Hoops Cap Pod

5-star wing Jordan Page is a Husky. The Raleigh native picked UConn and Dan Hurley over North Carolina, Kansas, Houston and Michigan, announcing live on NBA TV, and summed up why in three words: hats and rings. Lottery picks and championships.

On this episode of The Hoops Cap Pod, Mark Zanetto breaks down the Jordan Page commitment, why UConn now holds the No. 1 recruiting class in 2027 with two 5-stars, what "hats and rings" says about Dan Hurley's pitch, and the full 2026-27 UConn basketball schedule game by game: Michigan at TD Garden, Ohio State, Arizona, Duke in Las Vegas, Kansas at Gampel, and the toughest road trips in a deeper Big East.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Hats and Rings

0:50 Jordan Page commits to UConn live on NBA TV

1:45 Hurley wins in North Carolina's backyard

2:45 Two 5-stars: the No. 1 class in 2027

3:30 Where Page ranks among UConn's top commits

4:30 What "Hats and Rings" really means

6:00 Why Hurley's pitch is unbeatable

7:30 The Hats and Rings shirt

10:00 2026-27 UConn schedule breakdown

10:50 Michigan at TD Garden

12:15 Ohio State and Arizona

12:50 Duke in Las Vegas and the Najai Hines test

14:45 Kansas comes to Gampel

15:45 Virginia at MSG, Georgetown and New Year's Eve at Butler

17:15 Toughest Big East road games

19:00 How deep is the Big East this year?

20:20 Recruiting outlook and a note to the audience

21:30 Outro

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#UConn #UConnBasketball #JordanPage #DanHurley #HatsAndRings #UConnHuskies #BigEast #CollegeBasketball #Recruiting #HoopsCapPod

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Multiple sources tell Mark Zanetto that five-star wing Jordan Page, the No. 12 player in the class of 2027, is committing to UConn. The Raleigh native visited Chapel Hill one weekend and Storrs the next, and he's picking Dan Hurley over North Carolina, NC State, and more than 20 other offers.

Mark breaks down who Jordan Page is: a 6-5 lefty wing with a near 6-11 wingspan, an elite rebounder and defender, and a two-time USA Basketball gold medalist who already won alongside fellow UConn commit Navarro Bowman. Then the story you won't hear anywhere else. A source tells Mark what happened in DeMarcus Henry's recruitment after his visit to Storrs, and why UConn's staff put commitment and loyalty ahead of money.

First Bowman out of California, now Page out of the Hoop State. Dan Hurley can recruit anywhere.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Sources: Jordan Page is committing to UConn

0:45 Welcome and MyBookie

1:20 Who is Jordan Page?

2:55 The jump shot question

4:15 Stealing one from the Hoop State

5:45 MyBookie: $1,000 in bonus bets

6:50 The DeMarcus Henry story

9:35 Loyalty over money: how Hurley vets players

11:25 Hurley can recruit anywhere

13:05 The Hurley doctrine and sign-off

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Subscribe to the Big East Energy Network so you never miss the Hoops Cap Pod. Where does Jordan Page rank among Hurley's recruiting wins? Tell us in the comments.

#UConn #JordanPage #DanHurley #UConnHuskies #UConnBasketball #CollegeBasketball #BigEast #CBBRecruiting #DeMarcusHenry #NIL #HoopsCapPod #BigEastEnergy

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NaVorro Bowman Jr. is a UConn Husky. The five-star guard and son of four-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman committed to Dan Hurley on Thursday — the first commit of the 2027 class, and the fourth five-star of the Hurley era after Stephon Castle, Liam McNeeley and Braylon Mullins. Within a day, UConn cancelled visits with Cayden Daughtry, King Gibson and Micah Gordon. That's not a coincidence — that's Hurley showing you his board.

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Official visit season is here in Storrs — 12 recruits, 6 weeks — and Dan Hurley isn't shopping for finished products. He's shopping for foundation. On this episode of The Hoops Cap Pod, we break down what Hurley actually loves in a recruit (coachability, motor, competitive households, and NOT leading with the NIL question), then walk through every 2027 official visit on UConn's calendar: NaVorro Bowman Jr., DeMarcus Henry, Asa Montgomery, Kamsi Awaka, King Gibson, Jordan Page, Cayden Daughtry, Micah Gordon, Moussa Kamissoko, Malachi Jordan, Jayon Connor, and Eli Paez.

Then every one of them gets a grade on the Hurley Guy Scale — 1 means window dressing and a nice photo with the trophies, 10 means he's already a Hurley guy and doesn't know it. We close with the Final Four: the four names my intel says this staff already loves.

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New episodes every Wednesday, and Monday–Friday once the season tips. Subscribe and drop your own grades in the comments — best ones get read next week.

