Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 1: UConn Stuns Duke, Knicks Lose

Date: March 30, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

Episode Overview

This episode opens with Alan and Don discussing moving, balancing work and family, and Rosenberg’s plans to attend WWE’s Monday Night Raw. Quickly, the show pivots to an impassioned and detailed discussion of UConn’s stunning March Madness victory over Duke, breaking down the dramatic finish, coaching decisions, and classic tournament moments. The conversation moves to St. John’s elimination and Rick Pitino’s legacy and roster-building challenges in modern college basketball. The hosts rank all-time NCAA buzzer beaters. Listener calls follow, shifting focus to frustrations with the Knicks’ loss to Oklahoma City, the team’s inability to maximize Karl-Anthony Towns, and NBA strategies around “foul-baiting.” The show’s signature blend of humor, New York attitude, and insightful basketball takes drives the conversation.

Main Topics & Discussion Points

1. Life Updates and Show Intro (01:00–03:40)

• Don and Alan joke about “mental health days,” moving stress, and working multiple jobs. Don mentions being a “husband in training” and balancing marital ups and downs during a stressful move.
• Rosenberg describes the obligation he feels to attend WWE shows in New York as part of his persona and career. His commitment to both work and family comes through:
  • “There are certain times when you just gotta suck it up and know that nothing you do is going to be right that day and not fight it.” (01:32, Don)
• Plans for Passover are mentioned as the guys try to just “get to Thursday” and survive the week.

2. UConn’s Upset Over Duke: Anatomy of a Classic (03:51–15:45)

The Game Breakdown

• Hahn and La Greca break down UConn’s “March magic” comeback, emphasizing their steady, gritty climb back from a double-digit deficit and Duke’s late-game collapse.
  • “It wasn’t the shot. The shot was the culmination of March magic. It was the slow, steady, chop wood, carry water…” (04:05, Alan)
  • “The two classics in this tournament so far: Kentucky in the first round and this.” (04:46, Don)

Key Moments & Analysis

• UConn’s refusal to “let go of the rope,” Hurley’s culture, and what Duke’s endgame casualness revealed about their youthful roster.
• Discussion of the significance of not calling a timeout, with Hurley trusting his players in the final seconds.
  • “How about again, Hurley not calling timeout…he’s like, no, let it happen. That he just trusted his guys and his guys, they were mentally locked in.” (11:38, Alan)

Play-By-Play and Radio Calls

• The hosts play both UConn and Duke radio calls of the game-winning shot, relishing the contrasting emotions and commentaries.
  • “[UConn Radio]…Mullins gets it…caravan to Mullins long range three…Oh, it went in. Mullins delivers. Bedlam. Bedlam here.” (09:31, Radio call)
  • “[Duke Radio]…It’s Mullins up top for the win. Oh, he hit it. With 3/10 of a second to go…” (10:20, Radio call)

All-Time March Madness Shots

• The moment is compared to Chris Jenkins’ Villanova shot, Christian Laettner’s Kentucky buzzer beater, and other iconic moments. Nostalgia and the “stakes” involved are debated.
  • “You don't make a shot like that for nothing.” (18:54, Don)
  • “How about again, like I said, Hurley not calling timeout...” (11:38, Alan)

3. St. John’s Loss & Rick Pitino Debate (15:43–18:50)

• Analyzing St. John’s struggles against a simple defensive zone and questioning coaching decisions — why the team’s best shooter sat for long stretches.
  • “With all the great things that Pitino has done…that felt like a coaching failure Friday.” (14:48, Alan)
• Broader discussion about the modern college basketball landscape — the role of boosters/NIL, recruiting talent, and Pitino’s championship potential moving forward:
  • “I don’t know that he’s putting together teams that have that next [level].” (15:43, Don)
  • Alan argues it’s resource/booster driven more than style and notes Pitino’s record of deep tournament runs.

4. All-Time NCAA Buzzer Beaters (18:50–22:11)

• “Where does Mullins’ shot rank?”
  • Hahn and Don quickly list, debate, and compare legendary tourney finishes—Laettner vs. Jenkins vs. Suggs vs. the Drews—framing how context and circumstance shape the legend of a buzzer beater.
  • “All you need…is a shot that wins one shining moment.” (19:39, Don)

5. Drop Madness & Show Humor (22:11–26:28)

• The annual “Drop Madness” bracket is in full swing; Don excitedly runs through some matchups and inside jokes about the show’s recurring soundbites ("You're a filth bag", "I'm going to do it in my pants", etc.).
  • “You have to go onto our Twitter…you go to DHR on espn and you vote in each one.” (24:01, Don)
• Banter over show-related awards and commercials, including Rosenberg’s “championship belt” and how he’s still never had it properly framed.

