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. 1 DAY AGO

    Breaking Down UConn's Surprising Defeat to Creighton

    A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this episode of The Hoops Cap possible! Shout out to HomeFieldApparel.com—the premier vintage apparel company for college alumni and fans. If you want to show off your school pride with authentic, ultra-comfortable gear, Home Field has you covered. A big thanks to Vancord.com as well. For all your cybersecurity needs, be sure to call 855-VANCORD. Their team is available 24/7, ready to protect your business and help you stay secure in today’s digital world. We appreciate their support and encourage our listeners to check them out! On this episode of The Hoops Cap, host Mark Zanetto welcomes UConn alum and Big East Energy Network contributor David Pohorence to break down UConn’s stunning 91-84 loss to Creighton. The two dive into what went wrong for the Huskies, from lapses in defense and rebounding woes to questions about the team’s chemistry and leadership. They explore the challenge of maintaining high-level play in a tough Big East Conference, the reality of growing pains with transfers and new players, and whether fans should be sounding the alarm—or staying optimistic about what’s ahead. With honest insights, some Husky nostalgia, and a dash of tough love, Mark Zanetto and David Poharance assess UConn’s tournament outlook, the impact of roster construction, and why it’s time to take things one game at a time. If you’re a UConn fan processing the ups and downs of the season, this conversation is for you. 00:00 UConn's Defensive Struggles Highlighted 03:43 "Emeka Okafor's Legacy Reflection" 06:16 Basketball IQ vs. Athleticism Debate 11:59 "Searching for an Offensive Alpha" 16:08 "Turnovers, Rhythm, and Rim Protection" 18:04 Evaluating Transfers and Offense Struggles 22:02 "Hurley’s Rotation Philosophy Explained" 24:24 "Perspective on Challenges and Growth" 28:23 "One Game at a Time" 30:02 "Why Not Me Podcast" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Dan Hurley BLASTS UConn fans after Georgetown win

    Thank you to our sponsors and Partners Sponsor: Shop the best vintage collegiate threads at Homefield Apparel: homefieldapparel.com Local Sponsor: For world-class cybersecurity and infrastructure, visit Vancord: vancord.com Community Partner: Support the CT Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and their mission at: ctbgc.org This episode of The Hoops Cap delivers an unfiltered, expert take on the shifting dynamics in Big East basketball. Host Mark Zanetto dissects UConn’s narrow win over Georgetown, Dan Hurley’s viral criticism of the “wine and cheese” crowd, and whether success has dulled the home-court advantage at Gampel Pavilion. We unpack electric milestones from Alex Karaban, reflect on the legendary Hashim Thabeet’s return, and contrast UConn’s energy with Providence’s powder-keg atmosphere. Plus, we spotlight the viral brawl at The AMP, debating if fierce rivalries and raw fan passion are what makes the Big East truly elite. If you’re searching for the latest Big East basketball analysis, UConn fan debates, or insider reactions to recent conference drama—including NIL controversies and the ever-evolving college hoops landscape—this is your must-watch episode. 00:00 – UConn vs Georgetown recap and Dan Hurley’s fan critique 01:12 – Comparing UConn’s home energy to Providence’s wild crowd 01:27 – Milestones: Alex Karaban sets a new program record; Hasheem Thabeet honored 02:53 – Hurley and Ed Cooley call out fan lethargy 05:22 – Is the Big East better with buttoned-up fans or raw intensity? 06:25 – The impact of historic moments and the atmosphere at Gampel 08:44 – Why pro-level results demand pro-level expectations 12:21 – Gampel’s crowd compared to other Big East arenas 14:00 – Providence’s crowd erupts: Malice Scale segment begins 17:11 – Movie references: Gangster and revenge energy in sports 18:06 – Duncan Powell’s hard foul and media response 20:50 – Hockey analogies: How real sports handle on-court chaos 22:33 – The difference in fan energy: Providence vs. UConn 23:54 – Message to UConn fans: It’s time to step up! #UConn, #DanHurley, #CollegeBasketball, #BigEast, #HoopsCap, #GampelPavilion, #Huskies, #BasketballCapital, #FanCulture, #Providence, #StJohns, #MaliceScale, #HashimThabeet, #AlexKaraban, #NIL, #BasketballAtmosphere, #WineAndCheese, #SportsPodcast, #HomeFieldApparel, #Vancord, #BasketballFans, #CollegeHoops Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  3. 12 FEB

