Share

The Bucky Report
Wisconsin Badgers Sure Bets & Soft Spots Headed into 2025! NCAA Violations & 2026 Class Updates
This week, we’re breaking down Wisconsin’s roster with a simple question at every position: What do we feel great about… and what worries us most? From quarterback confidence to defensive depth, we hit all the highs and lows as we head into summer.
We also dig into the recent NCAA violations involving the Badgers — what really happened, and how serious is it? Plus, new 2026 commits give us plenty to talk about on the recruiting trail.
✅ Position group sure bets
⚠️ Soft spots that could impact the season
📋 NCAA violations discussed
🧱 New building blocks for 2026
Subscribe and stay locked in to The Bucky Report for your weekly fix of Badgers insight!
Follow the show on Twitter: https://x.com/TheBuckyReport
Follow Rajeev on Twitter: https://x.com/RajeevBadgers
Follow Justin on Twitter: https://x.com/BuckyReportJJ
Help The Bucky Report get some feedback! We would appreciate any listeners taking this short 15 min survey to help us grow the show! http://bit.ly/thebuckyreport-survey
More episodes
View all episodes

Dream Week Changes EVERYTHING for Wisconsin Basketball | 5 Offensive Players to Watch in Spring!
01:01:48|Wisconsin basketball may have just flipped its entire season in ONE week.After sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Badgers delivered a dream week with two massive statement wins over Illinois and Michigan State — and suddenly everything has changed. Just days ago, we were debating whether Wisconsin would even make the tournament. Now? The Badgers look like a lock. The real question becomes: how high can this team climb on the seed line?On today’s show, we break down both signature wins, what changed in Wisconsin’s play, and whether this surge is sustainable heading toward March. Is this a team getting hot at the perfect time — or one revealing its true ceiling?We also shift to Wisconsin football and discuss the departure of WR assistant coach Jordan Reid to the NFL. What does his loss mean for the wide receiver room, recruiting momentum, and the offense moving forward?Plus, with spring practice around the corner, we reveal the five offensive players we’re most excited about — the playmakers and key pieces who could define Wisconsin’s offense in 2026.Topics covered:Wisconsin vs Illinois breakdownWisconsin vs Michigan State breakdownFrom bubble team to tournament lockHow high can Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament seed go?Is this surge sustainable into March?Jordan Reid leaves for the NFL — impact on Wisconsin footballFive offensive players to watch heading into spring practiceSubscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers analysis, breakdowns, and real talk all season long.
Rajeev's Corner: Badgers Heating Up: Real Progress, Real Hope, Real March Upside
22:46|Wisconsin basketball may be hitting its stride at exactly the right time. In this episode of Rajeev’s Corner, we dive into the Badgers’ late-season surge and the real, visible progression this team has made throughout the year. From lineup growth and smarter execution to improved confidence and identity, the positive changes are starting to show on the court.This isn’t just about winning games — it’s about trajectory. The Badgers look more connected, more confident, and more dangerous than they did earlier in the season, and it’s creating real belief that Wisconsin could make a legitimate run in March.Are the Badgers truly peaking at the perfect time? How real is the growth? And what would it take for this team to turn momentum into a deep March push?Let’s talk about where Wisconsin stands — and why hope is rising in Madison.
Football Spring Stock Market! + Are the Badgers Slipping Toward the Bubble?
01:03:00|Wisconsin basketball suffered a tough loss to Indiana, and now the question is getting louder — are the Badgers drifting toward the NCAA Tournament bubble? We break down where Wisconsin stands, what the loss means for their March Madness outlook, and how much concern fans should really have as the Big Ten race continues.Then we turn to Wisconsin football and open the Badgers Stock Market — player edition heading into spring. We go three buys, three holds, and three sells, breaking down which players look like true upgrades, who still has something to prove, and where Wisconsin could be slipping as spring football approaches.If you're a Wisconsin Badgers fan, this episode covers the biggest storylines in both basketball and football, including tournament positioning, program direction, and what to watch moving forward.
