UConn Insider

In this edition of the UConn Insider podcast, host Shreyas Laddha is joined by Hartford Courant women's basketball beat writer Lila Bromberg to discuss everything UConn women's basketball ahead of the 2022-23 season. Can the Huskies compete for a national title despite all of their injury issues?

Alexa Philippou and Shreyas Laddha have TikTok's very own Marc D'Amelio on the podcast to discuss UConn hoops. Marc is a 1991 UConn graduate and a huge fan of UConn athletics. He discusses how he became a fan(2:58), hosting a UConn watch party in L.A. for the St. John's game (29:20), and so much more.

On this week's episode of the podcast, Courant beat writers Alexa Philippou and Shreyas Laddha discuss the rocky last two weeks the UConn women have had, which included Paige Bueckers' injury and resulted in their first loss to an unranked team since 2012 (0:18). Alex Putterman joins in on the fun later to offer a history lesson on the '08-'09 UConn men's team that made it to the Final Four (21:25). Later, Shreyas and Alexa dissect what we've learned about the UConn men in their recent stretch without Tyrese Martin and Adama Sanogo (34:52).

Welcome back, Husky fans! The Hartford Courant's UConn women's basketball beat writer Alexa Philippou introduces to the pod the Courant's new UConn men's basketball beat writer, Shreyas Laddha. Shreyas discusses his background, how he almost got into basketball ops and what makes him excited to cover the Huskies (1:30). Then, Alexa and Shreyas break down some of their early impressions and areas of improvement for the 7-1 UConn men (12:12) and the 3-1 UConn women (25:04). Discussed topics include: Could Jordan Hawkins unlock the next level to this Huskies team? What impact will Tyrese Martin's absence have? What more does Adama Sanogo need to show? What's the state of the UConn women's team's depth? How should we view their loss to South Carolina? And much, much more.

Summer is here, and so are some updates on your UConn Huskies! The Courant's UConn basketball writers Shawn McFarland and Alexa Philippou dive deep on the offseason additions to the UConn women's and men's basketball teams, as well as latest Husky commit Donovan Clingan.

UConn women's basketball alum and current Chicago Sky forward/center Azurá Stevens joins the UConn Insider Podcast to check in ahead of her fourth season in the league. Stevens, whose standout 2020 season was cut short due to a knee injury, provides an offseason update from Phoenix where she was working with Sky assistant coach Olaf Lange (2:15), reflects back on the WNBA bubble experience (6:40), discusses joining the Sky and being reunited with former UConn teammate Gabby Williams (10:30) and shares her love for making TikToks (14:30). Stevens then delves into the Sky's social justice initiative from last season and the momentum the league has coming off its activism efforts from the Bradenton bubble last summer (18:00). Stevens finishes up by discussing what Chicago's addition of Candace Parker means for the Sky's championship goals and for her specifically, the food truck she started with her dad (31:00) and her lasting UConn ties and Husky pride (39:15).

The Courant's Shawn McFarland, Alexa Philippou and Dom Amore wrap up the UConn men's and women's basketball seasons and provide perspective on how we should assess their 2020-21 campaigns despite such disappointing endings.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland break down everything you need to know about the UConn women's basketball team's Final Four run, including how they got here, who stands in their way of a 12th national title and which players need to step up for that to happen. They also share why they’d run through a wall for Arizona’s Adia Barnes and what’s made AP National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers the most thrilling player to watch in all of college basketball this season.

The Hartford Courant's Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland break down all things UConn women's basketball following the Huskies' first and second round NCAA Tournament victories in San Antonio. They also preview the upcoming Paige Bueckers-Caitlin Clark showdown in the Sweet 16, which is set to be a battle of epic proportions.

Andrea Hurley, wife of UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley, stops by this week's episode of The UConn Insider podcast to talk about her new podcast 'Ball is Wife,' which pulls back the curtain on the lives of basketball coaches' wives. Along the way, she provides an update on how she and the team are faring inside the NCAA Tournament bubble in Indianapolis, what Dan is like away from the court and how it's been for her son to join the program as a walk-on.

On this week's episode of the UConn Insider Podcast, Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland are joined by COVID-19 reporter and reigning Courant bracket champion Alex Putterman to discuss Geno Auriemma's COVID-19 case and both UConn basketball teams' NCAA Tournament brackets.

In this week's episode of the UConn Insider Podcast, The Courant's Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland chat Big East hoops on the heels of the women's tournament and with the men's well underway. Shawn breaks down what to know about the UConn men's quarterfinal opponent, DePaul (0:50), before Alexa recaps how the UConn women played their best basketball of the season this past weekend on their way to another conference title (8:45). Then, they look at the momentum the men have built over the last week in particular (16:35) and where the women are at heading into the NCAA Tournament (23:00).

