Capitol Watch

Making his debut as the Courant's sports columnist, Mike Anthony joins Chris Brodeur to discuss the day he spent observing Randy Edsall and the UConn football team (3:00), the shocking conclusion of the women's basketball team's season (15:00), the WNBA Draft (22:30)and his recent column on the NBA debut of Hartford native Aaron Jackson (25:00).

UConn athletic director David Benedict sat down with the Courant's Dom Amore on the latest episode of the UConn Insider podcast. Benedict shared his approach to building relationships with student-athletes (4:00); revealed the aspects of the job that have most surprised him since he took over in 2015 (6:45); broke down the men’s basketball coaching search and the traits he saw in Hurley that made him an ideal fit (9:00); identified some scheduling targets for the UConn men (12:00); weighed in on the “good for the game” argument with regards to the UConn women (18:30); gave his impressions of Geno Auriemma’s coaching prowess (20:00); assessed the progress Randy Edsall has made in the ongoing quest to revive the football program (25:00); discussed the school’s decision to switch radio partners (28:00); evaluated his relationship with the fan base in the age of social media (30:00); and expressed why obtaining entry into a Power 5 conference isn’t an end-all, be-all (35:00). The show wraps up with Benedict discussing how he finds home-work balance (38:00).

Former UConn great and current ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo called in from Columbus to chat with online producer Chris Brodeur about the Final Four's most intriguing storylines (1:30); the Husky-related argument among sports pundits that's becoming a rite of spring (4:00); the first-round blowout that set that cycle in motion (7:00); Geno Auriemma's motivational tactics and why fans shouldn't be so concerned about players who catch his ire (10:00); the Huskies' national semifinal matchup with Notre Dame, which is a rematch of one of their closest calls this season (13:00); and why the Huskies will be ready should they get the opportunity to avenge last year's shocking loss to Mississippi State if the two teams meet in the national title game (15:00).

Mike Anthony calls in from Columbus (or, as the locals call it, C-Bus) to chat with online producer Chris Brodeur about the women's Final Four, where UConn is vying for its 12th national title. Anthony discusses the scene at Media Day (4:00); the Huskies' matchup with old Big East foe Notre Dame and the evolution of that rivalry (10:30); the showcase that this weekend will be for women's basketball given that all four teams are No. 1 seeds (12:30); Crystal Dangerfield's shooting performance against South Carolina (15:00); Mike's take on postseason awards (17:30); and how the Columbus experience compares to Mike's Final Four trips on the men's beat (24:00).

CBS sportscaster Ian Eagle calls in to chat with online producer Chris Brodeur about a wild NCAA tourney, the UConn men's basketball team's fall from grace and more. Eagle breaks down what was perhaps the wildest opening weekend in NCAA tournament history (6:00); discusses the parity in college hoops and why it’s a positive for the sport (8:00); declares one remaining team in the field the “most complete” (10:30); offers his thoughts on the Huskies’ sudden fall and the search for a coach who will be tasked with restoring the program’s luster (14:00); weighs in on the “bad for the game” argument that has once again clouded the achievements of the UConn women (16:30); describes what it’s like to call games for his alma mater, Syracuse, where his son Noah is a junior studying broadcast journalism who covers the Orange on the radio (19:20); and wraps things up by telling the story of his last bracket and why he probably won’t be filling one out anytime soon (27:00).

Women's beat reporter Mike Anthony phones in from Gampel Pavilion to chat with online producer Chris Brodeur ahead of the top-seeded Huskies' NCAA first-round matchup with No. 16 St. Francis. Anthony sets the scene from Storrs, where practices and press conferences were to be held Friday (2:00); looks ahead to a potential Nutmeg State showdown in Round 2 between UConn and No. 9 Quinnipiac (3:00); looks back at the Bobcats' rise, culminating in a Cinderella run in last year's tournament (5:00); shares his thoughts on Kevin Ollie being fired as head coach of the men's basketball team and whether Geno Auriemma was ever a serious candidate to replace him (8:00); gives his takeaways from a recent mailbag experiment with UConn's passionate fans (17:00); and discusses Auriemma's recent comments on the readiness of his team should they stare down another potential upset in the later rounds (20:00). The show wraps up with a look ahead at some teams, such as South Carolina and Notre Dame, that could pose a threat to the Huskies in the later rounds (22:00).

Men's beat reporter Dom Amore joins online producer Chris Brodeur to break down the breakdown between coach Kevin Ollie and UConn a little over 48 hours after the news of his impending firing from the university. The guys discuss the events that transpired beginning around 10 a.m. Saturday (2:00); the negotiations that will play out in the coming weeks between UConn and Ollie's camp (5:00); the potentially damaging summer workouts that Terry Larrier and Jalen Adams participated in and what effect, if any, those will have on the ongoing NCAA inquiry into the program's recruiting process (6:00); whether or not the school has "just cause" to fire Ollie (8:30); next steps in the disciplinary process and how long it might take to reach a conclusion (11:00); the motivation on UConn's part to avoid another costly coaching buyout (15:00); whether it's realistic to expect a donor or two to help defray the costs (17:00); the human element of Ollie's termination and what his legacy should be (19:30); the short list of candidates to replace Ollie, beginning with URI's Dan Hurley (25:30); whether Geno Auriemma would ever change offices at the Werth Champions Center (33:00); and, finally, an optimistic note on how quickly fortunes can change for a team that's down on its luck (36:45).

UConn men's hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh joins the Courant's Chris Brodeur and Kevin Vellturo to discuss the steady growth of the program in his five years at the helm (1:30); the benefits of playing in front of big, boisterous crowds in Hartford (4:15); the Huskies' confidence playing against a perennial powerhouse like BU (5:45); the surprising run by Germany in the Olympic hockey tournament (7:00); the unprecedented parity among this year's crop of Hockey East teams (8:00); the prospects of Connecticut hosting its own version of the Beanpot (9:30); the viability of Hartford as an NHL market and the staying power of the Whalers brand (12:00); the unique leadership style of senior goalie Tanner Creel (16:00); keeping tabs on his former players in the pro hockey ranks (17:30); and finally, what it will take to topple the Terriers in the hostile territory of Agganis Arena (19:00).

Bob Joyce, the longtime radio voice of the UConn women, joins Courant beat reporter Mike Anthony to discuss the work ethic of coach Geno Auriemma and company, the foundation upon which all those lopsided victories are built (3:45); the struggles of young UConn recruits to adjust to the system of Auriemma and longtime assistant Chris Dailey (7:30); Joyce’s favorite players and moments to cover over the years (10:30); the growth and development of current UConn stars Gabby Williams, Katie Lou Samuelson and Kia Nurse (15:00); and how the Huskies will be fueled by last season’s stunning defeat at the hands of Mississippi State in the Final Four (26:30. The guys wrap up their chat with some UConn hockey talk (29:30).

In an effort to lighten the mood, this week’s UConn Insider podcast focused on some good news involving Huskies of yesteryear. Well, first, a word or two on the doom and gloom of the 2017-18 bunch: beat reporter Dom Amore chats with online producer Chris Brodeur about what it's like to cover a team playing under a cloud of negativity (1:45) and discusses how that affects his writing (5:00). Then, Amore gives a brief update on the status of an NCAA inquiry into the program’s recruiting practices (6:15) before discussing Emeka Okafor’s comeback (7:00) and the upcoming NBA All-Star Game appearances of Kemba Walker and Andre Drummond (8:30). The guys wrap things up with a preview of the UConn baseball season (28:00).