UConn men’s basketball went 1-1 over the last week, with many highs and some lows across a tight loss to Villanova and the relatively comfortable win over Georgetown.

Though the Nova game was marked by missed opportunities at the end, Dan Hurley’s squad did not let that phase them as they traveled to Washington DC to face an improving Georgetown team on Saturday. After taking the Hoyas’ best shot and prevailing, the Huskies have a week off from games before Saturday at noon when they host Creighton in another FOX game.

In this episode, the crew discusses improved defense, the fellas stepping up, and Tyrese Martin, our UConn Fast Break NBA Player of the Week.

Enjoy!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

Dan Hurley said it best: this season is no coronation.

That’s what Husky fans were getting used to. At the end of last season, UConn men’s basketball was an inevitable monster, finishing with 13 straight wins and a second consecutive national championship bolstered by double Big East crowns after one of the most dominant postseason performances of all time.

This year’s team is capable of returning to the promised land, but it is not going to be as pretty or fun. The Huskies have a lot to improve on and with Liam McNeeley out injured, they’ll have to grow up a lot over the next month.

In this episode, the crew reacts to the rollercoaster Providence game and this roster’s prospects without McNeeley. We also caught up on key storylines around the Big East and the glorious moment of Husky legend Cam Spencer sharing the court in an NBA game with his brother Pat.

Enjoy!

Photo: Ian Bethune

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

**An earlier version of this podcast was published containing dead audio due to technical difficulties. We apologize and promise to do better next time.**

The UConn Huskies have shown tremendous resolve and poise as they began league play with wins over Xavier, Butler, and DePaul. They’re hosting Providence on Sunday as they look to push their winning streak to eight, with potential for much more.

The Huskies’ next five opponents are: Providence (ranked 89th in KenPom), at Villanova (52nd), at Georgetown (66th), Creighton (53rd), and Butler (74th), before a visit to Xavier (51st) which could be somewhat challenging and a home game against DePaul (103rd) to close out the month. January 2025 should be kind to the record and a salve for the team’s metrics.

In this episode, the crew discusses the highs and lows of beating Xavier in OT, a close road win over Butler, and the rollercoaster experience against New DePaul. We also broke down Liam McNeeley’s injury prognosis, key improvements over the last month, and the ceiling for this team.

Enjoy!

Photo: Ian Bethune

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

Just when the haters and losers were ready to throw dirt on the Huskies, pushing them out of the top-25 rankings, Dan Hurley’s squad has roared back into the national conversation with three straight statement wins.

Beating Baylor without Alex Karaban was gutsy. They took care of business at Texas. And they reminded Gonzaga that it is forever destined to be inferior to UConn.

In this episode, we discuss the starpower of Liam McNeeley, the growth and leadership of others across the roster, and the fact that Hurley’s Huskies appear to have their mojo back after a rough ride through Maui.

We also go around the Big East as UConn readies for league play with a home bout against Xavier on Wednesday.

Enjoy!

Photo: Ian Bethune

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

Dan Hurley’s new-look squad for 2024-2025 has yet to be tested so far this season, playing four teams ranked below 300 in KenPom to start the schedule. We’ve seen some guys emerge as major contributors early, while others are experiencing growing pains. But we don’t know who Hurley will be counting on in March, not until the Huskies face some better competition.

In this episode, the crew discusses early takeaways after four games, what the upcoming schedule (many tough games in Maui and early December!) portends, and reflections on the Big East competition and how things are shaping up across the league.

Enjoy!

Photo: Ian Bethune

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

UConn’s quest for three-peat is officially underway, and we break down how the team looked in its first test of the new season. We also discuss Jacob Furphy’s commitment and what he adds to an already loaded 2025 recruiting class. Lastly, the crew takes a look around the Big East and discusses the overall underperformance of the conference so far, plus some first impressions on future opponents Gonzaga and Butler.

As the new season gets underway, we will be covering the Huskies’ journey for title No. 7 all year long. Be sure to follow us here and at The UConn Blog for the best UConn coverage around!

Thanks for listening. Enjoy!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

Dan Hurley and his staff are on an absolute tear on the recruiting trail, earning commitments from three top-30 prospects from the Class of 2025. As a result, we’re expecting more trophies, more draft picks, and some exciting innovations on the court after the Huskies bring in two five-star combo guards and a skilled big man.

In this episode, the crew discusses UConn’s recruiting success, Big East Media Day, and the exhibition game against URI.

Enjoy!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

Not too long ago, just a few years back, the prevailing mood for UConn men’s basketball fans was fear.

Will we be okay?

Are our best years behind us?

Can it ever be as good as it was?

These were the haunting questions UConn fans were dealing with, most intensely from around 2016 to 2018, with a slight recurrence as Dan Hurley’s early years saw consecutive first-round NCAA Tournament exits.

Two years later, the “Hurley can’t win the big game” or “Hurley can’t win close games” boobirds have been shut up, as UConn finds itself in a much different position.

Back in the fall of 2022, even the most optimistic of Husky fans could not have anticipated what was about to unfold. The way the Huskies followed a dominant championship effort with an even more dominant championship season proves that something very special is occurring.

In this episode, the crew discussed: Updates on Huskies in the NBA, key questions for the squad heading into the season, and how to unpack all of the success of the last 24 months.

Enjoy!

Photo: Ian Bethune

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

We preview the NBA Draft from the UConn perspective, with our final takes on where the mock drafters have placed the fellas and some ideal landing spots for them. No matter what happens Wednesday night, it’ll be a good one for the program.

Enjoy!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com

The chase for the three-peat is on!

UConn fans just survived a scary long weekend from Thursday to Monday with the news that the NBA was hot in pursuit of Dan Hurley. Rumors that the offer was for over $100 million added to those fears, but at the end of the day the man from Jersey City decided to stay close to home and keep building the dynasty.

In this episode, our crew discusses the drama, our feelings, and the meaning of an offseason where your head coach turns down the University of Kentucky and the Lakers.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuconnfastbreak.substack.com