Explore every episode of the podcast Tri-State College Basketball Podcast

Author Richard Kent joins Bryan to talk about his latest book, "The Madness of Ivy Basketball" which chronicles a wild season of men's and women's basketball in the Ivy League. Richard, who grew up in New Haven, CT as a fan of Yale and Princeton too, is currently a color commentator for Yale basketball. He offers plenty of anecdotes and insight into the players, coaches and teams from Bill Bradley in the 1960s to Caden Pierce and Bez Mbeng from today.

As summer workouts are underway at Rutgers, Head Coach Steve Pikiell assesses his most talented roster ever. Pikiell talks about:

dealing with high expectations

adding experienced players through the portal

addressing free throw woes

incoming freshman class

team size, depth and versatility

what the offense will look like

2024-25 schedule and more!

Jaden Daly, of A Daly Dose of Hoops, covers the MAAC like no other journalist. He breaks down the wide open race in the MAAC with host Bryan DeNovellis. With two weeks to go in the regular season, as many as 5 teams have a shot to win the regular season title.

Plus Bryan goes "Around the Tri-State"

33:00 UConn

39:30 Seton Hall

45:20 St. John's

50:10 Rutgers

53:10 Princeton

Host Bryan DeNovellis interviews Seton Hall women's basketball head coach, Tony Bozzella. Coach Bozzella discusses his recovery from Covid, the 2020-21 basketball season, the 2021 SHU recruiting class and why Seton Hall is so special to him.

Host Bryan DeNovellis interviews Rutgers men's basketball head coach, Steve Pikiell about the Scarlet Knights historic 2020-21 season, and recruiting for the incoming Class of 2021. Pikiell also shares memories of his playing days at UConn and St. Paul high school in Bristol, CT.

Host Bryan DeNovellis interviews the men's and women's basketball coaches at New Jersey City University, Marc Brown and Pat Devaney. The NJCU women's team won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship for the first time in the program's 51-year history, while the men's team won the NJAC Championship for a record 13th time.

Host Bryan DeNovellis is joined by former NBA and Seton Hall Head Coach and current broadcaster, P.J. Carlesimo. P.J. breaks down Baylor's dominant performance versus Gonzaga in the NCAA Championship game, and looks back at his 1991 Seton Hall team which won its first Big East Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight.

Host Bryan DeNovellis interviews former Seton Hall University star Jerry Walker, on the 30th Anniversary of the 1991 Big East Championship Team - Seton Hall's 1st Big East Championship in program history. Later Bryan talks about the non-foul call in the final seconds of the UConn vs. Baylor game in the Elite 8 of the Women's NCAA Tournament.

In this episode, Bryan DeNovellis is joined by Rutgers Men's Basketball Play By Play Announcer, Jerry Recco. Bryan and Jerry break down Rutgers loss to Houston in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, and look ahead to next season. Jerry also remembers his radio partner, and former Rutgers Associate Head Coach Joe Boylan who passed away on March 21. Following the interview with Jerry, Bryan recaps UConn's loss to Maryland in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament and talks about Rick Pitino's future at Iona.

In this podcast, host Bryan DeNovellis is joined by Sacred Heart University Men's Basketball Coach, Anthony Latina. Bryan and Coach Latina preview all four NCAA Tournament games involving teams from the NY Tri-State area: Rutgers vs Clemson, UConn vs. Maryland, Hartford vs Baylor and Iona vs. Alabama

This is the first episode of the Tri-State College Basketball Report with Bryan DeNovellis. In this episode, Bryan talks Rutgers, St. John's, Seton Hall and UConn basketball as each program wraps up the regular season and prepares for the upcoming Big Ten and Big East Tournaments.

ESPN's Seth Greenberg joins Bryan DeNovellis to discuss:

1:40 Seton Hall's 19-point comeback win over St. John's and the Pirates' toughness

6:45 St. John's struggles and Rick Pitino's postgame rant about his players and team facilities

10:25 and UConn's 14-game win streak and dominance under Dan Hurley.

