Hour 1 - Michigan vs UConn + Dan Hurley The Villain

·40 min·3 clips

Danny Hurley has become the villain college basketball needs after legendary coaches retired.

The episode opens with Jason Smith and Mike Harmon on National Championship Monday, covering the Michigan vs. UConn game at halftime, where Michigan leads 33-29 in a physical, low-offense first half. They predict Michigan will pull away in the second half by feeding players like Lenda Borg and Mara underneath. The conversation shifts to Danny Hurley, with the hosts arguing he has become college basketball's necessary villain, evoking reactions and filling a void left by retired legendary coaches like Coach K and Roy Williams. They explore how Hurley's intensity and polarizing persona benefit the sport. The hosts then analyze the NIL era's impact, noting it keeps heritage teams like Michigan and UConn competitive by retaining good players, though superstars still leave early for the NBA. Next, they discuss Angel Reese's trade from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream for two first-round picks, criticizing the optics for the 23-year-old superstar and suggesting she talked her way out of Chicago. The episode includes updates on the game, with Michigan extending its lead, and touches on other sports news like Jalen Brunson's performance. Later, they reveal North Carolina's hiring of Michael Malone as head coach, highlighting it as a sign the job has lost prestige in the NIL era, as they couldn't attract top college coaches. The hosts conclude by reflecting on the game's defensive nature and the broader themes in college basketball.

As heard by us

A live title-game episode built around Michigan's depth, UConn's grind, and the wider noise around college basketball.

Michigan's 33-29 halftime lead over UConn gives the episode its charge, and Jason Smith and Mike Harmon keep testing the larger question around it: whether a close, bruising title game automatically makes for compelling television.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a tight Michigan-UConn national championship check-in with the portal already pulling at the edges?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon