AAC Confrence

[DefenseBB]

Surprised by what?
No! TN game is at HOF in Mass next season. UCONN goes to Knoxville after Crystal graduates. Vandy is the homecoming game that has been scheduled as Crystal's home coming.

Surprised by your thought recruiting is harmed by their conference. I mean 16/17/18 year olds still pick Tenn as their choice despite overwhelming evidence they will never deveop, never make the SEC All Conference let alone an All-American team.
My view is while Geno/CD are still here, there is little to fear. Their successor will also have a a short grace period (like Holly has had) to prove they can maintain National relevance. This is the most uncertain aspect.

 

[CocoHusky]

Surprised by your thought recruiting is harmed by their conference. I mean 16/17/18 year olds still pick Tenn as their choice despite overwhelming evidence they will never deveop, never make the SEC All Conference let alone an All-American team.
My view is while Geno/CD are still here, there is little to fear. Their successor will also have a a short grace period (like Holly has had) to prove they can maintain National relevance. This is the most uncertain aspect.

To be clear, IMO UCONN WBB recruiting is hurt by being in the AAC.
I continue to be puzzled (surprised?) by top tier recruits continuing to go to TN-regardless of what conference TN is in.

 

[UConnNick]

To be clear, IMO UCONN WBB recruiting is hurt by being in the AAC.
I continue to be puzzled (surprised?) by top tier recruits continuing to go to TN-regardless of what conference TN is in.

I agree that our recruiting is negatively affected by our conference affiliation, but I'm not surprised that TN still gets top quality recruits. They're likely getting them in any head-to-head recruiting battle with UConn for that very reason. They're in a power conference which is perenially one of, if not the best in the country for women's BB. They get to sell that to recruits. Yes, their glory years are becoming a thing of the distant past, but because of those years they're still considered a big name. UConn has become relegated to being a big name with nothing to sell regarding conference affiliation. TN gets to sell games vs USCe and MS St. UConn has UCF and USF (yawn).

 

[BroadwayVa]

Good point. Just one clarification, it should be two-thirds of the Sweet Sixteen from three conferences, not a third.

Seems that the AAC is pretty good at football. So the entire corrupt "football trumps all" mentality prevails.

Indeed, it appears as though the women's college basketball geography is coming close to that for football and other big-time sports. The strong conferences are the football conferences: Pac 12, Big 10, Big 12, ACC, SEC. At least as far as the top teams go.

Thanks

 

[Bama fan]

I think you mean "standard bearer"-at least I hope you do. UCONN is the current standard for WCBB no doubt. If the program ever falls to a point where P5 coaches look at UCONN "to fill out" their schedule God help us all.

I am sure you are correct in suggesting the poster meant standard bearer. But I think barrier also fits. Not many schools have gotten through the barrier that is UConn.

 

[Bama fan]

because the other AAC teams are improving or we are regressing? Just thought I would beat out some one else before they say it.

Never knew anyone who was in a rush to get to the bottom!

 

[HopJim]

I agree that our recruiting is negatively affected by our conference affiliation, but I'm not surprised that TN still gets top quality recruits. They're likely getting them in any head-to-head recruiting battle with UConn for that very reason. They're in a power conference which is perenially one of, if not the best in the country for women's BB. They get to sell that to recruits. Yes, their glory years are becoming a thing of the distant past, but because of those years they're still considered a big name. UConn has become relegated to being a big name with nothing to sell regarding conference affiliation. TN gets to sell games vs USCe and MS St. UConn has UCF and USF (yawn).

Suggest some go look at the Holy Cross Crossports basketball blog. For years, many HC fans blamed their issues on being in the Patriot League, ignoring poor coaching, poor attendance, poor players, etc. Amazing (sic) how schools like Bucknell, in the middle of PA farm country focus on what they can control and do well each year. While UConn has a different benchmark, if we continue to recruit and coach well, this conversation will go away.

 

[Charliebball]

it's a given the UConn's conference schedule is a cake walk...............playing and winning outside of the conference against a number of top 15 teams is what holds the respect of the other programs and recruits...........if UConn starts losing games outside of the conference like they did this year then the school's perception of semi invincibility will be broken

 

[uconnell]

The AAC is what it is. I am sure that there are those who remember what the AAC teams were like when UConn joined the conference. It may not seem clear at this point because all of women's basketball has improved significantly in the last 10 years, but even the AAC teams have stepped forward with new coaches and new personnel to support the teams at a higher level. Next year, many of these teams will give UConn more than a run for the money.

I feel lime UConn didn’t join the AAC but the AAC joined UConn.

 

[Adios]

The BC AD will never ever let UCONN in the ACC. BECAUSE Richard Bluminthal, when he was Attorney General for CT, sued BC and Miami to try preventing them from leaving the Big East. Then the AD at BC said he would always vote against UCONN'S Joining the ACC and it only takes one vote against.....

Their stance has softened. This was eons ago.

 

[Adios]

I agree that our recruiting is negatively affected by our conference affiliation, but I'm not surprised that TN still gets top quality recruits. They're likely getting them in any head-to-head recruiting battle with UConn for that very reason. They're in a power conference which is perenially one of, if not the best in the country for women's BB. They get to sell that to recruits. Yes, their glory years are becoming a thing of the distant past, but because of those years they're still considered a big name. UConn has become relegated to being a big name with nothing to sell regarding conference affiliation. TN gets to sell games vs USCe and MS St. UConn has UCF and USF (yawn).

On the bright side, UCF is setting the standard in the AAC for the newer schools. Could have beat Duke!

 

[ShmiCO]

I've waffled on whether to ask this because IMO the NCAA seeding decision is water that is long since under bridge, and in any case never solely about a team's rank. No desire to resurrect that particular dead horse for a fresh beating. But I have a question about ranking and how conference influences it.

Does RPI/SOS for a team include its conference opponents? If so, is there an objective reason to include an additional measure of conference strength/history/reputation? Besides money or bias, I mean. I'm far from the sharpest statistician in the box so educate me!