17:40 FDU's players getting stuck in a freight elevator at LIU

Plus...Bryan goes "Around the Tri-State"

20:00 More on Rick Pitino's postgame comments

35:00 Rutgers loss to Minnesota

NJIT Coach Grant Billmeier joins Bryan DeNovellis to break down the Highlanders recent upsets of Vermont and UMass Lowell, the stellar play of freshman Tariq Francis and how the team has won 3 of its last 4. Plus Bryan goes Around the Tri-State with

18:20 St. John's

33:00 Rutgers

UConn Play by Play Announcer, Mike Crispino, joins Bryan to talk about the Huskies' 21-2 start, their 11-game Big East winning streak, the play of Cam Spencer and Donovan Clingan, the remaining schedule, UConn's quest to repeat as National Champs and which team would win if the 2023 UConn team played the 2024 team?

Around the Tri-State

33:00 Seton Hall

38:50 St. John’s

43:40 Rutgers

Monmouth Coach King Rice talks with host Bryan DeNovellis about the Hawks come-from-behind win over Hofstra, career win #200, coaching his son Xander (who's leading the MAAC in scoring), and the prospects of having "Beer Garden Saturdays" at home games.

Around the Tri-State

25:20 - Rutgers

32:50 UConn

36:40 Seton Hall

42:25 Quinnipiac

46:05 NJIT

48:55 Central Connecticut

Host Bryan DeNovellis recaps a wild weekend in the Tri-State as...

:00 UConn beats up Creighton and grinds out a win at Villanova '

10:35 Seton Hall falls short against Creighton in Triple Overtime (but the officials stole the spotlight)

27:30 St. John's comeback falls short in another one-point loss to Marquette

37:50 Rutgers road woes continue with a loss at Illinois

41:05 Quinnipiac stuns Iona to win its 5th straight

44:00 Fairfield has won 11 of its last 12

46:30 Sacred Heart holds off Wagner for its 3rd straight win

New York Post Sportswriter Zach Braziller joins Bryan DeNovellis to recap Seton Hall's 80-65 win over St. John's. The Johnnies played without Coach Rick Pitino or Guard Dana Dingle who both had COVID. Seton Hall improved to 12-1 vs St. John's all-time at the Prudential Center.

Plus Bryan goes "Around the Tri-State"

34:50 UConn

39:40 Central Connecticut

43:15 St. Peter’s

Princeton Forward Zach Martini joins host Bryan DeNovellis to talk about the Tigers 13-1 start, their recent win over Harvard, his recovery from a collapsed lung, his 3-point shooting, being a "Princeton student-athlete" and then plays "Guess that Country's Flag" with host Bryan DeNovellis :00 - 27:00

Plus Bryan Goes Around the Tri-State with:

Seton Hall - 28:00

St. John's - 37:40

UConn - 43:10

Rutgers - 48:50

To watch this full podcast on YouTube, go to this link on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAMbDaYvrxI

Seton Hall Center Jaden Bediako joins Bryan DeNovellis to talk about the Pirates upsets of #7 Marquette and #23 Providence. Bediako also discusses: playing for Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall's defense, the bench, offensive rebounding and playing against big men in the Big East.

Plus Bryan goes Around the Tri-State with:

26:15 - St. John’s

31:00 - UConn

36:45 Rutgers

43:15 Fairfield

49:15 Princeton

Former St. John's coach and current ESPN Broadcaster, Fran Fraschilla joins Bryan DeNovellis to talk Seton Hall, St. John's, the Big East, and his coaching days at St. John's. Plus a post-game brawl between Providence and Villanova from the 80s involving Rick Barnes you won't believe!

