Best case scenario for UConn (and Big East) | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Best case scenario for UConn (and Big East)

We all know the Big East is having a down year, but the league can salvage something respectable if the following happens:Stop

1. UConn wins out until Selection Sunday. We would finish 33-1 (20-0). That would cement us as a #1 seed and I think pass Duke as I think they will slip up two or three times the rest of the way.

2. St. John's goes 0-3 against us and beats everybody else (losing to us in the BET final). They would finish 26-8 (17-3). That would put them in the conversation for a #4 seed.

3. Villanova loses to us and St. John's 2x (once in BET semifinal). They would finish 25-8 (15-5). That would put them on the #6 line (which is perfect for setting up an Elite 8 run- avoids overpowered #1 seeds this year until regions final).

4. Seton Hall loses to us 2x (once in BET semifinal) and St. John's once. They would finish 23-10 (12-8). That would put them in the field as a #10 seed.

That is what we should be rooting for. It is unlikely all of this will come to fruition, but that is the game plan.
We don't need no stinkin' game plans.
Stop talking about it and make it happen................😎
 
The league officiates like the Big East is doing UConn a favor by allowing us to exist.

The league clearly sees their identity as synonymous with the plucky urban Catholic schools and accepts UConn as a necessary evil.
Did you see President Val's interview last night at halftime of the women's game?

The game was featured as a celebration of girls and women's sports week on TRUTV and featured UConn blowing out DePaul on the road. Who would ever want to showcase the league on a special day with that matchup?

President Val graciously accepted the interviewer's accolades for her year's of leadership in women's sports. Clueless to the fact that she hurt the league's image nationally with a 40plus point blowout to commemorate how far women's sports have come in the past couple decades............
 

Big East blues

UConn, St. John's and Villanova are each in great shape heading into the final month of the regular season. But outside of a Seton Hall revival, the Big East's chances of finding another at-large candidate are getting slimmer by the day. Butler's 97-87 double-overtime loss at Providence on Wednesday marked the Bulldogs' third straight loss and pushed them further to the wrong side of the bubble.

Creighton is also on a three-game slide after a 6-3 start to league play briefly resurrected the Bluejays' bleak at-large hopes. No one else from the Big East ranks inside the top 80 of the NET. A year ago, the conference sent five of its 11 teams to the Big Dance. Two years ago, it produced just three tournament teams but had three more in the top 60 of the NET that were excluded.

This year, it rates as the worst high-major conference at KenPom. It's the first time since 2021 the Big East has held that distinction.


 
To those who argue that a 21 win BE team would automatically make the Tournament because no such team has ever been left out, you have to take into consideration how bad the BE is this year. 21 wins this year is not the same as 21 wins in previous years. Seton Hall is going to need more than that at this point to get in.
 
I don't see Seton Hall getting in. Realistically UConn, St. John's, Villanova.

But every year is different. Give it a year, and the Big East might get some better talent and get 5 teams in.
 
I don't see Seton Hall getting in. Realistically UConn, St. John's, Villanova.

But every year is different. Give it a year, and the Big East might get some better talent and get 5 teams in.
Not according to Nostradomos aka Ruff Ruff 😉
 
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The league officiates like the Big East is doing UConn a favor by allowing us to exist.

The league clearly sees their identity as synonymous with the plucky urban Catholic schools and accepts UConn as a necessary evil.
Because they know we leave if we get a p4 invite
 
We all know the Big East is having a down year, but the league can salvage something respectable if the following happens:

1. UConn wins out until Selection Sunday. We would finish 33-1 (20-0). That would cement us as a #1 seed and I think pass Duke as I think they will slip up two or three times the rest of the way.

2. St. John's goes 0-3 against us and beats everybody else (losing to us in the BET final). They would finish 26-8 (17-3). That would put them in the conversation for a #4 seed.

3. Villanova loses to us and St. John's 2x (once in BET semifinal). They would finish 25-8 (15-5). That would put them on the #6 line (which is perfect for setting up an Elite 8 run- avoids overpowered #1 seeds this year until regions final).

