A Question No One Has Pondered...Is UConn a Blue Blood?

[Hey Adrien!]

The Athletic staff thinks so:

College basketball program tiers: Who's a blue blood these days? (Hi, UConn, bye Indiana)

We took on the impossible task of tiering the top college hoops programs, from Duke to DePaul. Where does your favorite team belong?

theathletic.com

From Dana O'Neil:

But just as blue-blood status should not be conferred for life, it shouldn’t be sealed off for new membership, either. Welcome, UConn. Admittedly, there was debate over this one. It centered largely on the Huskies’ temporary disappearance from the upper crust after the university unwisely tried to chase football success at the expense of basketball supremacy. But five national championships won by three different coaches cannot be ignored. Nor can the projections. Back where it belongs in the Big East and led by a coach who is perfect for the current age of college hoops, UConn’s future is bright. So long as the school doesn’t interfere again.

 

[jibsey]

Couldn’t get the article but is UCLA currently a blue blood, or a blue blood of yesteryear?
Based on the gauntlet needed for titles today if we don’t do anything more for 10 years we’re still a blue blood.

 

[GlastonTim]

Personally I don’t care. We’re UConn!!!!

 

[Dutch Boyd]

I think after last year we’ve entered the brotherhood. Playing the teams we did this year is a sure sign. Also, if we get a home and home with Duke it’s a certainty.

 

[gtcam]

Hasn't been pondered on the BY - in at least last 20 minutes........................................

 

[Palatine]

Try this on for size.

The University of Connecticut is -unarguably- the premiere college basketball program of the 21 Century.

 

[REB1094]

Very intriguing question, have never thought of it before. I'd say yes!

 

[Icehawk]

Does New Money become Old Money?

 

[Scot-e]

I think after last year we’ve entered the brotherhood. Playing the teams we did this year is a sure sign. Also, if we get a home and home with Duke it’s a certainty.

A home and home with Dook makes it a certainty? The only thing Dook does that affects our status is lose to us in the tournament.

 

[stephen Henry]

This debate is getting old and stale. If the current resume isn't good enough for some, fine. All I know is UConn is the team no established blue blood wants to face in March.

 

[MexicoHusky]

In todays college sports the concept of Bluebood should be directly linked to the programs budget and average NIL earnings of the players. NIL earnings is probably more important at this point. Throw away all the old arbitrary Blueblood measurement methods. Just the top 5 or maybe top 10 schools in terms of NIL earnings of the players are the bluebloods

 

[dog bone]

After the third NC in 2011, I heard sports reporters debate this saying they only have won with one coach. Enter Kevin Ollie who won the next one and then the sports reporters said he won with Calhoun players. After #5 with Hurley, there is no debate and this question should no longer be asked.

 

[phillionaire]

“Is UConn a blue blood” is the “is a hot dog a sandwich” of college basketball arguments

 

[Chin Diesel]

“Is UConn a blue blood” is the “is a hot dog a sandwich” of college basketball arguments

Hot dog is squarely in the middle of sandwich concepts. UConn is squarely in the middle of defining blue bloods.

By any metric one of the top 4-8 programs off all-time.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

Hot dog is squarely in the middle of sandwich concepts. UConn is squarely in the middle of defining blue bloods.

By any metric one of the top 4-8 programs off all-time.

View attachment 94475

@navery12 settled this back in 2022, "A hot dog is a taco"

 

[Connecticut13]

Honestly, I expect more from the Athletic. Are they just copying the ESPN article from a couple weeks ago? That article wasn’t needed, and this one most certainly is unnecessary. Come up with something new.

 

[Kitaman]

When all is said and done, what do we win?

 

[CCSUBlue92]

Advice from CCSU Nation:
Stop wanting to be considered a “blue blood”.
F the blue bloods. Every banner you guys hang is an another finger in the eye of those programs who desperately cling to the notion that they are the true blue bloods. Just enjoy the success.

 

[dennismenace]

The more people try to define this with their personal bias the more ridiculous they sound. We are the 8000 pound elephant in the living room. All we have to do is continue what we are already doing. It is the standard of the College Basketball Capital of the World . We don't have to care what others think; we're too busy playing championship ball.

 

[KemBuckets21]

I thought we were a blue blood after #3, but what do I know.

 

[Waquoit]

Advice from CCSU Nation:

No. Just, no.

 

[AtlantaHusky]

I like more non-subjective measurements, like who has the most championships in the last 25 years. Honestly want to be in our own club.

 

[AllHusky]

WE ARE.....U Conn!!!

WE ARE.....U Conn!!!

WE ARE.....U Conn!!!

WE ARE....BLUE BLOOD!!

 

[upstater]

She's been on that football kick for awhile now. Totally hypocritical when she laments Oregon State losing their seat. Or SMU for that matter.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

It’s a stupid argument (as in not an argument), but I love the coverage.

 

[LIuconn]

The lazy media are so quick to do the "Is Texas (or Miami) back" and "A good Texas (or Miami) is great for college football...."
Same thing with hoops and Indiana/UCLA, etc.

I don't recall the media playing up UConn when Hurley got them going again. Not that it matters with us winning championships withe 3 different coaches and a few this millennium, but it's a perception/reality thing within the media and our national profile

 

[jibsey]

No one believes that UCLA has been a blue blood for the last umpteen years.

 

[donyell34]

Indiana is worse than UCLA. Last ship in the mid 80's.

 

[prankster]

The Athletic staff thinks so:

College basketball program tiers: Who's a blue blood these days? (Hi, UConn, bye Indiana)

We took on the impossible task of tiering the top college hoops programs, from Duke to DePaul. Where does your favorite team belong?

theathletic.com

From Dana O'Neil:

But just as blue-blood status should not be conferred for life, it shouldn’t be sealed off for new membership, either. Welcome, UConn. Admittedly, there was debate over this one. It centered largely on the Huskies’ temporary disappearance from the upper crust after the university unwisely tried to chase football success at the expense of basketball supremacy. But five national championships won by three different coaches cannot be ignored. Nor can the projections. Back where it belongs in the Big East and led by a coach who is perfect for the current age of college hoops, UConn’s future is bright. So long as the school doesn’t interfere again.

No!

We are better than that.

 

[CL82]

No one believes that UCLA has been a blue blood for the last umpteen years.

Depends. If Blue Blood status is based on current performance, then no, but if it is breached on historic performance than obviously yes.

That's always been the issue with Blue Blood status. It's a moving target meaning different things to different people at different times.