2:00 Seton Hall upsets #23 Providence

15:20 St. John's beats Butler

27:30 Rick Barnes and Providence Brawl at Villanova

29:45 Coaching career at St. John's

UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley joins Bryan DeNovellis in the wake of Alex Karaban's announcement that he's returning to Storrs. Hurley covers a number of topics including:

Karaban's return

His "deepest roster ever"

Incoming transfers (Reed and Mahaney) and freshman McNeeley

Why he engages opposing fans

Next Year's non-conference schedule

Quest to 3-Peat

Derek Simpson's late 3-pointer helps Rutgers survive a scare from Stonehill, plus Daniss Jenkins leads St. John's to a win over Hofstra despite 47 points from Tyler Thomas and Dstone Dubar; and Bryan goes "Around the Tri-State" with Fairfield, Iona, Monmouth and Princeton

Rutgers - 2:27

St. John's - 17:10

Around the Tri-State - 32:30

My Wish for the Tri-State in 2024 - 37:50

Host Bryan DeNovellis recaps the performance of both teams.

:4:00 Seton Hall analysis and reaction from head coach Shaheen Holloway and Forward Dre Davis

21:20 UConn analysis and reaction from head coach Dan Hurley

36:00 Around the Tri-State

Fox Sports Play-By-Play Announcer John Fanta is my guest as we grade the performances of UConn, St. John's and Seton Hall in the non-conference and look ahead to their opening week of Big East Play. John will also be on the microphone for Marquette and Providence and previews both teams.

1:40 - Providence and Marquette

7:50 UConn

15:40 St. John's

22:40 Seton Hall

Fairfield Interim Coach Chris Casey joins host Bryan DeNovellis to talk about the Stags 3-game win streak over Rider, Yale and Sacred Heart. Other topics include, Fairfield's elite backcourt, the status of transfer Alexis Yetna, his 38-year coaching career at stops like St. John's Niagara, Central CT, LIU Post and Rutgers-Newark, and a letter he once received from HOF Coach Dean Smith

:00 Rutgers upsets Seton Hall 70-63, and wins at the Prudential Center for the first time in 10 years. The return of Mawot Mag provided a huge lift for Rutgers. Cliff Omoruyi was named MVP and the Scarlet Knights hit 12 3s, their most in nearly 2 years!

20:30 Meanwhile Seton Hall was sulking after the loss and has one last shot to beat a Power 5 opponent in Missouri, before the start of Big East Play. The Pirates aren't starting strong and aren't shooting well. It's a recipe for an "L"

33:00 Plus St. John's trips up against Boston College as the Johnnies blow a 10-point second half lead. Rick Pitino rips into his team's performance and lack of defense following the loss.

Sportswriter Jerry Carino previews the Rutgers/Seton Hall Garden State Hardwood Rivalry and discusses the impact of Dylan Harper's decision to commit to Rutgers. Thanks to Harper, Rutgers currently owns the #2 recruiting class in the country behind only Duke.

Jerry and host Bryan DeNovellis break down the keys for both Seton Hall and Rutgers in the matchup, and make their predictions.

Former Rutgers and Seton Hall Coach Fred Hill relives his memories of the Rutgers/Seton Hall rivalry and also promotes a 2024 Summer Basketball Cruise and Tour of Croatia with a team of New Jersey college stars.

Plus Bryan goes Around the Tri-State

37:40 Princeton

45:10 St. John's

50:50 St. Peter's

Austin Johnson, Rutgers radio broadcaster and former player joins Bryan DeNovellis to analyze Rutgers 5-game winning streak heading into their Big Ten opener against Illinois. Johnson also talks about his new radio podcast "Crashing the Boards" with broadcaster Dave Popkin. Plus Austin and Bryan rank New Jersey's D1 teams 1 through 7.

