In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates analyze how the Badgers performed on the football field this season.  

“I think you need to grade it on a bigger curve of where the program headed,” said Oates, the former sports columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal. “The last two games showed that at least mentally, they are in the game.

Oates credits players for holding the team accountable. 

“As much as it wasn’t really Wisconsin-like for (safety) Hunter Wohler or (quarterback) Tanner Mordecai to come out and say some of the stuff they did — I thought it really helped.”

Also on the podcast, the veteran sports journalists eat crow after doubting the Green Packers chances against the Detroit Lions. 

“How ‘bout them Packers? How ‘bout that Jordan Love? asked Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “How ‘bout them Lions lying down?” 

Finally, Lucas and Oates are pumped about another chapter about to be written about the storied basketball rivalry between Wisconsin and Marquette.

“The Kohl Center should be rocking on Saturday,” said Lucas.The Wisconsin Sportscast is a Cap Times podcast featuring two of the state's most experienced sports journalists. It’s produced by Dylan Brogan. Find The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.