In this week's podcast, The Courant's Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland break down the UConn men's big win over Seton Hall and how it helps their NCAA Tournament chances (0:30). Ahead of the Big East women's tournament, Alexa shares how UConn freshmen Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl are on upward trajectories and reveals who earned her regular season superlatives (9:10). In the second half of the episode (20:00), Shawn sits down with bracketologists Mike DeCourcy (FOX) and Jerry Palm (CBS) to assess where the UConn men are situated as March Madness approaches.

With March right around the corner, The Hartford Courant's Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland discuss whether the UConn men are a NCAA Tournament team and if the UConn women are peaking at the right time. They also dive deep on who else can help James Bouknight on offense, as well as Christyn Williams' growth on the defensive end. Shawn answers some rapid-fire questions about UConn basketball and his sneaker collection, while Alexa shouts out the pod's first-ever Husky of the Week award recipient.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou and Shawn McFarland joined the show to discuss our reader poll about the best freshman season in UConn women's history, Geno Auriemma's sky hook and more.

The Courant's Dom Amore stopped by to break down a host of UConn men's topics, including Jalen Gaffney's emergence as a reliable scorer, James Bouknight's absence and the impact it's had on the rest of the Huskies' lineup and more. The show wraps up with Amore's impressions of Paige Bueckers, whose spectacular performance against South Carolina on Monday resulted in some seismic social media buzz.

UConn women's basketball alum and SNY analyst Meghan Culmo joined our Alexa Philippou to break down the Huskies' season.

The Courant's Dom Amore joined the show to discuss the UConn men's basketball team's recent win over DePaul, Tyler Polley's torrid shooting, James Bouknight's injury, the Huskies' need for a true No. 2 scoring option to emerge, Dee Rowe's passing and more.

ESPN's LaChina Robinson joined The Courant's Alexa Philippou to break down the college hoops season, discuss her career and more.

SNY host and sideline reporter Maria Marino joined The Courant's Alexa Philippou for a wide-ranging discussion on the delayed UConn women's basketball season.

The Courant's Dom Amore stopped by to preview the upcoming UConn men's basketball season. You'll hear his thoughts on Dan Hurley's progress as a program-builder, James Bouknight's evolution into a bona fide NBA prospect, the make-up of a roster that now really squares with Hurley's coaching philosophy and more. The show wraps with some predictions for what figures to be another unpredictable season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou joins the show to break down the upcoming UConn women's basketball season. You’ll hear about the most intriguing storylines swirling around the Huskies at the outset of this unique season, from Christyn Williams' leadership to Paige Buecker’s Instagram prowess and everything in between.

UConn men's basketball associate head coach Kimani Young called in to discuss his new assignment, the path he took to Storrs, his unique relationship with Dan Hurley, the keys to finding success on the virtual recruiting trail, his role with Coaches For Action, the buzz around this year’s Huskies and more.

Former UConn star Caron Butler joined The Courant’s Dom Amore for a wide-ranging interview on this week’s UConn Insider podcast. You’ll hear Butler discuss the enduring lessons of the relationship he forged with Kobe Bryant, his work with the More Than A Vote initiative, his memories of playing for Jim Calhoun and much more.

Former UConn star Renee Montgomery chats with The Courant's Alexa Philippou about her continued social justice efforts, her media career and more.

CBS Sports college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein called in to discuss his quarantine eating and viewing habits (4:00); the unconventional path he took to his current place in the sports media landscape (5:45); UConn’s momentum heading into the shutdown (13:00); the origins of his nickname for Dan Hurley (15:30); Hurley’s virtual recruiting prowess (18:30); what the Huskies’ latest additions signify about the team’s competitiveness in the Big East recruiting corridor (20:15); his Big East preseason rankings and where UConn fits into that pecking order (23:00); the logistical hurdles to getting a college basketball season started and where that conversation stands (25:20); and more.

Bridgeport native Chris Smith, the UConn men's basketball team's all-time leading scorer and a member of the 1989-90 Dream Season Huskies, called in to discuss getting recruited by Jim Calhoun and choosing to stay close to home, his memories of the Huskies' run to the Elite Eight and heartbreaking loss to Duke, the lessons he learned from Calhoun and how applied them to his own coaching career and much more.