Bryan also goes "Around the Tri-State" with

39:30 - St. John's

45:25 - UConn - Hear Dan Hurley's rant on the officiating

56:00 - MAAC Play begins

57:30 - Princeton

59:30 - Hofstra

Host Bryan DeNovellis interviews UConn Beat Writer David Borges on the Huskies dominant performance over Texas and Indiana to win the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden,

Bryan goes Around the Tri-State with:

Rutgers - 25:40

Princeton - 30:40

Seton Hall - 33:50

St. John's - 43:00

Princeton Associate Head Coach Brett MacConnell joins Bryan to talk about the Tigers 2 and Oh start with wins over Rutgers and Hofstra. Other topics include, Caden Pierce's rebounding, senior leadership of Matt Allocco and Zach Martini, preview of the Duquesne game and MacConnell's time as an assistant under head coach Mitch Henderson.

26:35 Bryan goes Around the Tri-State

UConn defeats Mississippi Valley St.

29: 30 St. John's loses to Michigan - with Rick Pitino reaction

39:45 Monmouth upsets West Virginia

40:30 Iona beats Sacred Heart

42:25 Sacred Heart defeats Holy Cross

Seton Hall Radio Announcer Dave Popkin joins Bryan to discuss Seton Hall's thrilling win over Indiana State to claim the program's 2nd NIT Championship and recap the Hall's 25-win season.

Plus Bryan analyzes UConn's dominating win over Purdue to claim their 2nd straight NCAA Title and 6th in program history. Hear Bryan's thoughts along with postgame sound from Head Coach Dan Hurley.

:00-22:30 UConn

22:30-45:00 Interview with Dave Popkin

45:00-52:00 Seton Hall's Dre Davis enters the portal

The 23=24 College Basketball Season has tipped off. The Tri-State College BB Podcast was in Trenton for Rutgers and Princeton.

Bryan recaps Princeton's 68-61 upset of Rutgers. You'll hear from both coaches, Mitch Henderson and Steve Pikiell in the post game. Plus, analysis of UConn, Seton Hall, FDU, St. John's Iona and Sacred Heart.

2:00 Rutgers vs Princeton Recap/Analysis and Coaches interviews

22:00 UConn

27:25 Seton Hall

32:00 Fairleigh Dickinson

33:30 St. John’s

37:05 Iona

40:00 Sacred Heart

The founders of the Big East Bar Room Podcast, Tyler and Ryan Cassidy, join Bryan DeNovellis to preview the Big East Conference Basketball Season. Among the topics they discuss are the Big East's:

• Best Front Courts
• Best Backcourts
• Player of Year Candidates
• Predictions for UConn, St. John's and Seton Hall
• Big East Games of the Year
• How Many Big East Teams in the NCAA Tournament

NJIT Coach Grant Billmeier sits down with host Bryan DeNovellis as he prepares for his first season as a collegiate head coach. Billmeier has played or coached under some great head coaches like Kevin Willard (Seton Hall/Maryland), Louis Orr (Seton Hall) and Kevin Boyle (St. Patrick High School). All 3 have influenced and shaped Billmeier's coaching and life philosophies.Billmeier talks about his roster, schedule and his plan to bring a winning culture back to NJIT

To watch this full interview on YouTube, click this link on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoDtPVvu5A4

Host Bryan DeNovellis continues his "Back to School" podcasts on the campus of Seton Hall University with Shaheen Holloway. After missing out on the NCAA Tournament in his first season coaching his alma mater, Holloway has brought in a number of new players who give his team more depth, more size and more shooters. Will it be enough to win in the rugged and loaded Big East Conference?

To watch this full podcast, click this link on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHbyJhzexes&t=8s

Host Bryan DeNovellis continues his "Back to School" episodes on the campus of Rutgers University with Scarlet Knights Head Coach Steve Pikiell. After an offseason that saw the program lose DPOY Caleb McConnell to graduation and Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy to the Portal, Pikiell has brought in some key replacements with Noah Fernandes, Austin Williams and Top 50 Freshman, Gavin Griffiths. The results should produce a higher-temp and better shooting team.

NOTE: This interview was recorded prior to the passing of Rutgers legend, Phil Sellers.

