The Wisconsin Badgers basketball program has landed three key players through the transfer portal this offseason, and we’re breaking down what each addition brings to the roster.

But the job’s not finished—on this episode of Talkin’ Badgers, we dive into what Greg Gard and his staff still need to add to the roster before the offseason wraps up.

Plus, we’re two-thirds of the way through Wisconsin football spring practice. What storylines coming out of practice have us feeling encouraged—and which ones have us a bit concerned—as the Badgers prepare for the 2025 season under head coach Luke Fickell? Let’s dive in!

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Spring practice kicks off for Wisconsin football on March 13 as the Badgers look to turn the page on one of the program’s worst seasons in recent memory.

Coming off a disappointing 5-7 finish—their first year without making a bowl game in over two decades—Luke Fickell and his revamped staff have 15 practices to start laying the foundation for a much-needed reset in Madison.

Wisconsin welcomes 34 new faces to the program, between 19 transfer portal additions and 15 early-enrollee freshmen, highlighting how much turnover the program has experienced this offseason.

With a 12-13 record through his first two seasons at the helm, Fickell is searching for signs of tangible progress as he works to get Wisconsin back on track.

“I’ve been coaching for a good while, playing this game for a good while, and I don’t know that I’ve been in a position and situation like this, to be honest with you,” Fickell told reporters. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, a lot of things to get done, a lot of things we got to fix up and correct.”

That process starts with major changes to the coaching staff, most notably moving on from Phil Longo and hiring Jeff Grimes as the new offensive coordinator. Grimes will be tasked with restoring the program’s physical identity after Longo’s Air Raid experiment failed to take flight.

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Mike Tressel returns for his third season at Wisconsin, but he has plenty to prove after an up-and-down 2024 season calling plays for the Badgers’ defense.

One of the biggest areas for improvement? Finishing games.

The Wisconsin Badgers were outscored 72-15 in the fourth quarter of their seven losses last season, a staggering statistic that defined their inability to close out winnable contests. They'll also begin the season with an empty trophy case after losing all three rivalry games in 2024.

The Badgers will have until April 24 to start sorting through key position battles, implement new schemes, and set the tone for a critical 2025 campaign.

Here are five storylines to follow as Wisconsin heads into spring practice.

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We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team will close out the regular season with one final game at the Kohl Center—Senior Day against Penn State.

On this episode of Talkin’ Badgers, we reflect on the impact of this Wisconsin senior class, including Steven Crowl, Carter Gilmore, John Tonje, and others, as they prepare for their final home game.

But that’s not all—Max Klesmit’s injury looms large heading into the postseason. Should Badgers fans be concerned? Plus, with the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments right around the corner, we discuss Wisconsin’s ceiling in March and what they need to accomplish for this season to be considered a success. And we hand out our Big DAWG of the Week.

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We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

It’s mailbag time on Talkin’ Badgers, and we’re answering all your burning questions about Wisconsin football and basketball.

Is Greg Gard the right guy to lead the Badgers long-term? Can Wisconsin football ever recruit at a level high enough to compete for a national championship? With the Big Ten and SEC landing the top recruits and elite programs and having more NIL money at their disposal to retain and poach high level talent, what does that mean for the Badgers’ future?

Plus, we discuss whether Wisconsin can start a new bowl streak in 2025 under Luke Fickell and—on a lighter note—who would be the best (and worst) current Badger to have as your wingman at a bar.

All that and more on this episode as we tackle our listener questions!

The Wisconsin Badgers are once again rebuilding their quarterback room through the transfer portal and have landed Maryland’s Billy Edwards Jr. and San Diego State’s Danny O’Neil.

With Luke Fickell and Jeff Grimes aiming to stabilize the offense, what do these additions mean for Wisconsin football moving forward? 

On this episode of Talkin’ Badgers, I break down how these QBs fit into Grimes’ system, what their arrivals mean for the depth chart, and why this is a critical step forward for the program heading into 2025.

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Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers have officially hired Jeff Grimes as their new offensive coordinator, and we’re breaking down what his “RVO” (reliable, violent, offense) system brings to the football program.

From a tough, physical run game to creative play-action downfield passing concepts, Grimes’ scheme offers the perfect blend of modern innovation and traditional fundamentals.

Will this approach help the Badgers restore their offensive identity and contend in the Big Ten?

Tune in for the full analysis of what this hire could mean for the Wisconsin football program.

