Stephon Castle #1 pick? Plus Uconn GOAT Talk

06/26/24 • 28 min

Locked On UConn - Daily Podcast on University of Connecticut Huskies Football and Basketball

Could Stephon Castle Go No. 1?

There’s a new No 1 pick trending for the NBA DRAFT TONIGHT AND HIS NAME IS NOT DONOVAN CLINGAN.... YOU’RE LOCKED ON!

Introduction:

Thanks for making Locked On UConn your first listen every day. We are free and available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube as part of the Locked On Podcast Network—Your Team, Every Day.

Housekeeping Notes:

The support on YouTube has been amazing. Please also download the audio version wherever you get your podcasts to help grow the Locked On UConn audience.

Do me two quick favors:

Click that subscribe button at the bottom of your screen.

Head over to Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and hit that follow button.

Your support means everything to me. If you’re listening on any audio device, please drop us a 5-star review. Special shout out to our everydayers!

Promos:

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Main Topic: Could Stephon Castle Surprise Us All and Go No. 1?

Discussion on Stephon Castle's all-around talent and why he might be a surprise No. 1 pick.

Playmaking: High-feel playmaker who controls the tempo.

Passing: Makes simple plays with skip passes, kick-outs, and interior feeds. Thrives in pick-and-roll situations.

Finishing: Good finisher through contact, using either hand.

Shooting Potential: Shows flashes of being a go-to scorer when his jumper is falling. Soft touch on floaters and layups. Improved free throw shooting.

Defense: Tone-setting defender with size, versatility, and effort. Effective both on-ball and off-ball.

Overall, he’s a high-impact player with significant upside if his shooting consistency improves. Don't be surprised if Stephon goes No. 1.

Segment: UConn GOAT Debate

Discuss the GOAT debate sparked on UConn Twitter by the handle @WALKRIGHTIER.

Review Honorable Mentions (15-11): Adama Sanogo, Khalid El-Amin, Rudy Gay, Cliff Robinson.

Upcoming Segment: Revealing the Top 2 players, separated by only 6 points from over 170 ballots.

Final Thoughts:

Tune in for our final 5 on the GOAT List poll coming up.

Be sure to subscribe to Locked On UConn on YouTube and your preferred podcast platform. Leave us a 5-star review and join our insider program for exclusive content.

Promos

FanDuel Overlay:

I love sports and never want them to stop. FanDuel lets me keep the sports going whenever I want. Get your best odds on UConn futures and daily boosts all summer long at FanDuel.com/LockedOn.

Locked On Sports Today:

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Outro:

This has been another episode of Locked On UConn. I’m your host Mark Zanetto, asking you to stay locked in, stay connected, make sure your toughness meter is always rising, and as always, Go Huskies!

Could Stephon Castle Go No. 1?

There’s a new No 1 pick trending for the NBA DRAFT TONIGHT AND HIS NAME IS NOT DONOVAN CLINGAN.... YOU’RE LOCKED ON!

Introduction:

Thanks for making Locked On UConn your first listen every day. We are free and available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube as part of the Locked On Podcast Network—Your Team, Every Day.

Housekeeping Notes:

The support on YouTube has been amazing. Please also download the audio version wherever you get your podcasts to help grow the Locked On UConn audience.

Do me two quick favors:

Click that subscribe button at the bottom of your screen.

Head over to Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and hit that follow button.

Your support means everything to me. If you’re listening on any audio device, please drop us a 5-star review. Special shout out to our everydayers!

Promos:

Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON for daily boosts and bonuses all summer long.

Main Topic: Could Stephon Castle Surprise Us All and Go No. 1?

Discussion on Stephon Castle's all-around talent and why he might be a surprise No. 1 pick.

Playmaking: High-feel playmaker who controls the tempo.

Passing: Makes simple plays with skip passes, kick-outs, and interior feeds. Thrives in pick-and-roll situations.

Finishing: Good finisher through contact, using either hand.

Shooting Potential: Shows flashes of being a go-to scorer when his jumper is falling. Soft touch on floaters and layups. Improved free throw shooting.

Defense: Tone-setting defender with size, versatility, and effort. Effective both on-ball and off-ball.

Overall, he’s a high-impact player with significant upside if his shooting consistency improves. Don't be surprised if Stephon goes No. 1.

Segment: UConn GOAT Debate

Discuss the GOAT debate sparked on UConn Twitter by the handle @WALKRIGHTIER.

Review Honorable Mentions (15-11): Adama Sanogo, Khalid El-Amin, Rudy Gay, Cliff Robinson.

Upcoming Segment: Revealing the Top 2 players, separated by only 6 points from over 170 ballots.

Final Thoughts:

Tune in for our final 5 on the GOAT List poll coming up.

Be sure to subscribe to Locked On UConn on YouTube and your preferred podcast platform. Leave us a 5-star review and join our insider program for exclusive content.

Promos

FanDuel Overlay:

I love sports and never want them to stop. FanDuel lets me keep the sports going whenever I want. Get your best odds on UConn futures and daily boosts all summer long at FanDuel.com/LockedOn.