To watch this full podcast interview, click this link on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reVrPj0iOC8&t=1182s

Host Bryan DeNovellis continues his "Back to School" episodes on the campus of Iona University with first-year head coach Tobin Anderson. Fresh off his success at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he led the Knights to an historic upset of #1 Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, Anderson takes the baton from Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino at storied Iona. With 12 new scholarship players and only 1 returning player in 7-footer Osborn Shema, Anderson talks about his new team, summer workouts, and the challenges of molding the Gaels into a MAAC Championship contender.

Host Bryan DeNovellis begins his "Back to School" podcasts as colleges prepare to begin the 2023-24 academic calendar.Sacred Heart Coach Antony Latina discusses his 18-year tenure as an assistant and head coach of the Pioneers program. With eight players on the roster with at least 3 years playing experience, Sacred Heart will be one of the most experienced teams in the country and the likely preseason favorite in the NEC.

Zach Braziller of the New York Post joins host Bryan DeNovellis to discuss and analyze Rick Pitino's first two months at St. John's:

*11 new players on the roster

*the future of the program under Pitino

*predictions for St. John's in the Big East and NCAA Tournament

*and the future looks bright for all of the college basketball programs in NYC including St. John's, Hofstra, Fordham and Iona

Fran Fraschilla previews the NIT Final Four and the NCAA Final Four as Seton Hall and UConn both try to win national titles. Fraschilla will broadcast the NIT Final Four and Title Game on ESPN. He breaks down Seton Hall's road as the Pirates try to win what would be their 2nd NIT Title in program history (1953). And Fraschilla also breaks down UConn's historic quest to win back to back NCAA Championships.

1:30 Seton Hall and the NIT Final Four

17:50 UConn and the NCAA Final Four

Tobin Anderson joins host Bryan DeNovellis to talk about:*the state of recruiting at Iona, as he fills 12 new roster spots. 6 have signed with 6 more to come*winning the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Coach of the Year Award*how he handles NIL opportunities at Iona, and his thoughts on the transfer portal*the 2023-24 schedule*and meeting President Bill Clinton (who's apparently a fan of Anderson!)

Fresh off leading UConn to its 5th National Title in men's basketball, Dan Hurley joins host Bryan DeNovellis to talk about:

*Ringing the Opening Bell on the NYSE

*Winning his first national championship as a head coach

*His personal feelings about Seton Hall (spoiler alert...he doesn't hate his alma mater)

*Reshaping UConn's roster to make a run at a repeat

UConn beat writer David Borges of ctinsider.com joins host Bryan DeNovellis to preview UConn's Final Four matchup with Miami.Dave breaks down the backcourt and front court matchups; the head coaches - Dan Hurley vs Jim Larranaga, x-factors and provides his prediction.

16:00 - 43:00 Former Rutgers head coach, Fred Hill, Jr, who was also an assistant at Seton Hall (2x), Villanova, FDU and Rider, joins host Bryan DeNovellis to talk about his 2nd annual "Basketball Reunion" at the Prudential Center on Monday, April 3rd honoring some of the greatest coaches, players and teams in New Jersey basketball history. :00 - 16:00 Bryan also recaps UConn's win over Arkansas in the Sweet 16 and the Huskies matchup with Gonzaga in the Elite 8

:00 - 23:00 Princeton Associate Coach Brett MacConnell joins host Bryan DeNovellis to recap Princeton's upset wins over Arizona and Missouri, and preview the Tigers Sweet 16 matchup vs Creighton

23:00-35:40 Bryan recaps FDU's historic upset of Purdue and near win over Florida Atlantic

35:40- 42:40 UConn is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014 after wins over Iona and St. Mary's

:00- 24:00 UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley joins host Bryan DeNovellis to preview the Huskies' NCAA first round matchup with Iona. Hurley also comments on a record-setting Day 1 of the Transfer Portal "It's become in some ways like a version of the G-League."

24:00-33:00 Bryan also breaks down Princeton's matchup with Arizona in 15 vs 2 1st round game

33:00-42:00 The NIT with Rutgers and Seton Hall