always is when they take on Marquette there. So hopefully the Badgers are up for the task. They're traveling to Milwaukee to take them on there at the Pfizer forum. I hope that they keep this blue court. They got this blue court there. The Badgers are not the badge. The Bucks did that design for the court now I hope they keep that on there. It's a pretty fancy. Now they'll switch it over to marquette and everything like that though they'll upset me in that way.
Speaker 2:So either way, either way. There, aaron, we'll uh, let's get to hunter's. Got a hockey video for us, so we'll get to our. He's got a recap video and a preview video for the upcoming uh matches there for badger hockey women's and men, so we'll get to that and then, on the fact side of that, we'll talk a little, we'll get to the fact of the day, we'll get to the Packers and Lions, we'll get to a little NFL talk and then wrap it up for the day there. So we'll catch you guys back here on the other side of Hunter's Hockey Talk.
Speaker 1:What is up? Everyone Back with another Wisconsin Hockey recap and preview. Let cap and preview. Let's get started with the men's. The men's faced off against Alaska Anchorage last Friday and Saturday, and on Friday they got off to a hot start. Rodley Morrisley scored the first goal just three minutes and 56 seconds into the game and Kyle Kekoen doubled the lead with a penalty shot, ending the first period at 2-0. The Badgers dominated the second period with four goals from Quinn Finley, gavin Morrissey, who scored twice, and another from Kekowin. Although Alaska Anchorage scored with 11 seconds left in the second period, cody Likoski added another goal seven minutes and three seconds into the third period, sailing a 7-1 victory for Wisconsin.
Speaker 1:On Saturday night, alaska Anchorage managed to edge out Wisconsin with a 2-1 victory. The game was quiet until Alaska Anchorage scored on a power play goal with 26 seconds left in the second period, taking a 1-0 lead. Wisconsin was relentless, firing 45 shots on goal. Ryland Morrisley tied the game with 19 seconds left in the third period, sending it to overtime. However, alaska Anchorage in Wisconsin did not score in overtime and Alaska Anchorage won 2-1 in shootout. And now, this coming weekend, the men's team takes on number one Michigan State. And as for the women's. They've been number one and they remain number one. On friday they won nine to nothing against the main black bears. There's really nothing to be said there, just complete dominance from the women's. And on saturday they continued their dominance in a six to one victory. That's just kind of what we've learned from the women's hockey team is that they just dominate, and I would not be surprised if they hang another banner this year. This coming weekend they play at Minnesota State.
Speaker 2:Mike was muted there. Mike was muted there. Mike was muted on the backside there. But always great stuff from hunter there. I didn't want to. I know it sometimes will catch microphone stuff there, uh, when he's talking, so I muted my mic there and I forgot about it there. But always great stuff from hunter. The women's team continues to show dominance. Nine to nothing in a hockey game, that is wow. That is wow. I don't care how bad the other team is or anything like that. That is impressive showing there. So hopefully the women's team keeps on rolling and the men's team continues. I mean, they're getting there right, but a big test this weekend, so we'll see what happens there. But we'll have hunter back next week there. He'll recap, recap all them for us and then he'll give us the preview for the following weekend there. So great stuff from Hunter, as always there. But, aaron, let's get. Let's get to our fact of the day here real quick. Let's get to our fact of the day. What do we got for this day, december 4th?
Speaker 3:Okay, let me give you just two options, cause I don't think it was great. It was kind of slim pickings today, in my opinion. Do you want a fact about a famous band or a fact about a man? I'm trying to say this without giving it away. Okay, famous band or something that happened in 1791? That I mean. Is it that big of a deal? I don't know. But yeah, take your pick there.
Speaker 2:Let's go, famous band.
Speaker 3:Okay, famous band, let's go. Famous band, okay, famous band, huge band. Huge band. On this day, 1980, led Zeppelin did this band. So they split up. That's huge. I mean that's one of those. I mean a British rock band that just exploded on the scene 12 years together and after the death of the drummer, john Boham, so I don't know how he died honestly I don't. But I mean Led Zeppelin's huge. I mean they still carry weight today and yeah, that's just one of those things. I mean almost every band breaks up at some point, whether it be for greed or, you know, a death or whatever. But, um, yeah, I'm sure you know, you talk to people you know that were around for that they probably remember a band like that splitting up because they were huge on the scene back in that in that time period I don't know if I'm supposed to call that a sad fact of the day right there.
Speaker 3:It is a sad fact of the day. It's a sad one.
Speaker 2:It sucks so on this day, wow, on this day, December 4th this is a sad time, Getting right close towards Christmas and everything like that. And just let's up and end it, boys. Let's just we're moving on.
Speaker 3:We're moving on. I feel like any not to you know we'll move on, but like a death in december. That that's. It's just tough. That that makes it's insult to injury at that point really is I would agree, I would agree there.
Speaker 2:So let's get to the packers, packers, lions coming up. A little more exciting, a little more exciting. Let's get to the packers and lions here. So this team scored. These two teams have squared off once already this season. 24 to 14 was the final there and the, the Packers I mean, it was the normal suspects that killed them, right. It was the turnovers, right. That pick six that Jordan Love threw there, and then also 10 penalties for 67 yards, right. So those are two big things. So you're looking at this next matchup.
