The Swing: A Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Badgers bounce back against Iowa, Freddie Owens joins the show, listener questions Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Wisconsin earned a bounce back win over Iowa on Sunday. Zach and Jesse dive into the latest special effort from Nick Boyd, the importance of Austin Rapp's surge, Nolan Winter delivering and more.

Then former Wisconsin guard Freddie Owens joins to talk about his new book (Echoes of Stark Park: Lessons on Resilience, Growth and the Journey to Legacy) that details the experiences that took him from growing up on the Northside of Milwaukee to Big Ten titles for the Badgers to a 20-year coaching career and all the lessons along the way.

The guys then close the show with questions from listeners, including whether Zach misses former Iowa coach Fran McCaffery.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Badgers beat MSU but lose at OSU, NCAA Tournament thoughts, listener questions Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

It was a little good and a little bad from Wisconsin over the past week. Zach and Jesse discuss what the setback at Ohio State means, while also talking about the blowout of then-No. 10 Michigan State at home. Then they get into where Nick Boyd ranks among transfers at Wisconsin, Andrew Rohde's struggles, potential for Hayden Jones, what would constitute a successful season the rest of the way and more.

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Another Top-10 road win for Wisconsin, Badgers robbed in Bloomington, listener questions Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Wisconsin just beat its second top-10 team on the road this year. Zach and Jesse breakdown what happened to push the Badgers past Illinois, including another great effort from Austin Rapp, along with the backcourt of John Blackwell and Nick Boyd. The guys also get into the controversial end to the Indiana game. They close by taking a bunch of listener questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Badgers 2-0 week, difficult February looms, NCAA tourney chances, listener questions Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Wisconsin went 2-0 last week with wins over Minnesota and Ohio State. Zach and Jesse discuss the positives from the week, including Austin Rapp finding his 3-point stroke, the dynamic backcourt of John Blackwell and Nick Boyd, and the play of Braeden Carrington. Then the guys get into a very difficult start to February, Wisconsin's NCAA tourney chances and they answer a bunch of listener questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The good (Penn State) and the bad (USC) of the week, listener questions Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Wisconsin had an up and down week, beating Penn State on the road and falling at home to USC. Zach and Jesse discuss both games, including the blowing of a 12-point lead to the Trojans and its potential impact on the rest of the year. The guys also dive into a ton of listener questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin stays hot, path to the NCAA Tournament, Overreaction, er No? Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

After a slow start to Big Ten play, Wisconsin has won four straight games. Zach and Jesse talk about the buzzer-beating win in Minnesota and an up-and-down performance against Rutgers. Then they dive into the Badgers 3-point shooting, John Blackwell/Nick Boyd as a duo and Wisconsin's path to the NCAA Tournament.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin takes down No. 2 Michigan, listener questions Jan 11, 2026

Show notes

Wisconsin got the best win in college basketball this year when it knocked off No. 2 Michigan. Zach and Jesse discuss the upset, the play of Aleksas Bieliauskas and Braeden Carrington, and what the win means moving forward. They also hit on a ton of listener questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evaluating Wisconsin heading into 2026, NCAA Tournament (?), Jim Polzin joins the show Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Wisconsin finished off its non-conference schedule with a win over Milwaukee. Zach and Jesse discuss what they've seen from the #Badgers so far and what awaits them in 2026. BadgerExtra's Jim Polzin also joins the show to talk about his impressions of Greg Gard's team, whether he thinks they are an NCAA Tournament team and the guys veer into Luke Fickell and Chris McIntosh job security and football talk. The show closes with some listener questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What has us excited and worried after the first month of the season, listener questions Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Wisconsin is off to a 7-2 start this year, including a blowout win over Marquette. Zach and Jesse discuss what they've seen through the first month of the season, including what has them excited and what worries them. They close the show with some listener questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season preview, Over/Under, international recruiting, season predictions Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Wisconsin's exhibition slate is in the books. Zach and Jesse discuss what they've seen so far and look ahead to how the season could play out. They debate some over/unders, talk about Jesse's story on Wisconsin's international recruiting and finish with some season predictions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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