Why top recruits do not come to BigEast (except Uconn)?

[boscolino]

Just wondering :
1 - Weather's fault: in this case SEC, PAC 12 and so on, have more chances
2 - Inability of school management to get appealing coaches
3 - Lack of academic values
Anyone has some ideas?

 

[Centerstream]

If other BE teams consistently made runs in the Big Dance, that might help.
And if I remember correctly, back in the days of the old BE, many top recruits joined the BE.

 

[Millenial23]

Most of the big east schools are smaller (i think) and are catholic schools. I'm sure that deters a lot. I don't think academics would be too big to most top recruits because if we're honest, they're majoring in basketball. I'm sure the big east values academics just as much as other schools other than those with a name for it like Stanford or Ivy League schools. Weather? If the appeal is enough, they will ignore that - look at Ice and KLS, they came from CA to CT.

 

[Kaizen]

Big East's Villanova, Georgetown and St. John's used to be very good basketball teams in both men and women but not anymore.

 

[hoopsdiva]

Not enough NIL $$?

 

[triaddukefan]

If other BE teams consistently made runs in the Big Dance, that might help.
And if I remember correctly, back in the days of the old BE, many top recruits joined the BE.

Top recruits joined the BE schools that left the conference.

Not enough NIL $$?

They didn't get top recruits before NIL either

 

[Centerstream]

Top recruits joined the BE schools that left the conference.

Thus my use of "old BE".
And I believe that the weather is basically the same (this is not in any way to be taken as a climate change argument), so that shouldn't be a factor.

 

[oldhusky]

Not enough NIL $$?

Time will tell, but I think this has become a factor for relative stars that are not in a Power 5 conference. Maybe you weren't a super high level recruit, but had enough success at a Big East school to think you could succeed at a higher level, with more attendance, coverage, TV games, and as a result more social media and NIL potential.

It was not so much an overall exodus from the Big East, but rather the high end players like Morrow and Park Lane who probably did enhance their NIL potential by leaving. Now with NIL, I think the other Big East teams may have trouble keeping some of their best players if they think they have significant NIL potential.

 

[JellyBean]

1). No program historical reference. Something that grabs a recruit.
2). Programs don't have a facility that is a "wow" factor.
3). Coaching and style of play.
4). Definitely the weather. Although when Miami (Florida) was in the Big East, that would have been a nice draw.
5). Geography/Location. Some areas could be too laid back for some and some might like laid back vibe.
6). Nervous about being that top recruit at a Big East program not named UConn. Those expectations hit differently, especially when there are not any other "top" level players around you.

 

[Alydar]

Many of the BE teams fund their mens teams well enough to pay top level coaches. I suspect that the governing boards of some of these schools still have members who wish their schools were still "men only".

 

[jonack]

Same reasons why the top dogs seem to choose SC over UConn. Dawn already has commitment's from # 2 and#12… and she will most likely get #1, too..

 

[Bigboote]

I’d take the weather of most Big East schools over most Big10 schools. Chicago, Minny-StPaul, Madison. . .

 

[CTBballfan243]

The money is in the Power Conferences. The better (higher) level of plays is in the Power Conferences. The Power Conferences have the better teams and therefore the conferences are tougher. Everyone and their brother sees where this is headed. The power conferences are gonna break away from the NCAA and do their own thing. Have their own athletic tournaments, and keep all the $$$$ for themselves. If you’re not in a power conference it will be a slow, but eventual death sentence. See La Tech and ODU for the future outlook for non-Power Conference schools.

 

[Puppy Love]

It starts and ends with the coaches. You have to either have a success story to sell, convince kids to buy into a dream or convince them that the school itself is the draw. In the early days of the Big East, Geno Auriemma was able to get local and regional kids to buy into a dream. He got some success (that first final four) and then he had both success and a dream as selling points. Once he won the national championship, he had proof that he could win and recruiting got easier. I think the problem is that if coaches are not successful in the first few years, recruits will look at other choices.

 

[From France]

If not a UCONN players (Sheah, Carla, Jamelle), my favorite would be Jeff Walz, he surely has a science of recruiting and has some good transfer portals decisions. But can he keep recruits to stay 4 years ?

 

[boontonbomber]

Down the road UConn will be in trouble, all because, at some point, they missed getting into a power conference. Not hard to imagine the Big East being a conference made up of mid-major women's teams. Some are already. After Geno, will they be able to recruit as they have been?

 

[Zonepress]

Down the road UConn will be in trouble, all because, at some point, they missed getting into a power conference. Not hard to imagine the Big East being a conference made up of mid-major women's teams. Some are already. After Geno, will they be able to recruit as they have been?

The big east women’s bb is already a mid major
Conference other than uconn
Attendance if you take out when UConn visits
Is in the 200-500 range recruiting. Top 100 players not realistic
Obviously big changes coming in college
Sports
Sec and big ten have seen the $
In WBB and will dominate recruiting
Obviously UConn not in a good spot
Enjoy the present!!’

 

[Artifact]

Many factors involved in interesting a recruit. Coaches, school size, location, past team win history, NIL, individual team players, record of PR draft, team schedule, league, HS coach recommendation, parents, school friends !

 

[Forego]

Limited television exposure. How often will the Big East wbb teams appear on national television? What? Maybe two or three regular season games on Fox? Maybe a game or two on CBS Sports? Who, other than UConn has regular television and streaming coverage? The power conferences all have their own networks that provide more frequent televised games and streaming.
I have always viewed weather as a pick your poison situation. Are smog and mudslides preferable to colder weather and blizzards? How about a tornado alley state or a state that is ground zero for frequent hurricanes? Even Hawaii experiences tropical cyclones, sunamis, and has lava flows.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Down the road UConn will be in trouble, all because, at some point, they missed getting into a power conference. Not hard to imagine the Big East being a conference made up of mid-major women's teams. Some are already. After Geno, will they be able to recruit as they have been?

Recruits come for Geno and the great success prior to 2016. Without both of those and adding the NIL advantage SEC schools have, it's going to be a tough sell for recruits in the future.

 

[boscolino]

Gosh........dark clouds on the horizon!

 

[Alydar]

Recruits come for Geno and the great success prior to 2016. Without both of those and adding the NIL advantage SEC schools have, it's going to be a tough sell for recruits in the future.

Players go to UConn because it prepares players for a pro career better than any other school. The midmajors that don't fund their team or provide top level facilities don't sign top talent. College basketball is the end of the road for all but the best and those few still come to UConn and they are ones who win titles. UConn continues to sign them.
I've been reading predictions of the demise of UConn basketball for over 20 years. UConn runs fairly modest deficits for wbb and the taxpayers love the basketball teams. Depending on who succeeds Geno, the team will continue to attract the very best.