We'll get back to Milwaukee Bucks content soon enough, but here's a special episode marking the re-launch of the Journal Sentinel podcast covering the University of Wisconsin, primarily football and basketball. Host JR Radcliffe and Badgers reporters Mark Stewart and John Steppe look at the stumbling blocks that put the football program in such bad shape, an issue highlighted by a tough national signing day Dec. 3. How does Wisconsin get back on its feet? Did they make a mistake keeping Luke Fickell? 

They also talk about the men's basketball team on the heels of a win in its Big Ten opener and check in with the women's hoops team and its new coach, plus a look at the women's volleyball team's NCAA journey ahead.

Find the Wisconsin Badgers Podcast (and help us give it a new name) on Apple Podcasts, as well as Spotify.

A surreal Dec. 3 included word that Giannis Antetokounmpo was once again considering his future in Milwaukee, an injury that is going to force him to miss weeks and an 18-point comeback against the best team in the Eastern Conference with him off the floor. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe dive into everything Jim knows about the Antetokounmpo situation (and what he doesn't know). Has anything fundamentally changed between him and the Bucks? Was a terrible loss in Washington a warning sign? How can the Bucks salvage the situation? What would a trade look like? When could it happen? What missteps have the Bucks made along the way? Will Doc Rivers be fired? It's an all-Giannis episode.

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury, one that forced him from a game in Cleveland and leaves the immediate future cloudy for the Milwaukee Bucks star. It's not as if the team had been thriving with him either, having lost recent games to the Hornets, Lakers and now the Cavaliers. How much trouble are the Bucks in? Even if Giannis comes back quickly, who else needs to step up to get the Bucks back on a clear playoff trajectory? 

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

Milwaukee Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe on the Point Forward Podcast, discussing the Bucks recent rash of injuries (Taurean Prince, AJ Green, Kevin Porter still, Giannis to some degree) and their so-so play, including a loss to Charlotte without Giannis and a narrow win over struggling Dallas. How problematic is the Prince injury? Has Myles Turner made enough of an impact in his first few weeks with the Bucks? What's up with Bobby Portis and Gary Trent Jr.? What about Giannis's unreal performance in an NBA Cup win over the Bulls? Could Victor Oladipo actually help?

The Bucks had a couple uplifting victories (without Giannis Antetokounmpo against Golden State and with his buzzer-beater in Indiana) but also a couple clunkers (Sacramento and Toronto) over the past week. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins host JR Radcliffe to ponder the whistle that Giannis isn't getting, and the growing concern that he'll get hurt badly if teams are allowed to hack him to pieces. They talk Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, the added injury time for Kevin Porter Jr., a thrilling win and a heel-turn from Antetokounmpo in Indiana and more. 

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been unbelievable through the first four games of the season, including an impressive win over the Knicks on Oct. 28. Does that mean we can table trade talk to New York for a while? Sure, but not for long. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the state of the man and the city that belongs to him, with the Bucks out to 3-1 on the year. Is Kyle Kuzma for real? Is Ryan Rollins REALLY for real? What is traveling, even? Jim discusses his impressions of a postgame question about the reported ties between Giannis and the Knicks, with the team out to a fast-enough start to keep those questions largely at arm's length.

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

The Milwaukee Bucks opened the 2025-26 season with a bang, a 133-120 win over the Washington Wizards and a celebration of Khris Middleton. But Kevin Porter Jr. left the game with an injury, leaving an early hole for a team that entered the season pretty healthy. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the huge opening statement by Giannis Antetokounmpo, AJ Green's extension, Ryan Rollins absorbing big minutes, the departure of Tyler Smith (leaving the roster with zero draft picks aside from Giannis), the usage of Bobby Portis and more. 

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

Milwaukee Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe on the Point Forward Podcast, discussing just how much fire there is surrounding the offseason smoke of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Is there really a chance he leaves the Bucks in the near future? What's worth paying attention to, and what's not? Then, the guys discuss the 2025 season, where the Bucks have as wide a variance in possible outcomes as they've had in years. What does Myles Turner add? Is this an AJ Green breakout season? Is Kevin Porter maybe the team's second-best player? 

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

Free agency has arrived! The Milwaukee Bucks made a splash on July 1, signing Myles Turner and waiving Damian Lillard to make it work. Lillard, who wasn't due back until late in the 2025-26 season, if at all, now becomes a free agent after two years with the Bucks. Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss it. How should we term Lillard's tenure in Milwaukee?

The Bucks are also bringing back many of the same players, including Gary Trent Jr. on a team-friendly deal, plus Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims. Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton bid adieu, on their way to Los Angeles and Charlotte, respectively. Will Lopez get his number retired eventually?

Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.