0:00 — Cold open: Dan Hurley builds from the ground up

1:10 — MyBookie / Big East Energy intro

2:00 — Why this visit season matters: 12 kids, 6 weeks, foundation for the next 3–4 teams

3:40 — What Hurley loves: coachability, motor, EQ, competitive households

6:30 — The NIL test: if money's the first question, the visit's over

8:15 — 5-in-5 and why Hurley goes high school when everyone else goes portal

9:30 — NaVorro Bowman Jr.

10:45 — DeMarcus Henry

11:45 — Asa Montgomery

12:30 — Kamsi Awaka (and the Hines take)

13:45 — King Gibson

14:40 — Jordan Page

15:15 — Cayden Daughtry: 150 pounds is the assignment, not the problem

16:45 — Micah Gordon & Moussa Kamissoko

18:45 — Malachi Jordan and the Shelton courtside crew

19:45 — Jayon Connor & Eli Paez

20:30 — Break

21:00 — The Hurley Guy Scale: grading all 12

26:00 — The Final Four

28:00 — Outro

#UConn #UConnBasketball #Huskies #DanHurley #UConnRecruiting #BigEast #CollegeBasketball #NCAAB #2027Recruits #DeMarcusHenry #KingGibson #CaydenDaughtry #NaVorroBowmanJr #TheHoopsCap #BigEastEnergy #MyBookie #HoopsCapPod

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Four conferences passed four different rules in four days — and almost nobody screaming about "pros ruining college basketball" has actually read a single one of them. So we read them for you. The Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC all rushed out bans on pro players returning to college... but when you strip it down, it's really just the Lane Kiffin Rule: protect the football golden goose, dress panic up as principle, and leave everything else in the same gray area it was in last week.

Meanwhile, the Big East got all 11 ADs on a Zoom and did... nothing. No rule. No vote. And that might be the smartest move anybody in college basketball made this week. We break down what each conference actually banned (spoiler: the Euro pro pipeline is basically untouched), put on the tinfoil hat about St. John's and Rick Pitino, talk Dave Benedict's response to the Zagoria report, and give Shaheen Holloway's brutally honest quote the airtime it deserves.

Then we close it out with a full 2026-27 UConn roster breakdown — Junior County hype, the Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr. POY conversation, why Nils Machowski is the wild card, Colben Landrew's top-10 mock draft buzz, Nik Khamenia replacing Liam McNeeley... uh, Alex Karaban's minutes, Na'jai Hines as the X-factor, and why the answer to everything UConn right now is: let 'em sleep.

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0:00 – Cold Open: Why the Big East Doing Nothing Might Be Genius

0:45 – Intro + Subscribe

1:30 – What Actually Happened: 4 Conferences, 4 Rules, 4 Days

4:00 – Ruining the Sport? The Discourse Check

5:45 – Nobody Read the Rules: Euro Pipeline Untouched + Big 12 Walks It Back

7:15 – The Cop-Out: They Should Call It the Lane Kiffin Rule

8:45 – MyBookie Break (Promo Code BEE)

10:00 – The Big East's Play: The Only Honest Position on the Board

12:15 – Tinfoil Hat Time: Is the League Protecting Pitino?

14:45 – The Real Downside: Coaches, Compliance & Dan Hurley's Take

17:00 – Holloway's Quote: "I Don't Know If It's Good or Bad"

18:00 – The Landing: The Sport Isn't Ruined

19:15 – UConn 2026-27 Roster Breakdown Begins

20:00 – Guards: Junior County Hype, Solo Ball Steak-Dinner Bet, Mullins & Demary

22:00 – Wild Cards: Nils Machowski & Colben Landrew's Top-10 Buzz

23:30 – Khamenia, Amosov & the Frontcourt: Na'jai Hines Is the X-Factor

25:30 – Let 'Em Sleep: Final Four in Detroit?

26:45 – Outro

#BigEast #UConn #CollegeBasketball #UConnHuskies #DanHurley #RickPitino #LaneKiffin #NCAA #CollegeHoops #BigEastBasketball #NIL #CollegeFootball #MarchMadness #HoopsCap #BigEastEnergyNetwork

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Welcome back to The Hoops Cap, your go-to source for all things UConn and Big East basketball! I’m your host, Mark Zanetto, coming at you from the Big East Energy Network. In this episode, we’ll dive into the shifting landscape of college sports—does someone really need to step in and save it, as Dan Hurley suggests? We’ll catch up on major player movements from UConn’s roster, analyze key returners and newcomers who might define the upcoming season, and explore whether UConn football could become an elite program—conference invite or not. Plus, we’ll spotlight some exciting new ventures here at Big East Energy, including the launch of the Big Bet Energy show and a special betting offer for listeners. Strap in as we break down the headlines, the stories, and what’s next on the horizon for UConn athletics!