Courant sports columnist Mike Anthony called in to discuss his latest column, in which he professed how much he misses and loves sports despite some reader feedback to the contrary. You’ll hear his thoughts on one of his most indelible sports writing memories — covering UConn’s 6-overtime thriller against rival Syracuse in the 2009 Big East Tournament — as well as a heartfelt remembrance of one of the game’s participants, Stanley Robinson. The show wraps with a discussion about Randy Edsall’s fiery defense of the UConn football players prior to the decision to pull the plug on the 2020 season, and a look at Dan Hurley’s virtual recruiting prowess.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou stops by to catch everybody up on a summer's worth of UConn women's news. You'll hear about how the various Huskies in the WNBA are faring, as well as her thoughts on the top storylines to watch now that all 11 members of the UConn women have arrived on campus for official team activities.

The Courant's Dom Amore stopped by the podcast to break down the latest news and notes involving the UConn men. You'll hear his thoughts on 2021 commit Rahsool Diggins, Dan Hurley's success on the recruiting trail, the other Big East coaches' perception of the new kids on the block, the death of former Husky Stanley Robinson and more. The show wraps with some MLB talk, including a fun story involving Jim Calhoun and a first pitch invitation that may or may not have been extended by the Yankees during the Huskies' victory tour in 2004.

The Courant's Mike Anthony stopped by to discuss UConn's official inclusion in the Big East, the excitement around the men's program, the challenges facing Dan Hurley as he tries to sustain momentum during a pandemic, Geno Auriemma's thoughts on managing some similar obstacles, and more.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou passed the microphone to former Huskies Batouly Camara, Napheesa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield and Gabby Williams so they could share their thoughts on the profound moment the country is facing in the wake of George Floyd's death, how racism has personally affected them, their experiences speaking out against racial injustice, and where they want to go from here.

Courant sports columnist Mike Anthony joined the UConn Insider podcast to discuss his reassignment to the news side, his column on the protests in Hartford over George Floyd’s death, what the future holds for the Husky athletic department and more.

The Courant’s Dom Amore joined the UConn Insider podcast to break down what’s been a busy offseason for the UConn men despite the coronavirus pandemic. You’ll hear his thoughts on Dan Hurley’s virtual recruiting methods, Christian Vital’s legacy, early season ticket sales, the UConn football team’s new TV contract and more Husky-related topics before the conversation veers into some pro baseball talk. The show wraps up with a few thoughts on Scott Burrell’s newfound fame as a result of ESPN’s hit docu-series “The Last Dance.”

The Courant’s Dom Amore caught up with former UConn baseball player John Andreoli on the latest episode of the UConn Insider podcast. You’ll hear Andreoli discuss the parallels between his professional life and the acting career of his wife, Cara Harvey; creative solutions to keeping sharp during the coronavirus shutdown; angling for a roster spot with his hometown Red Sox and more.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou caught up with former UConn star Katie Lou Samuelson and her sister Karlie, who were recently reunited when Katie Lou was traded to the Dallas Wings. You'll hear the Samuelson sisters discuss what it's been like living in quarantine in California (4:00); their earliest memories of playing together (5:40); the decision-making process that led them to their respective college basketball programs (10:00); being recruited by each other's coaches (11:45); the differences between Geno Auriemma and Tara VanDerveer (13:00); how they've helped each other grow as players (14:30) and navigate the life of a student-athlete (16:00); the Cardinal's streak-ending win over the Huskies in 2014 (17:45); their memories of the 2017 Final Four (19:20); and more.

Former UConn sharpshooter Rashad Anderson joined the UConn Insider podcast to discuss quarantine life in his hometown of Tampa, his post-playing career, his memories of the 2004 national championship season, playing for Jim Calhoun, the leg infection that hospitalized him for two weeks, the way his game would translate in today's NBA and much more.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou caught up with former UConn women's basketball player Batouly Camara to discuss the ways in which she's keeping busy while quarantined (2:15); her upbringing as a child of immigrant parents from Guinea (4:45); her introduction to sports and why they've continued to resonate and play such a big role in her life (7:00); starting her charity, WAKE (14:30); the inspiration and the process behind the children's book she recently authored (19:00); her time at UConn and how it prepared her for the next phase of her life (22:15); using her platform to connect with other athletes who have a similar background (25:30); her role models in the world of merging sports with advocacy (27:00); and more.