Speaker 2:The Lions are, I mean, really beat up in the injury department at this point here. I did see, I believe, if I'm not mistaken, dj reader will be out for this game. I was just trying to pull up the green bay packers injury report here, just so I didn't get it wrong. But dj reader is out for this game, and I believe there was two other defensive linemen who are going to be out for this game. One second pulling it up on the back side here. There it is, dj readers out for him. And then I did see, uh, joshua pascal is out. And then, along with levi on was ricky I don't even know that's a complicated last name right there but three defensive linemen. So beat up on the defensive line for this game are the lions the packers will be without and they did update this now jair alexander will be out for this game. He was limited in practice monday, tuesday, did not practice on wednesday, and then cory valentine did not practice all week with that knee injury. He's going to be out for this game here. Edger and cooper did not practice all week with that hamstring. He's out. And then Romeo Dobbs he was limited all week at practice but it's still in that concussion protocol will miss this game against the Lions here. And then Aaron Mosby is unspecified. He's got a game day concussion protocol evaluation is his injury. Uh, report there. Outside of that, everybody else they were all practicing. Look like they're gonna be a goal for this one. So relatively, relatively healthy. A lot of a couple of bigger guys or bigger name guys on that list there for the Packers with Jair, I believe Jair Alexander has not played against the Lions since 2022. Since that game they lost at Lambeau with Aaron Rodgers, I believe he hasn't played since then. So it's been a hot minute for Jair Alexander against the Lions. But Jair, it's a big loss because the Packers secondary definitely desperately needs a playmaker out there and Jair is supposed to be that guy. And well, we see what we get with Jair there. So we'll kind of see what happens with Jair Alexander in the future here with this Green Bay Packers team.
Speaker 2:But outside of the injury report report, aaron, we're looking at these two teams here and last time out the Packers they had the run game going. We saw the run game going. Josh Jacobs was having himself a pretty darn good day. It's just he was averaging seven yards per care. He had 95 yards on 14 carries, so he's averaging seven a carry. This guy was running the football at will. It's just the Packers kind of set themselves back with that pick six going into halftime and then the Lions score coming out of halftime. Now we're in a passing offense. We can't really go to Josh Jacobs anymore, took him out of the game and essentially from there on out the Packers were kind of in this limbo kind of thing there. So it it sucked.
Speaker 2:But this time out I feel like the keys are the same. Right, you established a run game there, established a run game once again, because when Josh Jacobs is going, this Packers team is going. You've got to have that compliment in there of the run game to the pass game. I really feel like they got to do it in this one. Also I'm looking at I don't know why Matt LaFleur loves to run on a shotgun. I don't know why Pistol and shotgun are his favorites. Put Jordan Love under center. Put him under center Because when you run your option plays, when you run your screen plays whatever it is under center, it adds an element to that. You have that element of the surprise out of that. When you're in that shotgun set, when you're in the pistol, it takes away steps, it takes away certain capabilities that under center does. So if I'm, if I'm the packers and jordan loves feeling good, you're putting them under center in this game here because you've got to catch the lions defense off guard there by doing some of that indecisive stuff that you can do under center there. So that's kind of where I'm looking in that area.
Speaker 2:But I'm also looking at the passing game and I'm saying to myself you have to get tucker involved, right. We talked about it last week leading up into that game against the Dolphins. We talked about it against the 49ers. We were like get Tucker Kraft involved, this guy when he's involved in the passing game. He's a bruiser. This guy can get yards after the catch. He's big time for you when you get him in there. Tucker Kraft has got to get involved in this game here. You have to get them involved. You're without Romeo Dobbs once again there. This is your bailout guy. You still have some. You still have your playmakers. Right, you got Reed, you got Watson in there, hopefully, right, wicks plays a big game for you here and you know, outside of that, whatever, whatever other guys get mixed in there. But I'm looking at Tucker craft, I'm looking at Josh Jacobs and I'm like these guys have got to be involved inside this offense here they have to be involved.
Speaker 2:But the main guy that I'm looking at and he's a guy that I've seen a lot of people talking about over the past weeks months Jordan Love. I'm looking at him going in this game and everybody's like, ah, you guys wasted money on Jordan Love. He's a waste of a contract. Why'd you pay this much money for a guy who he throws interceptions? He can't do this. He can't do that. I want in this game. I want Jordan Love to have a coming out party. I want him to have a coming out party. I want him to step up there and deliver a big time game, a big time moment in a big time game. Protect the football, make the throws. Be the big time quarterback that we all know, we all watch, we all see that you can be. He has to be that guy in this game and I think this is the perfect time to show him.
Speaker 2:Thursday night football against the Lions, who are the juggernaut right. They're the team that's going to win the NFC. Everybody's telling us that Nobody can touch the Lions. They're going to be this walkaway team, jordan Love in this game. Out-dueled Jared Goff. Show this walk away team Jordan Love in this game. Out-duel Jared Goff. Show everybody that you are his top 10 quarterback and that you can be that guy. That's what I'm looking at in this game.
Speaker 2:I want Jordan Love to do it in this game, because what's a bigger moment to do it than when the division? It's on the line in this game? Right, you can't lose this game. If the Packers lose this game, the division's out of their reach. They can't reach the Lions anymore because the Lions will have no I believe no losses inside of the division there and they have one loss overall, you're not catching the Lions, then if you lose this game because then the Packers would have three losses inside division play there to the Vikings, to the Lions, twice you have no head to head anymore, you're just, you're essentially out, you're out of it then this is a must must win. This is a must win.
Speaker 2:If you are the Green Bay Packers, you're going into Ford Field. It's going to be a tough place to play, but what better place for Jordan Love and this offense to explode than against the Lions, against a team who has a Monro St Brown? Nothing but hate towards the Green Bay Packers, right, he tells us all the time nothing but hate. What's a better time to show this a good Lions team, how better your defense is playing as of late. How much better Quay Walker's playing as of late. Isaiah McDuffie stepping up.
Speaker 2:Some of these guys in the cornerback room, lucas Van Ness right, we've seen over the past couple of games some of these guys step up and they're playing bigger roles. Lucas Van Ness has played a lot better. Quay Walker has played a lot better. You want to say that they've been against good teams, right, the Dolphins and the 49ers there. I want to see it against the Lions. I want to see Quay Walker have a big moment in this game. I want to see Lucas Van Ness get to Jared Goff in this game, get a big sack right or elsewhere, you know elsewhere Kenny Clark make something happen in this game or Sean Gary make something happen.
Speaker 2:The defensive line is going to be big in this game here. You got to be able to set the tone on that defensive line and if you are Quay Walker, isaiah McDuffie, you got two very good backs back there with Jameer Gibbs and Dave Montgomery. You guys have to play big time here because if they get past your level, you got Xavier McKinney, behind you got Evan Williams, who I mean those guys can make tackles for you. I'm not saying they can't make tackles, but I'm sitting there as a linebacker and I'm saying this is a game I gotta feast, because if you can control the run game for the Lions, make Jared Goff throw the football. Make him throw the football because we've seen it, he can be dangerous. We saw it against the Texans. This guy can throw interceptions. It's not like he plays the cleanest of football. Find a way to put pressure on him in this game. Those are going to be some of the big things, aaron, what are you looking at? Packers Lions? What are some of the things that you're looking at in this game? Where?
Speaker 3:you're like the Packers got to do this to win this game. Yeah, I think your was probably the hit you know made me think about the most, because the way you look at this Lions team, like you said, I mean, if you can limit the like you're never going to, I mean it's hard to neutralize.
Speaker 2:You can't stop it yeah right.
Speaker 3:Right, I mean once in a while you'll see a team just come out and dominate the line, but it's rare.
Speaker 3:I mean you know everybody has been telling us that this Lions team also has the best offensive line. I mean I think there's a case to be made a couple other teams, but like I mean everybody on every network is saying this team has by far the best offensive line. So, going into it, you don't expect the Packers or really hardly any teams to completely shut it down, so you want to limit it. Like you said, you want to get push up front um. You don't want them to get to the second and third level your defense consistently, and then you're just like, okay, now they're in pass or now they're in rut, like they can do whatever they want, and that's exactly what you don't want. I think also what you said about jordan love. I mean he, he has 11 picks on the season. It's not like catastrophically bad, it's not great, though you know. You know you want to limit those um and against a team like this, it's division game. Like um, like you said, um, golf can definitely give you some at at will. Also, like both these guys have the ability to throw interceptions at will. It's at times. So, if you're the Packers, protect the football. I mean, like you said, josh Jacobs last time he played this team was feasting. I think you establish the run early, if you can, and then kind of go from there because, like you said, I mean if you can run the ball, you know consistently that that just opens up everything, opens up the play, action, pass, that type of thing. So I think the Packers are going to come out with the energy that is hey, this game, you know, means us winning the division or not. I think you know that. Everybody knows that. You know it's bulletin, with bulletin board material.
Speaker 3:I mean Detroit, I expect them to come out as well. Just because it's Dan Campbell. Like that's not a team that they could be 11 and one. But they, they have the right like psyche, they have the right mindset. It seems like weekend and week, week out. So this will be a battle for sure. I don't think either team's gonna have an easy route to victory.
Speaker 3:Um, I think the Packers are playing well at the time, at this time, and obviously the Lions um coming off a shaky you know a couple shaky games there a little bit. Um, you know you expect them to get maybe back on track here too. But I mean, if you're, if you're the Packers, like I said, I mean if Jordan Love's gonna throw an interception, hopefully it's only one, you know, if you're the Lions, same thing. Like you don't want, you know Goff could throw up three as well. So, protecting the football, kind of the basics, right the bit, you know, protecting the football, I think the running game is crucial in this game for the Packers.
Speaker 3:Um, I, I do think the Lions are kind of due for, because when every media outlet is on top of you like this, usually it's not a great thing for a team because, like you know, okay, they lose their second game of the year. It's not the end of the world. It opens the door for the Vikings, it opens the door for the Packers more, but at 11-1, it's like you know how are they going to finish the season with one loss. That would be kind of shocking, but it's going to be interesting. I mean, these teams match up well, they matched up, you know, pretty well the last time. And the only thing that I think goes against the Packers a little bit is Jared Goff is in the dome. Well, inside, not the dome, but you know what I mean. He's not outside. If he was outside outside, you know, like the other game, that's that's where you want him, um, but you know he can make mistakes anywhere, it's, it's. You know you split the series if you're the Packers, if you win this game.
Speaker 3:You know, I, that's what I kind of expect here. I mean, you know, two comparable teams, the vision, even though it is on the road, you don't want to lose both games to them. Sometimes you could almost look that as a positive. You see them in the playoffs. It's like how, how in the hell are they going to be us three times? Right, but you know, um, you know this is right in front of you for the taking and and, yeah, hopefully the Packers come out and, like I said, josh Jacobs could, could have a monster day. I mean, I, they, they found it last time. They just need to find that again. And and if that's not working, don't be afraid to kind of still go at it, because you know he's a he's a guy that can just break tackles at will too. So you, like you said Detroit, a lot of injuries right now too. That's something you know, that's something to be said for that too. So a lot of things going on with that yeah, no, completely agree.
Speaker 2:And you know, one thing that I'm looking at too is the red zone for the Packers in this one, one for four. In their first matchup there the Lions were two for four. So, cleaning up that red zone, win in the red zone, you get there, make things happen right, you got to. And then also, I did not mention in that injury report there we were talking about, you were talking about the offensive line for the Lions there. Taylor Decker, the offensive tackle, there, he's not expected to play, he's not expected to play in this one, he's out for this game. So attacking that offensive line, constantly getting pressure on Jared Goff, is going to be huge, because when he does make a mistake, the Lions do get vulnerable. They do get vulnerable. Look at that game against the Texans. They got vulnerable in that game and it took late heroics to win that one and the Texans completely just falling apart late in that game for them to win that one. Outside of that, they had I mean, the texans had that one in the bag. So there's been opportunities to beat this team. It's just teams aren't able to pull it out right and maybe the packers find that in this one here. So winning in the red zone is going to be a big one for the packers in this one. And then also I mean we've been alluding to it this whole time but we it does. It goes without even saying the turnover battle. You cannot afford to turn the football over in this game against this team. And the pre-snap penalties and between the pre-snap penalties and the turnovers, those are the biggest backbreakers for any team out there and that will kill this team. So you have to have to have to hold your water in this game. You cannot afford the pre-snap penalties and the turnovers that could come with it. So we're watching those two as big things in this one.
Speaker 2:But I mean, all in all, like you said, I don't see the Lions. I see them as the best team in the NFC, but actually I don't even see them as that anymore. I you know, I watched the Eagles and it's just like, with the injuries that the Lions have right now, you could almost say the Eagles are the most complete team at this moment. But if the Lions did not have those injuries, then you could say the Lions are the most complete team at this moment. Right now the Eagles are playing like the best team. So I mean right now between the Eagles and Lions are like 1A 1B to see who the best team is in the NFC.
Speaker 2:But the Packers, I mean they're that tier two, they're right behind them. It's not like they're far off in the distant, they're right there. It's just when can this Packers team? Because truthfully, I don't believe we've seen this Packers team play to their full potential to this point, even against the Dolphins. I thought there was things in the Dolphins game where I was like, if they just did this or if something else, you know, I haven't seen the Packers play to what I believe is their full potential yet and if they get there, when it all comes together, this could be a very dominant team. This could be a scary team for a team like the Eagles or a team like the Lions.
Speaker 2:This is a game where you come in, you show them on their field. Hey, we're a tough, we're a hard nose. The biggest thing and the biggest knock on Matt LaFleur's teams have been they're kind of soft, they don't play tough, right, they don't play tough. Put it in this game, outclass them Out. Tough. The Detroit Lions it's tough. I mean, we're talking about tough here. It's really tough because you've got Dan Campbell talking to them guys over there. But get fired up in this one. Play tough, play disciplined. Get the play tough, play discipline, get the job done.
Speaker 2:I really do think the Packers could win this game against the Lions here on Thursday night and set themselves up pretty good for the home stretch. You got that win now. Now you're banking on somebody else knocking off the Lions there and then you get a head-to-head to see what you do there. But you're setting, you're setting yourself up for a pretty good end of the season there. Right now the Lions are favored 60 to about 40 between the two there. For the lions and packers game there on espn the spread is at three and a half right now. Three and a half, aaron. What do we think? Packers, lions who comes out on top?
Speaker 3:I guess I sound like a packers homer. This season I picked them a lot on your show. Um, I do think the packers pull this one off. I mean I think there's just so much, like you said, I mean Dan Campbell. Dan Campbell will get them motivated to play the Cardinals. If the Cardinals were four and six, like I don't doubt that they'll come out ready to play. I just feel like the Packers will make more plays offensively. I think Jacobs will have a good game, probably going to put down like something on him just scoring a touchdown. I mean that's simple, but, like I, I just feel like they're gonna go to him often early and um throughout. So I mean I I think the Packers pull this out. Uh, yeah, and the Lions are favored in this one. Like you said, um, not surprised. I mean it's holding in for the Lions, but second time seeing them um, and they got, they got you in your building. So that's a little bit like salty taste in your mouth.
Speaker 3:I think you know, if the Packers won the one in Lambeau, maybe I expect them to drop this one. But I feel like going to Detroit. You know division on the line. They're just gonna, they're gonna be coming out firing. So I'll take the Packers. I think it will be close. I mean, this game sets up to be really close, um, so maybe they cover this or, I'm sorry, maybe the Packers win by three, but I don't think it's like 10. I really don't. I'd be very surprised. So, yeah, give me the Packers. They split the season series, then it's kind of a race to the finish of the division and obviously you don't count out the Vikings. But I still think it's going to be the Packers or it's going to be the Lions. I think we both picked the Packers to win the division at the beginning of the year, which is not out of reach, obviously, right now.
Speaker 2:It could still happen. It could still happen, as we do see Marquette lose to Iowa State. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but right now, baby, we won, we're good, I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding Marquette fans out there.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, I'm sorry we both have one loss now. So Marquette fans cannot give Wisconsin fans so much crap for having a loss on that record when it comes to Saturday. Now two one-loss teams battling on Saturday there in Milwaukee, so it should be a good one there. But I mean I agree 100% and I like the Josh Jacobs take. I think you use Josh Jacobs too to control that time of possession, because if he's averaging seven yards a pop, like he was in that last time out, you just ride it man, you just keep on going with Josh Jacobs. He's a workhorse and I know, yes, you don't want to like overwork, you don't want to get this guy like beat up and tired and broken or anything like that guy like beat up and tired and broken or anything like that. But if your run game is working, if it's working, don't go away from it. Don't do anything crazy. I don't need crazy in this one. Keep it simple. Keep it simple. Work the ball down the field, get in the red zone. When you get there, finish it. Just finish it there.
