In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates give kudos to the Badgers’ defense during Wisconsin’s failed bid at an upset over Ohio State.

“When you get turnovers, it always makes a defense look good —  no matter how many passing yards or how many rushing yards you give up,” Oates, the former sports columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal, says on the Cap Times weekly podcast show. 

Oates thinks the loss of running back Braelon Allen to injury, at the end of the first half, was the death knell to the Badgers’ hopes of beating the consistently formidable Buckeyes. 

“(Allen) is the one true weapon that Wisconsin has,” says Oates. “They became very one-dimensional without him.” 

Also on the show, Lucas agrees with Oates that the Green Bay Packers’ offense is “hideous.” 

“Who are we going to blame?” asks Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “That’s what we’re here for, who are we going to blame!?” 

Lucas indicts wide receiver Christian Watson because of his disappointing performance during the Packers’ loss to the Vikings. 

“He doesn’t seem to comprehend what it takes to be a receiver. I’ve never seen a guy run so many skewed routes. He doesn’t play with instincts,” says Lucas, who notes a lot of booing on Sunday at Lambeau Field. “You think head coach Matt LaFleur is starting to feel the heat?” 

On another topic, the two veteran journalists discussed Wisconsin men’s basketball, which kicks off this week with an exhibition match against UW-Stevens Point. The Badgers appear to be in better shape than last season.

“As you recall there was very little scoring off the bench last season and it derailed them in a lot of games,” says Oates, who saw the Badgers’ practice this week. “There’s a lot of pretty good players here. More depth. When Greg Gard looks down his bench, he sees some answers.” 

Finally, are you following the news about Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh? He’s being investigated over allegations of sign-stealing. Lucas thinks Harbaugh is a “helluva coach” but compares him to a modern-day Eddie Haskell. 

“He makes my skin crawl at times,” says Lucas. “Watching Harbaugh is uncomfortable.” 

Even so, Lucas and Oates both believe Harbaugh will be returning to the NFL next season. 

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.

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