4. Seton Hall loses to us 2x (once in BET semifinal) and St. John's once. They would finish 23-10 (12-8). That would put them in the field as a #10 seed.

That is what we should be rooting for. It is unlikely all of this will come to fruition, but that is the game plan.
These are big asks especially the 3 losses to St. John’s.
 
I honestly don't care about anyone other than UConn this year - only real interest are teams that can actually make a F4 run. If you're not hanging banners for the league, don't care. Maybe StJ has an off chance. Nova getting in, or SHU sliding in as an 11, does nada for me other than avoid some league embarrassment which I've over.
 
We all know the Big East is having a down year, but the league can salvage something respectable if the following happens:

1. UConn wins out until Selection Sunday. We would finish 33-1 (20-0). That would cement us as a #1 seed and I think pass Duke as I think they will slip up two or three times the rest of the way.

2. St. John's goes 0-3 against us and beats everybody else (losing to us in the BET final). They would finish 26-8 (17-3). That would put them in the conversation for a #4 seed.

3. Villanova loses to us and St. John's 2x (once in BET semifinal). They would finish 25-8 (15-5). That would put them on the #6 line (which is perfect for setting up an Elite 8 run- avoids overpowered #1 seeds this year until regions final).

4. Seton Hall loses to us 2x (once in BET semifinal) and St. John's once. They would finish 23-10 (12-8). That would put them in the field as a #10 seed.

That is what we should be rooting for. It is unlikely all of this will come to fruition, but that is the game plan.
Why exactly are you giving Duke 2 or 3 slip ups. I definitely don’t agree. I believe Duke
We all know the Big East is having a down year, but the league can salvage something respectable if the following happens:

1. UConn wins out until Selection Sunday. We would finish 33-1 (20-0). That would cement us as a #1 seed and I think pass Duke as I think they will slip up two or three times the rest of the way.

2. St. John's goes 0-3 against us and beats everybody else (losing to us in the BET final). They would finish 26-8 (17-3). That would put them in the conversation for a #4 seed.

3. Villanova loses to us and St. John's 2x (once in BET semifinal). They would finish 25-8 (15-5). That would put them on the #6 line (which is perfect for setting up an Elite 8 run- avoids overpowered #1 seeds this year until regions final).

4. Seton Hall loses to us 2x (once in BET semifinal) and St. John's once. They would finish 23-10 (12-8). That would put them in the field as a #10 seed.

That is what we should be rooting for. It is unlikely all of this will come to fruition, but that is the game plan.
Why exactly are you giving Duke 2 or 3 slip ups. I definitely don’t agree. I believe Duke will go undefeated in ACC play and easily cruise to the #1 overall seed. Duke is on a mission this year to silence all the critics.
 
Why exactly are you giving Duke 2 or 3 slip ups. I definitely don’t agree. I believe Duke

Why exactly are you giving Duke 2 or 3 slip ups. I definitely don’t agree. I believe Duke will go undefeated in ACC play and easily cruise to the #1 overall seed. Duke is on a mission this year to silence all the critics.
Still doing this?
 
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Because they know we leave if we get a p4 invite
I you think about it, it makes sense. Since we have no place to go, not catering to UConn is unlikely to cause us to leave. We will accept the first P4 offer to come our way, and there's nothing Val and the conference could do to change that. Thus, it's kind of logical that the big east will screw us over at every opportunity. There's no downside to it since we have no place to go and no upside to treating us well since nothing they can do would prevent us from leaving. Much better to curry favor with the programs that are likely to be around long-term.
 