Locked On Sports Today:

Outro:

Previous Episode

The Big East's New Deal, plus Huskies in the Pro's

In today's episode, we dive into the massive new six-year media rights deal the Big East is about to sign with Fox, NBC, and TNT. This pivotal deal will begin in the 2025-26 school year and run through 2030-31, and it promises to bring increased exposure and financial stability to the conference. We discuss what this means for UConn and the future landscape of college basketball.

Show Notes

Introduction:

Big changes are coming to the Big East! Thanks for making Locked On UConn your first listen every day. We are free and available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube as part of the Locked On Podcast Network—Your Team, Every Day.

Before we dive into the details, I wanted to mention how much I appreciate the support on YouTube. I'd love to see all my subscribers also downloading the audio version wherever you get your podcasts. Your support helps the Locked On UConn audience grow. So, please:

Click that subscribe button at the bottom of your screen.

Head over to Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and hit that follow button.

Your support means everything to me. If you’re listening on any audio device, please take a moment to drop us a 5-star review. All feedback is much appreciated. Special shout out to our "everydayers," like Palmer and his dad Shawn!

Main Topic: Big East Media Deal

Media Partners and Financial Terms:

The Big East's current deal with Fox and CBS (12 years, $500M) is ending.

The new deal sees significant rights fee increases, underscoring the growing value of Big East sports.

Fox remains the lead network, continuing its long-standing partnership with the Big East.

CBS exits, replaced by NBC and TNT, diversifying media partners and likely enhancing exposure.

Importance for the Big East:

Securing this deal is crucial for the Big East’s stability, especially as college sports media contracts become increasingly lucrative.

Unlike power conferences with football, the Big East relies solely on basketball, making successful media negotiations vital.

Comparison to Other Conferences:

The Big Ten and SEC have massive deals worth over $1B annually, highlighting financial disparities.

The Big East, without football, occupies a unique position but strengthens its stature through basketball success.

Challenges and Antitrust Issues:

The Big East faces challenges from a recent antitrust settlement requiring non-Power Five schools to cover 35% of nearly $2.8B owed to former athletes.

This financial strain adds to the importance of securing favorable media deals.

Implications for UConn and Beyond:

Stability for the next six years is assured, but the landscape of college sports after that remains uncertain.

This deal may quiet any ACC/Big East or UConn to the Big 12 rumors.

Long-term planning remains critical, as the future of the Big East past this deal is unpredictable.

Recruiting Insights and Player Profiles:

Recap our conversation with Tobias Bass on recruiting.

Discuss potential new members of the UConn family.

Top talent linked to UConn: Meleek Thomas, AJ Dybantsa, Braylon Mullins.

Audio clips from yesterday’s show to highlight key points.

Current Roster and NBA Draft Prospects:

Donovan Clingan: Predicted to be the first pick in the NBA Draft.

Stephon Castle: Why he makes sense for the Spurs.

Predictions for Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer in the NBA Draft.

Next Episode

UConn's NBA Draft Party

@LockedOnUConn

Locked On UConn - NBA Draft Insights with Adam Zagoria

In today’s episode, we bring in Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com, a NY Times and Forbes Sports contributing writer, to provide some in-depth analysis of the NBA Draft. We discuss the potential regret for the Hawks not picking Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle’s draft stock, and the importance of UConn players making it to the NBA. Plus, we dive into recruiting updates from Dan Hurley and his strategy after winning back-to-back titles.

Show Notes

Intro:

Thanks for making Locked On UConn your first listen every day. We are free and available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube as part of the Locked On Podcast Network—Your Team, Every Day.

Housekeeping:

The support on YouTube has been amazing. Please also download the audio version wherever you get your podcasts to help grow the Locked On UConn audience.

Do me two quick favors:

Click that subscribe button at the bottom of your screen.

Head over to Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and hit that follow button.

Your support means everything to me. If you’re listening on any audio device, please drop us a 5-star review.

Special shout out to our everydayers! We now have rolled out our insider program. Get a 14-day free trial of Subtext for the latest insights, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates on UConn Basketball. Join our community for direct access to the host, special Q&A sessions, giveaways of gear, signed merchandise, and more. A percentage of the subscription will go to Bleeding Blue for Good.

Main Segment: NBA Draft Insights

Guest: Adam Zagoria

Discussing the potential regret the Hawks might have for not picking Donovan Clingan with the No. 1 overall pick.

Exploring the speculation around Stephon Castle possibly going as high as No. 1, and whether playing more of a role at UConn impacted his draft stock.

Examining if the Blazers’ lack of interest in Donovan Clingan would have led to the Spurs considering a double dip on UConn players.

Key Questions:

Why is the success of players like Alex Karaban, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer making it to the NBA so vital for validating UConn’s legacy?

What does producing two lottery picks following the successful drafts of Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. suggest about UConn’s capabilities in nurturing NBA-ready talent?

Could you share the different strategies or methods UConn employs to develop both highly-rated recruits and lesser-known prospects into top-tier players?

Recruiting Updates:

Danny Hurley on recruiting after winning back-to-back titles: “You’ve got greater access and there’s a lot more excitement on the other end of text messages and phone calls, but we’ve gotta get the people that are right for us.”

Next Steps:

Discuss potential destinations for Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer and whether they are likely to get drafted.

Promos:

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Conclusion: