Big East is in Trouble

[HuskyNan]

Taking note of the Big Least deficiencies is not the same thing as discovering the contents of the Lost Ark. When we handed AAC member South Florida a shellacking last week, it occurred to me that we have never lost a game to an AAC opponent. That league is a real Lysol-ready stinker; the Big East isn't much better. So, what else is new?
Let's face it: consigning UConn to the BE is a disservice all around. Think about how much better the games in the superior conferences could be for fans and players alike. Just look at this month: among the games only USC will be interesting. What a waste.
But money (surprise!) drives the scheduling: lacking serious football income dooms the Huskies to the BE. Big fat shame.

USF has a new (interim?) coach after Jose Fernandez left to coach the Dallas Wings. His teams are usually more competitive

 

[Skeets]

Say what???

First, I presume your "elephant in the room" refers to the basketball program, and not the football program. If so, you are dead wrong. UConn BB joining any conference is a financial gain for that conference through significantly increased TV revenue.

However, if your elephant is football, it is highly likely that TV revenue sharing amongst conference schools is the issue at hand. In that case, the northeast market for the ACC is limited to Boston College and to a lesser extent Syracuse. For the Big Ten, sharing the northeast market might impact Rutgers, with Penn State and Maryland having lesser impacts.

The densely populated TV market in the northeast is ripe for another school. I would defer to the TV sports marketing gurus, but to me UConn seems to be the best option for rapid, near-term TV market growth. Even more so when you can leverage the exposure of UConn basketball and their other sport successes with a rising football program. IMO, it is a marketing dream.

If I was in the UConn AD department, I would make it known to both the ACC and Big Ten that whoever makes a reasonable offer first wins the "Northeast TV market prize". You snooze, you lose.

You make a good point. The TV market could very well be more important than fannies in the seats or whether the football team is a walkover. Otherwise please explain to me why Rutgers got an invite? If nothing else UConn brings eyeballs to the party in the battle ground between the NYC/Boston markets. Also, there's a decent UConn following in obscure places like Florida, right Nan?

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

You make a good point. The TV market could very well be more important than fannies in the seats or whether the football team is a walkover. Otherwise please explain to me why Rutgers got an invite? If nothing else UConn brings eyeballs to the party in the battle ground between the NYC/Boston markets. Also, there's a decent UConn following in obscure places like Florida, right Nan?

Rutgers got an invite because the Big Ten Network could then charge an "in market" rate in the NY media market. It was no secret. It wasn't really about viewership, per se; BTN commanded a higher rate for subscriptions (some included in "sports packs") that had absolutely nothing to do with Rutgers fans. Plenty of other B1G fans in the market who had the network, and now BTN can charge more to the carrier for them to carry the network.

 

[donalddoowop]

Its nuanced. As long as UConn remains a dominant team, and especially the high level of last season and this season, it doesn't necessarily hurt them. Geno can coach them up and will schedule enough OOC strong competition to be sure they are prepared for somewhat harder games.

However, in the event that UConn is only "great" not "dominant" - it wouldn't hurt to have more competitive games. More importantly, as discussed in a number of threads, there is the money issue.

Yes to the P5 - the new PAC coming next year doesn't look like a power conference to me.

I had not heard about the new PAC.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I had not heard about the new PAC.

A lot of the teams are from the Mountain West, and a few others thrown in. Nine teams, 5 from the Mountain West, Gonzaga, and Texas State. Washington State and Oregon State will be challenged by Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State in football at least. The others are Fresno State and Utah State. As noted, not (IMHO) a Power Conference, really.

 

[HuskyNan]

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