I you think about it, it makes sense. Since we have no place to go, not catering to UConn is unlikely to cause us to leave. We will accept the first P4 offer to come our way, and there's nothing Val and the conference could do to change that. Thus, it's kind of logical that the big east will screw us over at every opportunity. There's no downside to it since we have no place to go and no upside to treating us well since nothing they can do would prevent us from leaving. Much better to curry favor with the programs that are likely to be around long-term.
It’s worrisome because Hurley and his magnificent staff and program that he’s built still needs players AND competition. Sure he can schedule big non con but he’s going to need to do it in Jan and Feb if possible too if we stay. Gotta cut back conference games. Is that a possibility? We gotta leave, no way around it. Who will likely take our football?
 
It’s worrisome because Hurley and his magnificent staff and program that he’s built still needs players AND competition. Sure he can schedule big non con but he’s going to need to do it in Jan and Feb if possible too if we stay. Gotta cut back conference games. Is that a possibility? We gotta leave, no way around it. Who will likely take our football?
I don't see anything happening until the dust settles in the ACC. So, for the next four years, at least we won't be going anywhere. I do think that this next round of conference alignment may, for all practical purposes, be our last opportunity to get into a power conference.
 
Agreed CL82. This is it, are the powers that be going to decide to end it for UCOnn forever, or give them a chance in a P2-4? The biggest reason to NOT give us a chance is because they know we would blow by more than half the P2-4 within 2 years. Even before we get full $$$.
 
Agreed CL82. This is it, are the powers that be going to decide to end it for UCOnn forever, or give them a chance in a P2-4? The biggest reason to NOT give us a chance is because they know we would blow by more than half the P2-4 within 2 years. Even before we get full $$$.
The biggest reason to keep us out of the club is that we aren't already in the club. That's what kept us out of the big 12 the last go round. If the powers that be decide to monetize basketball, or think they might at some point in the future, then we may have a chance.
 
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The biggest reason to keep us out of the club is that we aren't already in the club. That's what kept us out of the big 12 the last go round. If the powers that be decide to monetize basketball, or think they might at some point in the future, then we may have a chance.
The B12 is the only league thinking creative enough to find a way to bring us in for hoops. ACC is entirely reactive.

Yormark just said he was unleashing some new concept around the B12 tourney. Guy is always spinning something new. I'd love an invite, but we would be such a cultural oddball there. They already have so much strength in hoops as it is, not sure how much value we bring. I can't see it being for the NY Market or hosting in NY, too many teams way out in the midwest/Texas.
 
The league officiates like the Big East is doing UConn a favor by allowing us to exist.

The league clearly sees their identity as synonymous with the plucky urban Catholic schools and accepts UConn as a necessary evil.

Can you tell me more about this inferiority complex / "everyone is out to get me" attitude you have despite having multiple NC's from the past couple years?
 
Can you tell me more about this inferiority complex / "everyone is out to get me" attitude you have despite having multiple NC's from the past couple years?
Sure. First, pretty much every fan base in the country believes "everyone is out to get them" and that the refs treat them unfairly, etc. In our case, the fact BE refs allow an unprecedented amount of hand checking, jersey grabbing, and bumping off the ball limits our ability to run our offense effectively. Meanwhile, Connecticut gets called for many fouls often, resulting in a 3 to 1 differential. Thus Connecticut often struggles in a conference that has difficulty getting people to the dance, never mind out of the first weekend.

On the other hand, Connecticut has won two of the last three national championships setting MOV records along the way. Once games are officiated in a more evenhanded manner we seem to be pretty successful.

Hope this helped!
 
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Sure. First, pretty much every fan base in the country believes "everyone is out to get them" and that the refs treat them unfairly, etc. In our case, the fact Bet refs allow an unprecedented amount of hand checking, jersey grabbing, and bumping off the ball limits our ability to run our offense effectively. Meanwhile, Connecticut gets called for many fouls often, resulting in a 3 to 1 differential. Thus Connecticut often struggles in a conference that has difficulty getting people to the dance, never mind out of the first weekend.

On the other hand, Connecticut has won two of the last three national championships setting MOV records along the way. Once games are officiated in a more evenhanded manner we seem to be pretty successful.

Hope this helped!
It's a fascinating theory - potential conspiracy.
 
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