I'm talking about revenue sports. Football is the primary sport that moves the needle when it comes to television contracts.
With a TV contract negotiation set to commence in February of 2019, UConn made a very smart choice to keep football (and those ESPN windows that the nbe didn't fight for). The exposure and the subsequent ratings success and on-field success (3 NY6 wins in 5 years) of the football league has put UConn in a much better position for the long term.
It's 3 dimensional chess. Meanwhile the AAC has stacked the MBB conference with Dan Hurley, Gregg Marshall, Mick Cronin, Johnny Dawkins, Kelvin Sampson, Aaron McKie, Penny Hardaway, Frank Haith, Tim Jankovich, Brian Gregory, Joe Dooley, and Mike Dunleavy. Its been a build that has taken time but is now solidifying nicely with recruits like Precious, Watford, Wiseman, etc, projected to enter the league.
Let's see how this plays out, shall we? Lets see how Mullin, Ewing, Leaitao, Woji, Travis Steele, Cooley, Wright, McDermitt, Willard, and LaVall Jordan do.. It seems that many of them have to get some age on their rosters and fast.
I'm fine with letting these leagues develop. I believe the nbe has seen its better days. I believe any difference after the new hires is minimal. And I'm definitely far from impressed with the audience the nbe has drawn on FS1 television. (its chess, not checkers)