The Hoops Cap Pod

Hosted by Mark Zanetto 🎙 The Hoops Cap — only daily podcast For UConn men’s & women’s basketball. part of Big East EnergyNetwork

  1. 17 MAR

    Can Furman Pull Off the Upset vs UConn?

    Welcome to The Hoops Cap! In this episode, we’re setting the stage for a fascinating NCAA Tournament showdown as UConn prepares to face the Southern Conference champions, the Furman Paladins. Host Mark Zanetto brings together two distinct voices from both sides of the bracket: Andre Gray, associate head coach at Western Carolina University with inside knowledge of the SoCon and Furman’s strategies, and Rasheen Davis, Seton Hall assistant coach who’s battled UConn in the Big East this season. You’ll get expert insights into what makes Furman such a dangerous underdog, from their battle-tested roster and offensive depth to the coaching acumen of Bob Ritchie. The conversation also dives deep into UConn’s mindset as a perennial powerhouse, how they recover from adversity, and what they need to watch out for if Furman gets hot early. Both guests break down the match-up with X’s and O’s—from Furman’s tempo and health to UConn’s relentless half-court movement and potential defensive vulnerabilities. You’ll hear real talk on the physicality of the Big East vs. the SoCon, what it takes to pull off an upset in March, and player names you need to know heading into the game. Whether you’re a UConn faithful, a SoCon supporter, or just love high-stakes college hoops, this preview will have you hyped and ready. So grab your bracket and join us as we analyze if UConn will roll—or if Furman is primed to shock the basketball world! 00:00 "Basketball Debate: UConn vs. Furman" 05:34 UConn's Preparation and Performance Concerns 08:54 "Home Field Apparel Obsession" 11:09 "UConn's Offensive Motion Challenges" 16:00 UConn's Weakness: Turnover Pressure 18:35 "Underdog Upsets: Inside the Momentum" 19:48 "Underdogs and Playoff Pressure" 24:55 "Basketball Memories and Connections" 29:27 UConn's Efficiency and Role Players 30:58 "Mid-Range Game Over 3s" 36:17 UConn Predicted to Win Game 37:42 UConn Will Pull Away Late 43:02 "Elite Eight Journey Memories" 43:57 Elite Guards vs. Bigs Debate Huge thanks to our sponsors for making this episode possible! Home Field Apparel: For the best vintage collegiate gear. Use promo code TheDePaud for 15% off your first order! Vancord: Protecting your business from cyber threats with elite defense and response. Visit their site for a free cybersecurity assessment. We appreciate the support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  2. 7 MAR

    UNDEFEATED! UConn Dominates BIG EAST Awards + Can Anyone Stop the Huskies?

    UConn Women's Basketball is entering the postseason as the undisputed No. 1 team in the nation! In this video, we break down the 2025-26 BIG EAST Postseason Awards where the Huskies swept the major honors. From Sarah Strong making history as both Player and Defensive Player of the Year to Blanca Quiñonez’s breakout freshman campaign, we analyze why UConn is the heavy favorite to win the BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun. We also preview the tournament bracket, looking at potential matchups against Villanova and Seton Hall, and discuss the key "Watch List" items for Geno Auriemma’s squad as they prepare for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Support the channel! 🏀 Subscribe for more UConn Women's Basketball coverage: YouTube 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a Postgame Wrap-up! Inside the Episode: 0:00 - Intro: UConn's Historic Undefeated Season 1:15 - Sarah Strong: The Unanimous BIG EAST Player of the Year 2:45 - The Defensive Dominance of Sarah Strong 4:10 - Blanca Quiñonez: Freshman & Sixth Woman of the Year 6:00 - Geno Auriemma wins 14th BIG EAST Coach of the Year 7:30 - All-BIG EAST First & Second Team Honors 9:15 - BIG EAST Tournament Preview: The Path to the Title 11:00 - Key Challengers: Villanova, Seton Hall, and Marquette 13:30 - What to Watch: Health, Fudd’s Scoring, and Bench Depth 15:45 - Final Predictions & NCAA Tournament Implications Homefield Apparel Huge thanks to @HomefieldApparel for the best UConn vintage gear! Shop at HomefieldApparel.com 🐾 Vancord Proudly partnered with Vancord.com for elite cybersecurity. A top supporter of BigEastEnergynetwork.com! Key Postseason Awards Highlights: Sarah Strong: 3rd player in history to win POY and DPOY in the same season (18.6 PPG, 3.2 SPG). Blanca Quiñonez: First-ever freshman to win BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year. Geno Auriemma: Led the Huskies to their 11th undefeated regular season (1st since 2018). Follow us on Social Media: Twitter: @bigeastenergy Instagram : @bigeast_energy #UConnWBB #UConnHuskies #BigEastWBB #SarahStrong #AzziFudd #GenoAuriemma #CollegeBasketball #WomensBasketball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  3. 1 MAR

    Seniors, Honors, and a Big East Battle: UConn Edges Seton Hall + Live Reaction with Bryan DeNovellis

    What a way to close out the regular season at Gampel Pavilion! In this episode, we break down No. 6 UConn’s gritty 71–67 victory over a relentless Seton Hall squad. It was an emotional afternoon in Storrs as Alex Karaban made history, becoming the first active player added to the Huskies of Honor before putting up a game-high 23 points to lead the comeback. Joining the show for a live reaction is Bryan DeNovellis, host of the Tri-State College Basketball Podcast and Assistant Professor at Montclair State. As a Seton Hall alum and veteran broadcaster, Bryan brings his unique perspective on how the Pirates nearly pulled off the upset after leading by 8 in the second half. In this episode, we discuss: The Karaban Legacy: Analyzing Alex’s historic pre-game ceremony and his clutch performance in his final home game. Solo Ball’s Second Half Surge: How Solo’s 12 second-half points and ice-cold free throws in the final minute sealed the win. Seton Hall’s Grit: Bryan breaks down the Pirates' impressive 3-point shooting turnaround and A.J. Staton-McCray’s 20-point effort. Big East Outlook: What this win means for UConn’s momentum heading into the Big East Tournament and their quest for a three-peat. Senior Day Emotions: Wrapping up the home season for Tarris Reed Jr., Braylon Mullins, and the rest of the Husky seniors. Follow our guest: Keep up with Bryan DeNovellis on X @bryandenovellis and check out his work at BryanDeNovellis.com. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

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Hosted by Mark Zanetto 🎙 The Hoops Cap — only daily podcast For UConn men’s & women’s basketball. part of Big East EnergyNetwork

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