In this episode of Locked On UConn, we discuss why the UConn men’s basketball team is criminally underrated for the 24/25 season and why that’s a strategic advantage for Coach Dan Hurley. Despite their back-to-back national titles, UConn isn’t receiving the recognition they deserve. We’ll explore how Hurley can use this underestimation to fuel his team’s motivation and draw parallels with a recent storyline in the Netflix Show, Cobra Kai.

Show Notes:

Introduction:

• Welcome and housekeeping

• Encourage YouTube subscribers to download the audio version on podcast platforms

• Request for 5-star reviews to help grow the audience

• Sponsor mention: Gametime

Segment 1: UConn’s Criminally Underrated Status

• Discussion Points:

• Despite back-to-back national titles, UConn is not getting the recognition it deserves.

• Key returning players and new high-impact recruits.

• Parallels with Cobra Kai’s underdog story.

• Hurley’s ability to use the underdog mentality for motivation.

• Insights:

• Media labels and historical bias: Notre Dame Football, Duke Basketball, Kansas Basketball.

• Political parallels: How oversimplified labels shape perceptions.

Ad Break:

• Sponsor mention: Gametime

• Highlight the benefits of using Gametime for last-minute MLB game tickets.

• Promo code: LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off the first purchase.

Segment 2: Media Labels and UConn’s Underdog Spirit

• Discussion Points:

• Persistent media labels and their impact on team perception.

• UConn’s journey from underdog to champion under Jim Calhoun and Dan Hurley.

• The challenge and opportunity of being underestimated.

• Insights:

• Comparison to political labels and their influence on public perception.

• Hurley’s strategy to leverage the underdog narrative for team cohesion and motivation.

Ad Break:

• Promotion for Locked On Sports Today, a 24/7 sports streaming channel on YouTube and Amazon Fire TV.

Bottom Line:

• Media labels simplify narratives, often ignoring current realities.

• For UConn, being underestimated serves as both a challenge and an opportunity.

• Dan Hurley can use this narrative to drive continuous improvement and excellence within the team.

• Analogy: Like a chef who publicly showcases their culinary skills but privately uses past critiques to drive innovation and perfection.

Conclusion:

• Recap of key points.

• Encourage listeners to subscribe, follow, and leave reviews.

• Teaser for the next episode.

Outro:

• Mention of Locked On Sports Today’s availability on YouTube and Amazon Fire TV.

• Sign-off: “Stay locked in, stay connected, make sure your toughness meter is always rising, and as always, Go Huskies!”

Hashtags:

#UConn #LockedOnUConn #DanHurley #CollegeBasketball #MauiInvitational #NCAABasketball #UConnBasketball #Huskies #SportsPodcast #BigEast #NCAA #netflix #cobrakai