Madison Looks for a New AD, and The Miz Finds His Control

Who’s Better Than Jordan Love? And Brewers Need a New CC

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, it’s that time of year where all the sports writers gather round to make lists.  * A players poll of the top 100 NFL players listed Jordan Love at #72. Lucas and Oates don’t particularly agree (and neither does Micah Parsons), but it’s not completely inaccurate. Sure, his stats are good, but he hasn’t taken the jump to greatness that everyone’s expected. At least not yet.  * Monday night was the MLB Home Run Derby, with Jordan Walker taking home this year’s prize. The show was a lot more exciting in recent years, says Lucas, thanks to some changes in format. Still, Lucas wonders: if you asked someone on the street, could they even tell you what sport Jordan Walker plays? * Sticking with baseball, the Brewers end the first half of their season with 59 wins, despite ending on a sour note. They are in desperate need of some new pitchers, Oates says. Could a big trade be on the horizon? Could another CC Sabathia be on their way to Milwaukee? The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wisconsin-sportscast/id1707016819], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tXeiq8mVz82lnZW1gx1X8?si=941c64f5fb4d4d94&nd=1] or wherever [https://shows.audiocdn.com/s/leeenterprises/the-wisconsin-sportscast] you get your podcasts.

Shawn Eichorst’s Vision, and a Madisonian Goes to the All Star Game

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates are back in the studio after Tuesday’s press conference at Camp Randall. * Both boosters and former players were at Camp Randall to hear Shawn Eichorst give his welcome press conference. Those in attendance seemed to be giving him the benefit of the doubt after he admitted to some mistakes at Nebraska, but Oates still has one question: will he be able to reach out to all of his various constituencies, and not just focus on the players and coaches? * Madison West grad Drake Baldwin is continuing his great run in the MLB as he will be the starting catcher for next week’s All Star Game. And to think, after high school, he was thinking about focusing on hockey! Lucas and Oates remember him from his Madison days (including a short stint with the Madison Mallards), and say that he’s always had the right character to make it big.  * Sticking with baseball, as the Brewers hold the second best record in all of the MLB, is WIlliam Contreras the true leader of the team? Resoundingly yes, say Lucas and Oates. He’s a high impact player who’s able to get into his pitchers’ faces sometimes, and he can do that because he knows that his pitchers trust him.  The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wisconsin-sportscast/id1707016819], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tXeiq8mVz82lnZW1gx1X8?si=941c64f5fb4d4d94&nd=1] or wherever [https://shows.audiocdn.com/s/leeenterprises/the-wisconsin-sportscast] you get your podcasts.

Madison’s Potential AD, and LeBron Wants a Championship

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates beat the heat with some sports news across the country and here at home.  * Reports are saying that Shawn Eichorst is likely to become UW-Madison’s next Athletic Director. It’s a pick with a lot of goods and bads, Lucas and Oates think. One one hand, he’s a nuts-and-bolts guy who’s known to treat players and coaches well. On the other hand, what exactly happened at Nebraska?  * Serena Williams has made her big comeback after four years away from the court, and fell big time. Williams is one of the greatest competitors of all time, Lucas and Oates think, but she looked slow and mechanical in what was supposed to be her big return. Hopefully she’s serious about returning to tennis, and hopefully a little more time on the court will get her back into game shape.  * LeBron James says he’s playing again next year, but it won’t be with the Lakers. Lucas and Oates think that Golden State is creating a pretty nice looking team to surround him. He might be 42 and certainly doesn’t play like he did a decade ago, but LeBron has a real shot of getting one last championship under his belt with the right team.  The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wisconsin-sportscast/id1707016819], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tXeiq8mVz82lnZW1gx1X8?si=941c64f5fb4d4d94&nd=1] or wherever [https://shows.audiocdn.com/s/leeenterprises/the-wisconsin-sportscast] you get your podcasts.

The Giannis Trade, and the NBA Draft

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates talk egos and a busy week for the Bucks * Giannis Antetokounmpo is gone from the Bucks, and has been traded to the Miami Heat. In return, they got a handful of players (who may or may not still be around come the season) and some nice draft picks. It was about as fair of a trade as they could get, Lucas and Oates think, though when you trade someone like Giannis you’ll never truly get your money's worth. * With those nice draft picks, the Bucks took in some decent players in the first round. It’ll be the last time they control their first round picks for many years, so you’d hope they’d make them count. Brayden Burries should be a very solid pick for the team, Oates thinks, as someone who could look a bit like Khris Middleton in the future. Nate Ament, on the other hand, could either work out really well or really poorly. Oates says he was drafted on his potential, so only time will tell if this draft was a success or a bust.  * Finally, does Nick Boyd have a chance to still be drafted? As of Wednesday evening, Lucas and Oates think he has a chance late in the second round. His time with the Badgers really did him a lot of good, they think, as they let him show off what he could really do.  The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wisconsin-sportscast/id1707016819], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tXeiq8mVz82lnZW1gx1X8?si=941c64f5fb4d4d94&nd=1] or wherever [https://shows.audiocdn.com/s/leeenterprises/the-wisconsin-sportscast] you get your podcasts.

Remembering Henry Mason, and Where Will Giannis Go?

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, no pro wrestlers join the show, to the disappointment of Lucas.  * Lucas and Oates attended the celebration of life of former Badgers Football Assistant Coach Henry Mason this past weekend. The room was filled to the brim with great people sharing great stories about a man who, while maybe not as well known to the fans, was beloved in the locker room. Mason, who died this past spring, was known for his warmth and as a guy who treated everyone who came his way with respect.  * Turning to the NBA, the Knicks had a fantastic story come to a close after they took home the NBA Championship. Jalen Brunson was the star of the show, says Oates, as someone who’s been a true winner even since high school. At the end of the day, the Spurs were just too inexperienced to take on that kind of talent that was dominating the entire playoffs.  * By this time next week, Lucas and Oates think that Giannis Antetokounmpo will have a new home. Miami, Cleveland and Boston are on the shortlist, with both good players and draft capital to spend that might equal what Giannis is worth. But whoever they get as a player should be secondary, they say, because the high draft picks are vital for the Bucks to create a long-term plan to create a winning team once again.  The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wisconsin-sportscast/id1707016819], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tXeiq8mVz82lnZW1gx1X8?si=941c64f5fb4d4d94&nd=1] or wherever [https://shows.audiocdn.com/s/leeenterprises/the-wisconsin-sportscast] you get your podcasts.