Speaker 2:Let Brandon McManus walk out there with a smug look, and so I don't want to say cocky. Like that dude walks onto a field and he goes and he kicks a football and it goes through the uprights and then he just walks off Like it's just, like he's the most like nonchalant dude that's ever kicked the football. Like it's like boom, Okay Done. Like he doesn't smile he's got this beard going on right now Doesn't smile, Just walks out there, lines it up, all right, bam. Kicks it through, all right, see you later. Like he's just, it's awesome. It's just awesome. Like this dude's got some kind of swagger to him that I don't know about they're different there, but I like it.
Speaker 2:I like the packers. I want to say a touchdown I, I. I think they could win it by a touchdown. I think they could win it by a touchdown here. I. I like the packers in this one. Control the time possession, get that defense hot. Get some pressure on jared goff maybe for forced to turn over here or not, and see what happens to this one. I like the packers to come out on top here and tighten up that division race a little bit. Maybe make the vikings feel a little bit. You know like. They're like, hey, we can catch the lions now. Maybe we beat them up for the packers. They're in the packers. Beat the lie, are the vikings there? And it all works out right. It'd just be some wild. Two like three, it'll be wild. It'd just be everybody beats the bears, that's all that matters everybody. But somehow the bears are not mathematically eliminated from anything at this point here. So we'll see what happens with the bears there. But I mean, should be a good one. Tomorrow night there 7 15 prime video kirk curb street will probably be on there. Al Michaels should be a good one. Al Michaels, right, he's the one on Thursday night, so should be a good match up there between those two.
Speaker 2:But, aaron, before we wrap it up here, we're going to fly through a list real fast. We're going to fly through a list NFL teams who's actually got a shot? Who's actually got a shot to be a afc contender? We'll start with the afc who's actually got that shot there? So let's start out top of the list. Kansas city chiefs do they got a shot to be an afc contender?
Speaker 3:yeah, that goes without saying. Unfortunately, I mean I. I don't even say unfortunately, I mean I, I don't hate him as much as as the next guy, but it's you know. Yeah, obviously they're. Yeah, it's annoying, but they uh yeah, they do.
Speaker 2:They know how to win. Andy reed's a heck of a head coach. He is a heck of a head coach and patching my homes knows how to make it happen in any, any circumstance. I mean, we saw when baker mayfield had him on the ropes and they did the coin flip and he lost the coin flip and you can just see it. He's like crap like there we go like it's just, you just know he knows how to get it done in crunch time and it's just how they're built. It's just how they're built.
Speaker 3:So, kensington chiefs, definitely yes, buffalo bills see, now they're another team that's getting a lot of gas right now. A lot they're getting, they're getting all pumped up um.
Speaker 2:Rightfully so. Rightfully so yeah, if Josh Allen continues on this trend, he could I think could be the MVP. If he beats the Lions, he's definitely my MVP.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean you got to say right now, I mean I am one of those people that you know. I know the Eagles only have one Super Bowl, yada, yada, yada. But like I am not a lover, like the Bills franchise over the years and even in the Josh Allen era, like they have yet to to get to a Super Bowl. So they are a contender. Now am I gonna have confidence they're gonna beat the likes of, you know, the Chiefs or, uh, you know we'll talk about some other team. I I still probably feel like they'll come up short. You know, getting to the Super Bowl, but I mean they are a damn good football team so far. Like you said, josh Allen playing great. So right now, yes, they are a contender, but I always have my doubts of like, okay, do they ever actually get over like the big hump, you know, when it comes to the playoffs? So yes, right now they are, but I'm not picking them to go to like win the Super Bowl yet and we'll see.
Speaker 2:I agree they're a scrappy football team. You know they don't have a lot of household names or anything like that, but they get the job done and Josh Allen's playing phenomenal this season. He was playing phenomenal even before Amari Cooper got there, which is impressive because he was like the Giants wide receiver core out there Like there was a.
Speaker 1:It was like the Giants wide receiver core out there, like guys that were out there and he's still getting it done.
Speaker 2:So I mean he's playing impressive. They've been impressive so far, so we'll see what happens there. Pittsburgh Steelers coming at nine and three. What do you think about Pittsburgh Steelers?
Speaker 3:That's a really like. I heard a stat I think it was just for I forget. I think LaShawn McCoy and those guys were talking about it. I forget what show that's on, but the Steelers are scoring more points under the Russell Wilson, like during the Russell Wilson games that he's played I guess era you want to call it than like when they won the Super Bowl with Big Ben back in the day. I think it was the Seattle Super Bowl that they won. Whatever, it was a long time ago. But like I think they're averaging 29. They were averaging 27, which is kind of crazy. I mean, even still, it doesn't feel like that. I know Russ has been playing good as well, but it just doesn't feel. It feels like they. I don't know, I have my doubts about their O-line when it comes down to like a crazy pass rush, but I mean I think they're going to win the NFC North at this point. Baltimore, after that loss to the Eagles, that's a big loss. Are they a contender for the Super Bowl? I mean, you never know.