Former UConn offensive tackle and NFL draft hopeful Matt Peart joined The Courant's Dom Amore to discuss his mentality as he awaits his first professional assignment amid the unprecedented obstacles of the coronavirus pandemic (3:30); his experience at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. (4:15); turning heads with his performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis (7:00); carrying on the legacy of Huskies who have made the leap to the NFL level (11:30); training at home in the absence of gyms (15:00); fielding those strange pre-draft questions (18:00); going against the grain as a Giants fan attending high school in Massachusetts (21:15); staying the course with the Huskies throughout the struggles of the past few seasons (24:00); and the enduring lessons from his five years in Storrs (24:45).

Adam Amin, the play-by-play voice of the women’s Final Four on ESPN, joined the show for a wide-ranging chat on April 6, one day after what would have been the national championship game. He discussed how he’s keeping busy during this unprecedented dearth of athletic events (3:00); where he was and what he was preparing to cover when coronavirus news first started to rock the sports world (5:45); the radio appearances and other professional opportunities that are helping him cope with a “purposeless” feeling (9:30); his roots as a broadcaster and the unwavering support he received from his father, a Pakistani immigrant and a huge Chicago sports fan (12:45); other broadcasters who have influenced his style (15:15); what it’s like to work with Rebecca Lobo and Kara Lawson (18:15); the UConn women’s basketball team’s struggles against the top teams in the country this season (22:00); the progress of the UConn men under Dan Hurley (27:00).

The Courant’s Dom Amore stopped by ahead of the AAC Tournament to discuss the prospects of an extended appearance by the UConn men. Will the Huskies’ momentum travel with them to Forth Worth? Or is the grueling nature of a tournament too much for their limited rotation to endure? Amore has those answers and more.

The Courant’s Alex Putterman stopped by for an offseason football check-in, followed by an interview with sophomore receiver Cam Ross. You’ll hear Ross’ thoughts on the parts of his game he’s trying to improve, as well as lighter subjects such as his fondness for the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy and the Wolf of Wall St.

The Courant's Mike Anthony returned to the podcast to discuss his recent columns on UConn women's basketball recruit Paige Bueckers and former Husky Ben Gordon.

In a reset for the podcast, The Courant's Mike Anthony hosts legendary broadcaster Joe D'Ambrosio for a wide-ranging chat on the state of Husky hoops, life after serving as UConn's longtime radio voice, his approach to the art of play-by-play and more. You'll first hear Joe's reaction to Akok Akok's injury and what it means for the UConn men as they continue to battle for relevance in the Dan Hurley era (3:10). The guys then discussed Joe's work on WTIC's Mornings with Ray Dunaway (11:00), his favorite local spot for Italian food (18:00), what he misses most about his old gig (19:00), how he honed his craft as a broadcaster (20:30), his favorite players to cover (25:00), the relative struggles of the UConn women (32:15), Jim Calhoun's return to coaching (37:00) and his favorite calls (38:00).

The Courant's Dom Amore called in from Dallas to discuss the UConn men's basketball team's recent surge. Did the Huskies' young players change the season's trajectory? Is an NIT bid in the cards? Plus, Amore previews the upcoming UConn baseball season.

The Courant's Alexa Philippou stopped by to break down the Huskies' recent outing against Oregon, which registered as the worst loss in the 30-year history of Gampel Pavilion. Where do they go from here? Whose game is on the upswing and whose development seems to be stalling? How restless is the fan base? Do the Huskies have a chance against No. 1 South Carolina? You'll hear the answers to all that and more.

Courant sports columnist Mike Anthony stopped by to discuss his interview with Kobe Bryant, Gigi Bryant's connection with the UConn women, the momentum the Huskies built by hanging tough against Team USA, the reasons why games against Tennessee should continue and more.

Our roving UConn reporter, Alex Putterman, dropped by the podcast this week to cover some odds and ends with regards to both basketball teams, the athletic department deficit, the Huskies’ rivalry with Tennessee and more. You’ll also hear about Putterman’s experience watching Kemba Walker and the Celtics beat the Lakers at TD Garden over the long weekend.

The Courant’s Alexa Philippou called in from Orlando for some women’s basketball talk on the latest UConn Insider podcast. How much of a setback was the Baylor game for the UConn women? Is Geno Auriemma any more comfortable with his bench than he was before the season started? You’ll hear the answers to all those questions and more.

The Courant's Dom Amore stopped by to break down the recent struggles of the UConn men's basketball team and answer Twitter questions from a restless fan base. Note: This episode was recorded prior to Wednesday's game against Tulane

Some UConn teams followed a steady trajectory over the past decade. Others fell harder than Gary McGhee. To remember some of the stories that mattered most to Husky fans in the 2010s, we enlisted The Courant’s Dom Amore, Mike Anthony and Alex Putterman for a roundtable discussion on the latest UConn Insider podcast.