    Behind UConn’s Victory and Empowering Connecticut Youth: A Deep Dive with Don Maleto

    UConn bounces back with an 80-70 win over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse! Solo Ball drops 24, Braylon Mullins goes off in his homecoming, and Demary dishes 10 assists. We break it all down. Then we sit down with Don, Executive Director of the Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs in Connecticut, to talk about the incredible work being done for youth across the state — and why that pipeline matters for the future of college basketball. 🔒 This episode is presented by Vancord Cybersecurity Manage. Defend. Respond. 🌐 https://www.vancord.com 📞 855-VANCORD 0:01 – UConn vs. Butler recap and episode overview 1:21 – Introducing guest Don Maleto, CT Boys & Girls Club CEO, and his basketball roots 2:44 – Season reflections: UConn’s progress and how fan expectations are shaped by recent championships 5:24 – Player spotlight: Solo Ball’s breakout performance & the impact of Braylon Mullins 7:07 – Braylon Mullins analysis, development, and the insider family perspective 10:30 – Coaching perspective: Defensive lapses, motivation after tough games, and key adjustments 13:04 – On-court leadership: Who’s UConn’s emotional anchor this season? 14:35 – Bench development, strategy, and Eric’s role on offense 15:51 – Home Field Apparel ad & how sponsorship supports CT Boys & Girls Club 19:28 – Inside the Boys & Girls Club: Impact, access, and how UConn fans are helping local kids 22:28 – What a day at the Club looks like for Connecticut youth 26:57 – Honoring CT Boys & Girls Club legends & legacy of giving back 27:26 – How YOU can get involved—volunteering, donating, and making a difference 30:22 – Final thoughts, basketball shoutouts, and closing 📲 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigeast_energy X/Twitter: @bigeastenergy | @thehoopscap TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscappod TikTok (Mark): https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscapmz TikTok (Network): https://www.tiktok.com/@bigeastenergy 🔗 RESOURCE LINKS CT Boys & Girls Club Alliance: https://www.ctbgc.org Homefield Apparel: https://www.homefieldapparel.com Big East Energy Network: https://www.bigeastenergynetwork.com #UConn #BigEast #BigEastEnergy #TheHoopsCap #UConnBasketball #BoysAndGirlsClub #CollegeBasketball #SoloBall #DanHurley #Vancord #HomefieldApparel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
  4. 4 FEB

    UConn DOMINATES Xavier 92-60...Wins 18th straight game.

    The Huskies take on the Musketeers in a massive Big East clash! Join us LIVE as we react to every bucket, big stop, and momentum swing in real-time. Can UConn maintain their dominance, or will Xavier pull off the upset at home? 🗣️ Join the conversation: Drop your score predictions in the chat and let us know who you've got! #UConn #Xavier #BigEast #CollegeBasketball #LiveReaction We are powered by Vancord, a premier Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) specializing in incident response, threat detection, and managed IT services. Whether you need a CMMC compliance audit or 24/7 security monitoring, visit Vancord.com to build your defensive game plan. Who is Vancord? Vancord is a leading Information Technology and Cybersecurity company dedicated to being "global defenders in a world where good wins". They specialize in Incident Resilience, acting as a strategic partner to defend mission-critical systems and respond rapidly to data breaches and cyberattacks. From higher education to global brands, they ensure your operations are always "tournament ready" with 24/7 monitoring and expert-led security strategies. Get Protected Don’t wait for a security breach to happen. Get in touch with the experts at Vancord today: * Website: Vancord.com * Request a Consultation: Contact Vancord * Phone: 1-855-VANCORD (1-855-512-4817) * Podcast: Listen to their fundamental-focused cybersecurity podcast, CyberSound™, for the latest industry trends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 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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