Speaker 3:That defense is pretty much elite at this point. Joey Porter Jr I saw him at Penn State. That guy has got to stop committing 8 million pass interferences. He did it at Penn State, so I thought he would do it like this in the NFL Good corner, when he doesn't grab everybody, and he tends to do that a lot. So, um, obviously, tj watt, like the defense is loaded, but they're a contender. Uh, once again, are they? Are they in the tier of like the bills right now? I think they are. I don't. I don't think they're like ascending to beat the cheese, but I mean, hey, defense, you know the, you know the old saying defense can win championships for you. So that would be interesting. I mean, I think they're a contender. How far do they go? It's really a question mark, though, to me.
Speaker 2:You know their defense is good enough that when Kansas City plays themselves into a game where they kind of just are walking through it, that defense can stop. They can get a stop. So that's the kryptonite to what the Chiefs are. So we'll see what the Steelers do. I like the Steelers. I think they could beat the Kansas city chiefs. So I guess I guess what we're looking at is who could beat the Kansas city chiefs at this point here. So I mean, I like the bills to beat the chiefs. I think they can. Josh Allen has proven it in the regular season. He hasn't proven it in the post season yet, but I feel like they could beat the Chiefs. I feel like the Steelers could beat the Chiefs. That defense is good enough. And Russell Wilson does just enough Like he doesn't. He doesn't do anything crazy right. This last game out against the Bengals he lit up the stat column because the Bengals defense sucks.
Speaker 2:But outside of that, I mean he doesn't do anything crazy anymore Like he used to, but he's just solid. He just does what he's got to do to get the job done. So we'll see kind of what the Steelers do here down the stretch. I know they have a date there with the Chiefs later on this year, so we'll see kind of how that goes.
Speaker 3:And the Eagles, yeah, and the Eagles.
Speaker 2:So we'll see how those two matchups work out, those should be pretty good games there. Two pretty good defenses, pretty good offenses. Nah well, I wouldn't say really good offense with the Steelers, but still a good the Steelers. And Saquon Barkley led offense by the Eagles there. We'll see what kind of happens there. But let's fly through the rest of these here. Texans what do we think about Texans? Are they? I mean, they're going to win that division, but outside of that, I feel like it's old AFC South time right now, where even the AFC South winner is kind of just like they're in it because they won that craftastic division.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's almost like win by default, like you know, it's just not great. So, yeah, I think this is a step. Back year I kind of thought you know, maybe Stroud would have that, but I don't even know if it's his fault per se that O-line has been horrible for them. So they're, they're a contender as far as, like you know, they're a playoff team. That's about it. Though I don't think they, if they made a round, a run this year even though, like the AFC championship, I'd be shocked I just they're not the same team. They kind of they have to address the holes that they have now, uh, in this off season, but, um, their playoff team. That's about it to me.
Speaker 2:They're a team that could get hot. You know, guys, getting hurt has not helped. Nico Collins was out for a little bit. Stephon Diggs is now out for the season. I mean, it hasn't helped him out at all to get kind of continuity or anything like that. But well, I mean kind of wait and see what. As Pat Connington turns it over, why is he even in there? I saw that they're undefeated. When he does not play, why is he even out there? We'll be winning this game as he gets a block then too, on the other end. You turn it over, you get a block on the other end. I guess you make up for your craptastic play, giannis. All right, either way. All right, let's fly through the rest of these here. We got about three more to go here Chargers. What do we think Chargers Are?
Speaker 3:they a contender. I think you know I put them above the Texans. I don't think even they're yet Steelers conversation, like you know for real, real contender, but I mean their defense has shown that it's gotten better. I mean I think Herbert looks better with Harbaugh there. I mean they're. They're a decent team, no doubt about it. I just think they're a year, maybe two years away from being like I could see them in the AFC championship sooner than later, which is good for them. I mean they've had a rough go at it for a while. I mean, even with Phillip Rivers they didn't get a lot done there. So I just think they're not quite there yet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I would agree. It's close, though. I mean they can ball with the best of them they can play with the best of them.
Speaker 2:They can play with the best of them there. They got a pretty good run game and I mean jim's doing great stuff. Jim harbaugh is doing great stuff with him right now and he's he know what. He's building it like he would a college team. He's starting with the offensive line, he's building pieces in there and you like that, you like that kind of model that he's got there, so hopefully we see some good things moving forward. The baltimore ravens surprising to see that team down in the sixth spot right now.
Speaker 3:So I will say, you know, against the Eagles even their defense has gotten better in like the last three to four weeks, which that was like wow, their defense is horrible, like at times this year. You, you know, you watch them and you're like it's been a law. I mean it's been like probably a decade since I've seen a Ravens defense get picked apart the way it has. I still don't trust them to fully get it together defensively to like be elite or even like great. I think they'll be. You know they'll find a way to keep the team in the game.
Speaker 3:O-line to me has always kind of been, even in the Lamar era. I don't know about the O the run. The run protection is usually pretty good, usually the pass protection, I think Lamar not to let him off the hook, but that pass protection has never been that great. So I think this is kind of a down year. I mean that's not even talking about how Justin Tucker has completely lost himself out there at times this year. I mean I think he has the yips or he's done one of the two this season. It might be a wash for him. I think he has the yips or he's done one of the two. I just he's this season. It might be a wash for him, but yeah, I think they're just.