Support Talkin' Badgers by checking out our sponsors! True Classic Tees: Home of the softest, most comfortable, and form-fitting men's clothing on the market. True Classic is a must-own. Follow this link and use promo code BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

BadgerNotes: Everything You Need to Know About the Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball Before Your First Cup of Coffee, Delivered Straight to Your Email. Subscribe here: www.badgernotes.com

Homefield Apparel: Follow the link below and Use Promo Code BADGERNOTES for 15% off your next Homefield apparel purchase. Visit: www.homefieldapparel.com

The transfer portal window is open, and Wisconsin Badgers football has some significant roster holes to fill after a disappointing 5-7 season, plus the loss of quite a few scholarship players.

In this episode of Talkin’ Badgers, I break down what I perceive to be the Wisconsin football program's top needs to address in the portal, from the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback spot to glaring needs on the defensive line, cornerback depth, and more.

With Luke Fickell entering a critical offseason, what moves does Wisconsin need to make to bounce back in 2025? Let’s talk about it.

Support Talkin' Badgers by checking out our sponsors!

True Classic Tees: Home of the softest, most comfortable, and form-fitting men's clothing on the market. True Classic is a must-own. Follow this link and use promo code BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

BadgerNotes: Everything You Need to Know About the Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball Before Your First Cup of Coffee, Delivered Straight to Your Email. Subscribe here: www.badgernotes.com

Homefield Apparel: Follow the link below and Use Promo Code BADGERNOTES for 15% off your next Homefield apparel purchase. Visit: www.homefieldapparel.com

The Wisconsin Badgers football team’s struggles continue after a heartbreaking 16-13 loss to No. 1 Oregon, marking their third straight defeat.

Now sitting at 5-5, bowl eligibility is on the line with two games left, and the program is making big changes—offensive coordinator Phil Longo has been fired. What does this mean for Luke Fickell’s squad moving forward?

Meanwhile, Wisconsin men's basketball is getting it done under Greg Gard. The Badgers are off to a 5-0 start and just took down No. 9 Arizona at home. Is it time to take this team seriously as a contender?

We break it all down on this episode of Talkin’ Badgers! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for all the latest on Wisconsin football and basketball.

Support Talkin' Badgers by checking out our sponsors!

True Classic Tees: Home of the softest, most comfortable, and form-fitting men's clothing on the market. True Classic is a must-own. Follow this link and use promo code BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

BadgerNotes: Everything You Need to Know About the Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball Before Your First Cup of Coffee, Delivered Straight to Your Email. Subscribe here: www.badgernotes.com

Homefield Apparel: Follow the link below and Use Promo Code BADGERNOTES for 15% off your next Homefield apparel purchase. Visit: www.homefieldapparel.com

On this week's episode of Talkin' Badgers, the boys sit down and talk about their big takeaways from the Wisconsin Badgers football team's second-half collapse against No. 3 Penn State — and then look ahead to their road matchup against Iowa—will this week be any different?

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True Classic Tees: Home of the softest, most comfortable, and form-fitting men's clothing on the market. True Classic is a must-own. Follow this link and use promo code BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

BadgerNotes Newsletter: Everything You Need to Know About the Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball Before Your First Cup of Coffee, Delivered Straight to Your Email. Subscribe here: badgernotes.substack.com

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On this week's mailbag episode of Talkin' Badgers, the boys run through a bunch of listener questions about the Wisconsin Badgers football team ahead of their matchup against No. 3 Penn State at Camp Randall Stadium.

Could the Badgers pull off the upset, and if they do, where would they rank among the other Big Ten football teams? We also list off some of the Big Ten football coaches we hate and make our picks for the big game.

Support Talkin' Badgers by checking out our sponsors!

True Classic Tees: Home of the softest, most comfortable, and form-fitting men's clothing on the market. True Classic is a must-own. Follow this link and use promo code BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

BadgerNotes Newsletter: Everything You Need to Know About the Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball Before Your First Cup of Coffee, Delivered Straight to Your Email. Subscribe here: badgernotes.substack.com

Homefield Apparel: Follow the link below and Use Promo Code BADGERNOTES for 15% off your next Homefield apparel purchase: Visit: www.homefieldapparel.com

Autograph: Want to earn rewards for listening to this podcast? Download the Autograph: Fandom Rewarded app and use referral code: badgernotes.

Kadens Wish: Kadens Wish, part of Make a Wish Wisconsin, is granting life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses. You can be a part of making that difference. Head over to Kadenswish.org to donate to become a small part of the solution.