6. Listener Calls: UConn Ecstasy, Drop Madness, Knicks Frustrations (26:28–41:00)

UConn Fan Calls In (27:37–29:02)

• Griffin from Connecticut calls elated about UConn’s double championship prospects and the Mullins moment:
  • “I screamed so loud, I’m surprised you guys couldn’t hear me from your house.” (28:40, Griffin)

Knicks & Karl-Anthony Towns Critique (36:33–49:24)

• Kevin from Plainfield voices frustration about the Knicks misusing Karl-Anthony Towns — not feeding him enough, especially against OKC’s smaller defenders.
  • “We are not going to win a championship if we do not get Karl Anthony Towns the ball.” (37:05, Kevin)
• Alan confirms that coaches are asked about these issues but notes Towns constantly claims he’s still “figuring out” his role.
  • “I’m still trying to figure out where I can impact our team and winning the most. There’s like seven games left in the season.” (44:41, Alan quoting Towns)
• Don and Alan lament the team’s inability to use Towns’ size mismatch, questioning coaching and player agency:
  • “How could you possibly have the audacity to think you could beat a team like the Thunder…if you can’t figure out how to get him to dominate?” (47:49, Alan)

7. NBA Foul-Baiting and Superstar Officiating (49:24–52:15)

• Discussing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s “superstar” whistle and the art of drawing fouls (including relevant stat: in two games, SGA had 28+ FTA, <10% 3PT shooting, all in <70 mins).
  • “Like the foul-baiting and all that stuff…and the…how much of it is just him being good at it though?” (51:10, Don)
• Don and Alan relate it to James Harden, Jalen Brunson, and even Sidney Crosby’s NHL days, framing it as “using the rules to your advantage.”
  • “You can’t call it as illegal… to make the rules work for you is what great players do.” (51:33, Don)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On UConn’s cultural toughness:
  • “That’s coaching, that’s Hurley, that’s their culture.” (04:51, Alan)
• On the Mullins shot:
  • “I said to Alan, that is one of the greatest sounding swishes in the history of recorded basketball.” (07:51, Don)
• On coaching philosophies:
  • “How many times do we see in college basketball? There’s a turnover, coach, let’s slow it all down…and Hurley’s like, no, let it happen.” (11:38, Alan)
• On Duke’s collapse:
  • “What could go wrong went wrong for Duke, and everything that could go right went right for UConn in that moment.” (13:23, Alan)
• On Pitino’s college basketball challenge:
  • “Places like Duke, Kentucky…they got more [big time boosters]. They got three or four Micropolis.” (16:15, Alan)
• On current Knicks issues:
  • “He took…Cat took nine shots. That’s not enough shots.” (46:53, Don)
• On foul manipulation in the NBA:
  • “You have to…manipulating the rules, but it’s just understanding them and how to use them to your advantage. Again, it’s something James Harden did all the time.” (52:02, Alan)

Timestamps by Segment

• Mentions of mental health days, moving anecdotes: 01:00–03:40
• UConn vs. Duke, game breakdown: 03:51–15:45
• St. John’s and Pitino discussion: 15:43–18:50
• NCAA buzzer beaters ranking: 18:50–22:11
• Drop Madness & internal show jokes: 22:11–26:28
• Listener calls: UConn, Drops, Knicks: 26:28–41:00
• Knicks and Towns’ fit: 41:00–49:24
• NBA foul-baiting and superstar officiating: 49:24–52:15

Podcast Tone & Style

• Language & Vibe: New York-centric, self-deprecating, quick-witted, blending honest X’s and O’s analysis with humor and pop culture.
• Show dynamics: Frequent teasing and personal anecdotes; audience engagement through “Drop Madness” and open, spirited calls.
• Unique feature: Genuine emotional highs—whether for a March Madness buzzer-beater or the comedic misadventures of moving—set alongside sharp sports talk.

Summary

This lively hour blends real-life messiness (moving, marriage, work-life chaos) with high-energy, insightful analysis of UConn’s iconic March Madness upset, deep dives on Duke’s late collapse, and St. John’s missed coaching opportunities. Through play-by-play breakdowns, listener calls, and humor, the hosts celebrate instant-classic sports moments, scrutinize New York coaching, rank historical buzzer-beaters, and tackle the nuances of NBA officiating—all while keeping their trademark camaraderie and New York edge. The show is a must-listen for anyone who wants both analysis and a sense of belonging to the city’s sports culture.