MAKE or BREAK February for Wisconsin Basketball | Badgers Big Ten Breakdown
35:50|On this week’s Bucky Report, we dive deep into Wisconsin basketball’s brutal February schedule and explain why the next seven games are truly make-or-break for Greg Gard’s team. With a gauntlet of Big Ten opponents, tough road environments, and postseason positioning on the line, this stretch will determine whether the Badgers are a real contender or just hanging on.In this episode, we break down:Wisconsin basketball’s February schedule and why it’s so difficultThe seven-game stretch that could decide the Badgers’ seasonWhat Wisconsin must improve to survive Big Ten playTakeaways from the Ohio State gameAustin Rapp’s standout performance and his growing roleWhat this stretch means for NCAA Tournament hopesThis is the most important month of the season for Wisconsin basketball. The margin for error is gone, and February will tell us exactly who the Badgers are.If you follow Wisconsin Badgers basketball, Big Ten hoops, or college basketball at large — this is the stretch you can’t ignore.Wisconsin Basketball, Wisconsin Badgers, Bucky Report, Big Ten Basketball, Greg Gard, NCAA Basketball, College Basketball Analysis, Wisconsin vs Ohio State, Austin Rapp, Badgers Basketball February Schedule
Reading the Schedule Tea Leaves + Another NIL Line Gets Crossed
21:34|First, a quick reaction to Wisconsin basketball’s win over Minnesota — an insane game that ended up in a win??Then, the Wisconsin football schedule is officially out. I walk through the slate, talk about where the swing games are, and give a way-too-early floor and ceiling for the Badgers based on how this schedule sets up. Some optimism, some realism — and a little schedule-reading tea-leaf action.Finally, we dive into the Darian Mensah situation, with Duke Blue Devils reaching a settlement that allows him to move on. What does this mean for NIL enforcement, player leverage, and how close we’re getting to a true wild-west era in college football?As always — honest takes, big-picture thinking, and a little bit of “where is this all heading?”
Wisconsin Football Optimism: Real Progress or Just Hype? + Basketball Midseason Check-In
01:04:01|Is the optimism around Wisconsin football actually real — or are fans getting caught up in the hype? In this episode, we take a deep dive into why positivity is building around the Badgers football program, what’s driving it, and whether the momentum we’re seeing is sustainable moving forward.We then shift to Wisconsin basketball following another strong stretch of play, break down what’s working, and hand out our midseason superlatives. From biggest surprises to standout performers, we evaluate where this Badgers basketball team stands as the season hits the halfway point.This episode covers Wisconsin football analysis, Badgers basketball discussion, midseason basketball superlatives, and an honest conversation about optimism versus hype across Wisconsin athletics.🕒 Topics Covered:Is Wisconsin football’s optimism real or just hype?What’s driving the positive momentum around the Badgers football programSustainability of Wisconsin football’s recent progressWisconsin basketball’s recent success and improved playBadgers basketball midseason superlatives and standout performancesWhat to expect from Wisconsin basketball moving forwardIf you enjoy Wisconsin Badgers football and basketball coverage, subscribe for weekly analysis, honest takes, and in-depth discussion on Wisconsin athletics.
Rajeev's Corner: Let's Ride This Momentum!! Wisconsin Football and Basketball
23:11|I’m leaning all the way into the optimism on this episode of Rajeev’s Corner. Wisconsin football feels like it has real momentum coming out of the transfer portal, and the energy around the program is trending up in a way we haven’t felt in a while. At the same time, Wisconsin basketball is starting to gel, stacking wins, and looking more like a team that knows exactly who it wants to be.Am I being a little too hopeful? Maybe. But that’s kind of the point. Sometimes being a fan means hopping on the hype train, enjoying the momentum, and believing in where things might be headed. That’s what this episode is all about.
ROSTER REALITY CHECK: 2026 Position Confidence Ratings & Portal Additions
01:03:33|The transfer portal window has closed, so it’s time for a Roster Reality Check. We go position by position through the Wisconsin Badgers football roster and assign confidence ratings out of 100% for each group based on depth, talent, development, and recent transfer portal additions.We also break down new portal commits, discuss how the roster looks entering the 2026 season, and identify which position groups are strengths, which are question marks, and what still needs to improve.If you’re looking for an honest, in-depth Wisconsin football roster breakdown after the transfer portal, this episode delivers it.
Rajeev's Corner: College Football Governance War - CSC Participation Agreement & Playoff Format Chaos
24:54|On tonight’s Rajeev’s Corner, I’m digging into the College Sports Commission Participation Agreement — why it’s being called a power grab, why some states are pushing back, and what it could mean for schools, conferences and the future of college sports enforcement.Then we get into LATEST NEWS on the CFP expansion battle: the Big Ten’s audacious 24-team dream, the SEC’s 16-team preference, and why this disagreement could keep the College Football Playoff format stuck at 12 teams unless leaders find common ground by January 23rdReal analysis. Real implications. Real power plays shaping college athletics.📌 Keywords: College Sports Commission, Participation Agreement fight, CFP playoff debate, Big Ten SEC rift, state AG opposition, NIL enforcement, college football governance