Speaker 3:They're not playing cohesively, whether it be because of the coordinator changes or what, but they, they're a playoff team. They could, they could win a playoff game. I think you know them and Pittsburgh in the playoffs would be fun. I would love to see that you know them and Pittsburgh in the playoffs would be fun. I would love to see that. But yeah, I don't think they're like a. I don't think their shot was last year knocking off the Chiefs.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's this year. Yeah, yeah, I would agree with that there Last up Broncos. What do we think?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean you never count them out. Bo Nix is playing well. I mean you've seen that like 100-yard pass the other night against the Browns there but I think once again that's kind of like a Chargers-style team as far as they're a couple weeks away. I really don't trust their defense. I mean, jameis Winston balled out on that defense and not to take it away from him, but he's not exactly elite, so I think their defense will cost them a game in the playoffs. They. I think their defense will cost them a game in the playoffs.
Speaker 2:They're a couple years away. I still think, all right, all right. So that's our AFC. We could do the Colts and Dolphins and Bengals and everything, but whatever We'll get over them here, let's flip to the NFC. Here. I mean, let's just the first two. Lions Eagles I'm going to go yes on the both of them. I think they're both contenders. Saquon's playing fantastic with Jalen Hurts with Saquon. That's a dynamic duo right there. I think it hurts a lot of teams right there. So I like the Eagles, lions, it goes without saying. I mean, they have weapons up to galore, they have depth up to galore when they're healthy and right now they're not healthy, but they should get healthy. And I like the lions too. So I'm going to go lions and Eagles, both yes.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, me too, I mean, just for the same reasons you said, I still I'm a little bit worried if the game went. You know, if they're dropping, jalen hurts back 35 times again, 35, 45 times a game, but until the running game doesn't work, you know, that's. That's where they're at right now. They're, they're playing good ball and Vic Fangio has made a world of. I haven't seen an Eagles defense like this in probably 15 years, I kid you not. So, um, you got to say right now, the Eagles, obviously the Lions too, I mean, they're playing great ball, best record in the NFC. So, um, it'll be interesting to see. You know, I've always thought maybe Jared Goff could, could come unraveled at some point. Um, but I mean the game, you know, the NFC championship. Last I think it was more so Dan Campbell than than Goff. You know, maybe this time around Jared I'm sorry, dan Campbell kind of takes it easy on the crazy, you know, going for every fourth down. But both teams are playing good right now, for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, completely would agree with you there. And I mean Zach Vaughn, former Badger there on that Eagles defense. He has been balling out this season there, leads him in tackles he's got a couple of sacks, a couple.
Speaker 2:He's got at least six tackles for loss. He's fantastic. So Eagles defense, that secondary is the question mark and they've definitely stepped up as of late here. So, yeah, eagles, lions definitely in there, seahawks and Falcons, those are your three and four right now. I'm going to be honest with you.
Speaker 2:I don't truthfully like if I was going to pick an NFC West team that I was like this team is the scariest one to me. I would say the Rams, just because I am more I am, I guess, more scared of Matt Stafford with Puka Nakua and Cooper Cup than I am of Geno Smith with and I know DK Metcalf is great, I believe Lockett's still up there. And then they got Smith Najigba up there too. I mean they have a fantastic receiver core. Don't get me wrong. If they had Matthew Stafford, I think they'd be twice as good as what they are. I just don't trust Geno Smith. So I am out on Gino Smith there. So I'm going to say the Seahawks, if they're going to be a contender, they're a sneaky contender. And then I look at the Falcons and I say Kirk Cousins is not enough, and they're talking about Michael Pennix right now. I just don't see. I, honestly, if I'm picking contenders in the NFC, I'm NFC North and I'm the East. I am nowhere else in the NFC right now.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, the NFC. I mean this is a weird year because obviously the Niners aren't in it. Um, so now it's like the battle of what's left and the Rams are. The Rams are not the Superbowl Rams of years past, but I do agree with you. I mean, just based on you know, quarterback receiving core um, just to together, you know the cohesive group, um, think the rams are far and above the best.
Speaker 3:I mean I have some weird I don't want to get too long on this, but I have some weird theory I've been thinking about the last couple days. I wanted to tell you, I mean, what if this wouldn't work? But if, like aaron rogers went to seattle, I I just have some weird like inkling that he's not going to come back to the Jets. I feel like eventually they'll say you know what, this didn't work, we're smarter than that. We're not very smart, but we're not letting that happen again. And then I mean, like I said that often, or those receivers, like you said, I mean I still think it would fail, but like maybe they, they, they shoot their shot there.
Speaker 3:Because I mean I, when you know Smith, I was like don't, like he had a good year, credit to him, but he's not. It's like Kirk Cousins, like he's never gonna win you anything, unfortunately. I mean a guy, he's a good dude, I like him, but he's he's like a Jameis Winston to me, like he's not. He's not putting you in contention to win. You know big things. So, like you said, yeah, no, no. On Seattle, um, yes, you know if the Rams find a way, but and then who? What'd you say? Somebody else in that division? Yeah, or another, yeah, the other seed there, the fat no, they have no shot to me. No, absolutely no shot with Kirk cousins right now.
Speaker 2:That could be the biggest letdown because they have a lot of weapons on that team and see it all fail. That's, that's definitely something there. So next up we have two NFC North teams Packers and Vikings. Vikings in the fifth spot right now. Packers in the sixth spot right now. I, honestly, I have them both as contenders. The Vikings not as much because of Sam Darnold, but because of Aiden, Not Aiden, Is it Aiden McConnell? Am I thinking of the right guy here right now?
