We’re just a few more days from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. Last week we dropped previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday); this week we’ll have the Big 12 (Monday), AAC (Tuesday) and ACC (Wednesday). As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. For this podblast, we invited RTC ACC microsite correspondent Matt Patton (@rise_and_fire) to the program, as he walks us through what this 15-team behemoth of a basketball league will look like this season.

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-8:46 – Duke: New Look, Same High Expectations
• 8:46-13:46 – Just Who is in the Second Tier in the ACC?
• 13:46-20:19 – Pitt, BC, Maryland and the ACC Middle Class
• 20:19-24:42 – Hope in the Bottom of the League
• 24:42-26:52 – Randy’s New Favorite Team – ACC Edition
• 26:52-31:27 – ACC Player of the Year and First Team Discussion
• 31:27-32:26 – Bold Predictions/Wrap

We’re just a few more days from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. Last week we dropped previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday); this week we’ll have the Big 12 (Monday), AAC (Tuesday) and ACC (Wednesday). As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. For this podblast, we invited RTC AAC microsite correspondent Mike Lemaire (@mike_lemaire) to the program, as he walked us through what to expect in the new (and confusing) league this season.

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-10:11 – Louisville’s Chances Of Repeating
• 10:11-14:24 – UConn vs. Memphis For Second Best
• 14:24-17:20 – Best Backcourt in The American (and maybe America)
• 17:20-22:11 – Best of the Rest
• 22:11-26:35 – Randy’s New Favorite Team – AAC Style
• 26:35-29:39 – AAC First Teamer Set To Disappoint
• 29:39-32:02 – Under The Radar AAC Star

We’re just a few more days from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. Last week we dropped previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday); this week we’ll have the Big 12 (Monday), ACC (Tuesday) and AAC (Wednesday). As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. For this podblast, we invited RTC Big 12 microsite correspondent Brian Goodman (@bsgoodman) to the program, as he tried to make a case that Rick Barnes can save his job at Texas (hint: he couldn’t).

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-13:31 – Kansas vs. Oklahoma State (and Wiggins vs. Smart)
• 13:31-17:22 – Big 12 Second Tier (Baylor and Iowa State)
• 17:22-20:32 – Best of the Rest
• 20:32-22:18 – What to Do With Rick Barnes
• 22:18-24:55 – Iowa State a Contender for Randy’s Favorite Team
• 24:55-26:31 – POY debate
• 26:31-28:43 – Battle for Third Best Player
• 28:43-30:14 – Under the Radar Big 12 Players
• 30:14-31:55 – Bold Big 12 Predictions/Wrap

We’re just a little over a week from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. This week we’ll unveil previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday), with the AAC, ACC and Big 12 to come next week. As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. For this podblast, we invited RTC Pac-12 microsite correspondent Andrew Murawa (@amurawa) to the program, as he sold us on the notion that the Pac is back.

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-8:43 – Arizona Pac-12 Preseason Favorites Yet Again
• 8:43-15:08 – The Challengers (Oregon, Colorado, UCLA)
• 15:08-20:00 – Teams That Can Surprise (Stanford, Cal, USC)
• 20:00-24:37 – Randy’s New Favorite Team – Pac-12 Style (Arizona State)
• 24:37-27:41 – All Pac-12 Projections
• 27:41-30:06 – Under the Radar Pac-12 Stars
• 30:06-33:06 – Pac-12 Bold Predictions

We’re just a little over a week from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. This week we’ll unveil previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday), with the AAC, ACC and Big 12 to come next week. As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. For this podblast, we invited RTC SEC microsite correspondent Brian Joyce (@bjoyce_hoops) to the program, as he helped us consider whether this year’s league will be another version of Kentucky & Everyone Else.

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-10:04 – Is This Kentucky Team More Like 2012 or 2013?
• 10:04-14:44 – Florida as a Contender
• 14:44-21:00 – Anyone Else in the SEC Going to be Good?
• 21:00-23:16 – Randy Rejects Tennessee as a Potential Favorite Team
• 23:16-24:48 – MARSHALL HENDERSON!
• 24:48-29:24 – Other SEC Stars
• 29:24-30:33 – Underrated SEC Players
• 30:33-33:41 – Impact of Frank Haith’s Suspension on Mizzou and the Rest of the SEC

We’re just a little over a week from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. This week we’ll unveil previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday), with the AAC, ACC and Big 12 to come next week. As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. On this podblast, we invited RTC Big Ten microsite correspondent Deepak Jayanti (@dee_b1g) to the program, as he helped us determine if the depth of the Big Ten means that this is still the best basketball league in America.

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-4:43 – Is Michigan State a Title Contender?
• 4:43-10:12 – Spartan’s Challengers (Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin)
• 10:12-12:23 – Surprise Teams (Northwestern, Purdue)
• 12:23-13:54 – Can Iowa Justify the Preseason Buzz?
• 13:54-16:22 – Randy’s New Favorite Team – Big Ten Style
• 16:22-18:11 – Big Ten Player of the Year Discussion
• 18:11-19:18 – Players Ready to Make the Leap
• 19:18-20:47 – Players Set to Disappoint
• 20:47-22:40 – Under the Radar Stars
• 22:40-23:34 – Wolverine State Rivalry
• 23:34-25:29 – Is the Big Ten Still King?

We’re just a little over a week from the start of games across this fair nation, and that means it’s time to preview each of the major seven basketball conferences on the RTC Podcast. This week we’ll unveil previews for the Big East (Tuesday), Big Ten (Wednesday), SEC (Thursday) and Pac-12 (Friday), with the AAC, ACC and Big 12 to come next week. As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our talented and engaging host, leading the group through a series of topics and questions related to the upcoming season. For this podblast, we invited longtime RTC correspondent and Big East aficianado Brian Otskey (@botskey) to the program, as he helped us navigate through what to expect from a Big East Conference that looks quite a bit different from what we’ve gotten accustomed to.

Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. And don’t forget to check out our 2013-14 Preseason Podcast, the National Edition, and feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

The rundown is below if you’d like to skip around.

• 0:00-6:06 – Marquette Finally Gets Preseason Love
• 6:06-9:55 – Best of the Rest in the Big East (Creighton, Georgetown)
• 9:55-13:46 – Big East Middle Tier and the former A-10 teams (St. John’s, Providence, Villanova, Butler, Xavier)
• 13:46-15:08 – Team Set to Disappoint (Providence, St. John’s)
• 15:08-16:40 – Randy’s New Favorite Team – Big East Style
• 16:40-18:45 – Battle for Big East’s Second Best Player
• 18:45-20:16 – Player Key For His Team to Take a Leap
• 20:16-21:47 – Player That May Fall Short of Expectations
• 21:47-25:07 – Perception of the New Big East
• 25:07-27:02 – Big East Bold Predictions

Welcome back to the third season of the RTC Podcast. From now until the second week in April, from Midnight Madness to March Madness, from the upstart American Athletic Conference to the venerable Atlantic Coast Conference, podcast host Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) will guide the RTC editors, microsite correspondents and even some special guests through more college basketball discussion than anyone could possibly listen to in a single sitting. We hope you’ll try, though.

This preseason edition of the podcast is meant to get things started, to tease the season out from a view still several weeks away from opening night. Over the course of the next three weeks, we will drop a preseason RTC Podblast for each of the seven major basketball conferences before turning back to the national picture in early November with a second preseason edition. After that, we’ll be back to the normal weekly schedule of a full podcast in the first half of the week with a shorter podblast reviewing that week’s action at the end.

Sporting News/Big Ten Network’s Mike DeCourcy Joined Us This Week

Now, about those guests… This week we’re thrilled to introduce a new segment to the podcast called Rush the Takes. In each of these weekly segments, we’ll invite a prominent college basketball analyst or personality to join the discussion for a bite-sized morsel of a chat about what’s happening in the game. This week we’re happy to announced that venerable Sporting News columnist and Big Ten Network analyst Mike DeCourcy (@tsnmike) took some time out of his busy schedule to join us. You’ll definitely want to hear his specific observations on the freshmen class at Kansas, beyond Andrew Wiggins — it’s well worth your time.

As usual, the rundown is below if you’d like to skip around to the most interesting parts. Make sure to add the RTC Podcast to your iTunes lineup so that you’ll automatically upload it on your listening device after we record. Feel free to contact us through Twitter or email — we’re listening.

August is arguably the deadest month of the college basketball calendar, but that didn’t stop the crew from putting together an RTC Offseason Podcast to review the last six or seven weeks of news since the NBA Draft went down in late June. Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) came out of his summer hibernation to serve as our host, and the guys took on the topics of Division 4, what defines success for an NBA coach and whether summer basketball is roughly as relevant to future success as preseason football (full timeline below). We’ll be back in late September as we start to truly gear up for the 2013-14 season. See you then!

• 0:00-12:25 – The Future of the NCAA
• 12:25-20:07 – Butler sans Brad Stevens
• 20:07-24:39 – Never-ending PJ Hairston Saga
• 24:39-27:04 – Summer International Tournaments – News or Noise?
• 27:04-32:48 – ESPN Tip Off Marathon
• 32:48-43:08 – ESPN Gameday Schedule/wrap

The RTC Podcast crew hopes that you’re all having a good early summer out there in America-land. With a little over 24 hours left until the 2013 NBA Draft goes down in Brooklyn, we decided to come in with our takes on the draft from the perspective of guys who have analyzed many of these players very closely for the last several years. To provide the usual duo with a third voice of reason, we invited RTC columnist Bennet Hayes (@hoopstraveler), who has been putting in yeoman’s work the last couple of weeks in profiling many of the top stars who will hear their names called by David Stern tomorrow night. As always, Shane Connolly (@sconnolly114) is our host, and the rundown of topics is listed below. We’ll see you again sometime in July!

• 0:00-5:51 – What Separates NBA players and college players
• 5:51-10:53 – Your #1 Overall Pick
• 10:53-15:55 – Late Lottery Love
• 15:55-20:22 College Star NBA Guys Are Overlooking
• 20:22-22:50 – Potential Busts
• 22:50-26:10 – College Coaches Beaming With Pride Thursday Night
• 26:10- 29:04 – Draft Picks That Will Leave the Biggest Hole on Their College Team
• 29:04- 31:28 – Players That Can Be Replaced
• 31:28-38:17 – Can Alex Len and Ben McLemore Come Out of their Shells?
• 38:17-41:51 – Picks to Look For in 2014
• 41:51-43:09 – Who Will Go #1/Wrap