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00:00 Expectations for key players

04:37 Hines' playing style

07:11 UConn's Key Player Developments

12:35 Declined podcast invitation

15:00 How to sign up and bet

19:29 NIL and college transfer issues

21:22 Debating NCAA regulations and leadership

26:05 UConn football's future and strategy

30:08 UConn's football potential

31:13 Future of UConn football

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Catch the latest episode of The Hoops Cap as Mark Zanetto returns to break down the current state of Big East basketball. Get analysis on the teams powering the conference today.

This episode of The Hoops Cap focuses on the latest updates from around the Big East. Mark Zanetto provides commentary for dedicated fans who follow the conference closely and want to stay informed on recent developments.

Whether you are looking for specific team insights or broader trends, this college basketball podcast delivers the perspective you need. Big East Energy drives the conversation, ensuring you get the relevant details you expect from every episode. We analyze the storylines that matter most to basketball enthusiasts.

Subscribe for weekly Big East basketball breakdowns, and comment below with which team you want us to analyze next.

00:00 Discussing NCAA eligibility rules

03:42 Coaching strategies and player fit

07:59 Players' defensive potential

10:25 Discussing Braylon's Shooting Improvements

13:13 Discussing a humorous mentor

17:49 Contact info and future plans

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Welcome back to The Hoops Cap podcast! In today’s episode, host Speaker A sits down with UConn Huskies starting point guard, Silas Demary Jr. Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Silas has made waves in college basketball as an SEC All-Freshman at Georgia before making a major impact at UConn—starting 39 games, earning All-Big East First Team and All-Defensive Team honors, and landing on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year late-season watch list. Together, Speaker A and Silas explore his journey from the transfer portal decision, adapting to life in Connecticut, and handling the pressures and triumphs on the court—including his historic performance against Providence and the unforgettable deflection that helped send UConn to another Final Four.

Tune in as they break down the culture shift, the complexities of UConn’s offense, and Silas’s mindset as both a player and a leader. Plus, Silas shares behind-the-scenes insights, his thoughts on player comparisons, his commitment to giving back to the community, and much more. Whether you’re a UConn fan or a lover of the game, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

00:00 — Meet Silas Demary Jr.: From Georgia Bulldog to UConn Husky

02:04 — Why Silas Chose UConn: Culture & the Coach Hurley Factor

03:56 — Inside the NCAA Transfer Portal: Pressure, Process & Making the Call

05:26 — Adjusting to Connecticut: Weather, Culture Shock & Life Up North

07:09 — Breaking Down UConn’s Offense: Learning Sets, Confidence & Style of Play

08:20 — Offense or Instinct? When to Run the Play vs. Take Over

10:03 — UConn’s Game Plan: Faster Tempo, Defense-Driven Offense, and Next Season’s Vision

11:23 — On Comparisons: Silas vs. Tristan Newton & Handling Expectations

13:22 — Providence Overtime Classic: 20 Points, 15 Assists, 5 Rebounds

18:20 — NCAA Tournament Runs: Michigan State Scare & The Legendary Duke Finish

20:49 — The “Play” That Sent UConn to the Final Four: Breaking Down the Iconic Deflection & Buzzer Beater

24:02 — Playing Hurt & Leadership: Staying on the Floor for the Huskies

25:19 — UConn Trivia Challenge: All-Time Greats & Huskies History

30:50 — Looking Ahead: National Title Dreams & What Silas Wants to Be Remembered For

34:21 — Giving Back: Bookbag Drive, Community Involvement & Future Goals

36:46 — Wrap-Up: Inside Jokes, Legacy, and Final Thoughts

#UConn #SilasDemaryJr #CollegeBasketball #BigEast

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UConn has built a dynasty on elite rim protection and versatile bigs—now,

The Chinese Standout (Xin Xu): 22 yr old is 7 Ft 5 and already making waves in the CBA with Guangdong, Xin Xu is the defensive force everyone is talking about. We break down his elite shot-blocking (averaging nearly 2 blocks in limited minutes) and how his mobility fits the Hurley system.

The Australian Mystery (JK Mach):7ft 6, Is the Australian pipeline back in Storrs? We discuss the latest on JK Mach's recruitment, his freakish length, and why UConn might be the perfect landing spot for the next great big from Down Under.

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UConn Transfer Portal LIVE Update – Huskies Reload the Frontcourt for 2026-27! Dan Hurley and staff have been busy in the portal after losing Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr., and others.

Latest adds Wofford SG Nils Machowski, rim-protecting bigs Najai Hines (Seton Hall), and international 6-10 big Oskar Giltay (Stanford), couple that with versatile forward Nikolas Khamenia (Duke),. UConn is still hunting more depth at the 4 potentially, and will likely dip back into the Euro market. Are there surprises on the way? Could they land a surprise target? : Who's in, who's out, roster outlook, and what's happening across the entire transfer portal. UConn positioned strong for another Final four and stake a claim for the Big East and National Titles.

Drop your thoughts below ; are the Huskies done or more moves coming?

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