Speaker 3:No, Addison, right.
Speaker 2:No, I'm thinking what's the head coach's name? Oh yeah, shoot. It's not Aiden O'Connell, it's Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 1:Kevin O'Connell Kevin.
Speaker 2:O'Connell. I think he's fantastic. I think Brian Flores is fantastic.
Speaker 3:And then I look at the Packers and I say I love what I see out of the offense a little bit more, as of late, and I love what I see out of Jeff Halfley's defense. I think the Packers are contenders. So I have the Packers and I also have the Vikings. Yeah, I think even more. So. The Packers are a contender, like you said. I mean, give me Jordan Love seven days a week and twice on Sundays, compared to to Darnold there for sure. Um, I think that'll be there. That's where they they'll fall apart. They're a contender right now. I mean they're there. I think they're a playoff team still. Even down the stretch they find a way. But the Packers ceiling is much higher, like exponentially higher, to me than the Vikings.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I would. I would agree. I just I like what I see out of Kevin O'Connell and I think he's a great head coach and I think what he's done with Sam Darnold to this point has been nothing but fantastic and I think he's got his own way and he fixes guys and I love what I see out of him. So you know I don't like the Vikings but I'm giving a lot of praise here. I do think the Vikings will be a contender. They're a contender. I don't know if they're a Super Bowl team, but they're definitely a contender.
Speaker 2:In there Last up, we can throw two in here. Well, you know, nah, let's just throw last up here. Commanders, we have the Commanders in there right now because that's going to round out our top seven right now. Washington Commanders They've struggled as of late. Jane Daniels is getting healthy. I think they got the gut punch that they needed to kind of fix it all, hopefully fix it all. I think they're a year away. I think they're a year away. I think they can be a team that can make some noise. I think they can. You know, they have an explosive offense when they get it going. I think they can be a team that makes some noise. I just don't see them as a legit contender at this moment yeah, I mean coming off a win against a bad Titans team.
Speaker 3:I mean Levis didn't. I mean, long story short, titans turned the ball over twice. So you look at that 42, it's a little inflated with those two turnovers. I mean Daniel's played well, like you said. He's getting healthy, like you said. I mean I think they're a year away. They're kind of, you know, they're finding their way.
Speaker 3:Dan Quinn, long-term, I don't know if that'll end well. I mean not many people end well in Atlanta, like he was in Atlanta. That didn't work. So I think the organization's doing the right thing. You know, new ownership Washington desperately needed this, like the old ownership it felt like wasn't going to win anything for him. It just wasn't working. So I give them a fair chance, you know, in seasons to come. But like you said, I think they're a year, maybe two away. But yeah, surprise, I mean they're having a surprising year regardless, like I don't think anybody really thought they'd be. You know people thought Jane Daniels would be good. But you know, even with some rookie struggles there, they're treading water, they're doing all right. So not this year but some upcoming year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, 100%. I think they're definitely going to be a team to compete for that NFC East and it's good. It really is good, Like the NFC North. Now, if the Bears figure it out, you have a competitive North. If the Commanders stay hot, the Cowboys, I believe, are going to figure it out right. So the Cowboys figured out, you have the Eagles yet, and then you have the Commanders in there too messing around. I mean you have three teams out there, the NFC West, if the 49ers ever get healthy, and that thing's going to blow up eventually. So we'll wait and see what really transpires there. But I mean they'll probably make some moves here and there to make something of the mess. I mean that could be a good division too. So there's a lot of hope for some competitive divisions across the board here moving forward. So, aaron, I mean we passed our hour 30 mark. We can close the two hour mark here. Anything else you got here before we wrap it up for the night I don't think.
Speaker 3:So I'm glad, I'm definitely glad we got to the golden batter or the golden that bat, I should say, whatever it is uh, because that's a really polarizing thing right now. I I think it's good, I'll put it this way. I think it's good that baseball is getting some limelight. When it's the NFL playoff race, it's college football playoffs that are like right here, and at least baseball is being talked about. So if I hate Manfred for anything else, at least we got some attention on baseball. So I can't necessarily hate that, I can hate the idea for sure. But yeah, it's, that's been kind of crazy. That definitely has been.
Speaker 2:No, and you know, like you said, it brings a good light on. Well, not a maybe not a good light, but it brings a lot of people.
Speaker 2:It brings a lot of people out of the woodworks of the winter there to start yelling about something. So we kind of like it in that stretch there. But I mean lots of good college basketball games happen at night here. I mean it's the ACC, uh, it's the ACC SEC challenge. It started yesterday night, continuing tonight. So a lot of good games watching Duke and Auburn right now. Great game there. Alabama and North Carolina is on. Before that Yukon did get a win so Dan Hurley can be happy again. They finally got a win against Baylor there. That was a big matchup 76-74. Marquette did drop that game to Iowa State. So a lot of good games happening yet a lot of good games moving forward there.
Speaker 2:We'll be back on Friday. We're going to talk about the Badgers-Marquette game coming up on Saturday. We're going to recap this Packers and Lions matchup there. We're going to preview the rest of the NFL weekend. We're going to look at all the bowl games or not the bowl games, but the championship games in college football. We'll look at some college basketball. We're going to look all across the landscape and see what happens there and then we'll also maybe look at some college football there. Look at the Badgers a little bit more. We'll look all across the landscape there. So with that, for Aaron and myself, this has been Wisconsin Sports on the go with Trage. Thank you all for tuning in. We'll catch you guys back here on Friday, but until then, see ya, thank you.