UConn Fast Break

We predicted Malachi Smith to UConn. One of us placed a very early wager on Steph Castle for NBA Rookie of the Year, and we were discussing it all season. In the latest episode, Aman, Patrick, and Madigan discuss the return of Alex Karaban, the newest addition to the coaching staff, and other roster movement this April for the Huskies. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...

Solo and J-Stew are back. Two freshmen and a sophomore are in the portal, along with Aidan Mahaney. Liam McNeeley declared for the NBA Draft. We’re waiting to hear from the others. It’s going to be a new-look Husky squad next year, especially after the addition of Silas Demary Jr., a 6-foot-5 lead guard transferring over from the University of Georgia, where he averaged 13.5 PPG, 3.1 APG, and 3.9...

As we have stated all year, the only thing we knew to expect from the 2024-2025 Huskies was the unexpected. In the NCAA Tournament, that unexpectedness arrived in the form of UConn’s best defensive performances of the season and a near-upset of top-seeded Florida in a rock fight that nobody would have predicted. Now that the season is over, Aman, Patrick, and Dan explore the possibilities for the...

After seeing a loss to Creighton in the Big East Tournament semis and the Huskies landing an 8-seed in a West Region with a wicked tough No. 1 seed, we’re trying to find the right mix of caution and enthusiasm. At the very least, some Big East pride is on the line against the allegedly excellent SEC. In this episode, we discuss the two days at MSG, the NCAA Tournament bracket, and how the Huskies...

Despite an up-and-down ride through the regular season, UConn men’s hoops finished with a respectable final record and landing spot in the Big East standings. The Huskies can still make some noise in the conference and NCAA tournaments, especially with their leaders playing so well and others emerging as contributors. In this episode, Aman, Patrick, and Dan discuss the wins over Marquette and Seto...

This week, Aman, Dan, and Patrick discuss the wins over Georgetown and Providence and whether this stretch of consistent victories means anything for the future. Also, Tarris Reed Jr. is becoming a problem (for opposing teams). We also preview the Marquette matchup and get into postseason projections, including how things might shake out for the Huskies now that we know a bit more about their seed...

Through 27 games, we have a pretty solid idea of what this UConn men’s basketball team is all about. The roster has some real limitations and at this point, it seems unlikely that the Huskies can wash away the inconsistency they’ve shown as a group throughout the season. But all is not lost, some upside still exists. If you’re feeling any panic, anger, or agony, that might be misplaced. The future...

What a weird, rollercoaster of a week. It’s been a weird season as a whole, with many surprises, including untimely losses and player arcs that haven’t gone as hoped. Some of the wins have been surprising as well. Being down 14 at one point in a game against DePaul was unexpected, almost as unexpected as the eventual UConn win after the way that contest started. Liam McNeeley dropping 38 points to...

Before his January 1st injury at DePaul, Liam McNeeley’s start to the season was impressive enough. The five-star freshman had demonstrated scoring ability from all three levels, and great passing, and defensive prowess — the Huskies’ defensive ratings were higher with him in the lineup. In his first start back from injury, he showed another level, willing the Huskies to victory in a place where t...

In the latest episode of The Fast Break Podcast, Aman, Patrick, and Dan break down the Huskies’ surprising performances against DePaul and Marquette, including a discussion on the booing that was heard at the XL Center last Wednesday. We also previewed the St. John’s matchup as well as the NBA trade movement impacting our Huskies in the NBA. Enjoy! Photo: Twitter/X - @UConnMBB This is a public epi...

It’s been a tough ride for Dan Hurley and the Huskies lately in Big East play, especially with the injury to Liam McNeeley. Perhaps the freshman is more critical to this year’s success than we thought, but we are seeing some positive developments for UConn despite these close losses piling up. In this episode, we discuss if there’s any need to adjust expectations for the 2025 postseason, the growt...

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...

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...

**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....

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 d...

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...

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 Go...

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...

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 yea...

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...

Good news everyone, Alex Karaban is coming back! In this episode, we discuss the implications of the Massachusetts native returning for a third season in Storrs, including the possibilities for him, for his team, and for his NBA Draft stock. This opens up some juicy lineup possibilities, from shooter-heavy small-ball to an extra-large squad with four guys 6-foot-6 or taller playing the two through...

The entire starting lineup from the 2024 national championship Husky squad is heading to Chicago for the NBA Combine. This felt like a good time to review the fellas’ mock draft projections, what they’ve proven in their time at UConn, and any pro comparisons we may have. With all these Huskies in the draft mix, we’re anticipating a busy few months following their workouts, the draft lottery, the N...

After adding Tarris Reed Jr. to the roster out of the transfer portal, UConn has signed two more players expected to be immediate contributors: Liam McNeeley and Aidan Mahaney . With that plus the announced return of Hassan Diarra and the retention of every other underclassman besides the draft guys and Apostolos Roumoglou, UConn is once again set to be a national championship contender. In this e...

This time last year, we were wondering about the fates of Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo while eagerly checking mock drafts for Jordan Hawkins’ name. All three ended up leaving, along with a couple of others, leading to concerns for the next season with so much turnover in the lineup. That turned out alright, so we know Dan Hurley and his staff can re-tool. But the rebuilding job will be bigger th...