Big East is in Trouble

[MSGRET]

The Big East will not be any challenge to UConn this year. Xavier a team that UConn just smoked 104-39 just beat Providence 61-47. The only teams that might give UConn some type of a game are Villanova, St. John's and Seton Hall, but I doubt it.

 

[EricLA]

Not sure what you mean by "in trouble". It's unlikely the conference will get even 3 bids but so far...

• SJU beat #18 OK State, Ga Tech, and Memphis
• Villanova did lose to Fairfield and Princeton, but walloped #25 West Virginia
• Marquette did beat Wisconsin and had a close 11 point loss to Iowa State

Believe me - I'm NOT advocating that the conference will be competitive at all against UConn - just that the entire conference is not the trash bin many feared (just MOST of the conference LOL).

 

[oldude]

Unfortunately, there’s nothing really new here. The last time UConn lost their conference championship was in 2013, in the old BE, to ND, a year in which the Huskies won the national championship beating ND in the national semifinals and then fellow BE foe Louisville in the final. Subsequently, UConn won 169 straight conference games before losing to Villanova in February of 2022, a game in which UConn used only 6 players with Paige, Liv, Caroline & Aubrey all out with injuries. Since that game UConn has won every single conference game they have played.

 

[Skeets]

I'm of the opinion there is only a handful of really competitive teams. Even in the P4 conferences, once you get below the top very few teams the quality drops off. So, the BE might be an extreme case, but it's not unique. (Not sure "extreme" is the right word here, maybe "unfortunate" works better, but hopefully you know what I mean.)

 

[HopJim]

Until other schools anti-up with funding women's sports (all sports?), in particular hiring and keeping top coaches, we can expect little change.

 

[WiseWillie]

The Big East will not be any challenge to UConn this year. Xavier a team that UConn just smoked 104-39 just beat Providence 61-47. The only teams that might give UConn some type of a game are Villanova, St. John's and Seton Hall, but I doubt it.

Speaking of challenges, this has probably been covered extensively previously, maybe on the general forum but there certainly are things that the Big East needs to do in order to compete with the Power 5 conferences:

1. Enhance Recruiting - Develop strong high school prospects early; use the transfer portal effectively; recruit internationally
2. Offer arttractive NIL deals
3. The schools located in major metro markets (with BE Conference assistance) need to boost their media exposure
4. Build state-of-the-art facilities to attract top talent
5. Strengthen non-conference scheduling to boost their RPI and enhance chances to get bids to the NCAA Tournament
6. Capitalize on the new media rights agreement with Fox, NBC Sports, TNT Sports and ESPN+ to make as many games as possible accessible to increase brand recognition and exposure for players and programs. This in turn helps with recruiting and attracting fans.
7. Every school has to become involved in the community to build a strong program culture and team spirit.

There's probably more but individual programs need to elevate their performance to help create a more competitive conference as a whole to advance the Big East's reputation nationally and send more teams to the NCAA tournament. Can these things be done? They must.

 

[Next 12]

It is what it is. Uconn is Uconn. There was some competition when the original BE was , then everything changed and it broke apart and Uconn had to go with the flow. Uconn was ALWAYS dominating and seldom lost to anyone.Their record of titles in the leagues they played in is testament to whoever they play that they will prevail. Uconn is fortunate that they have GENO and CHRIS and the other schools don't. It is their philosophy and coaching that makes Uconn, Uconn Many, many more wins coming in the future and NC's also. Superiority can't be ignored. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Fan]

I don't think the small Catholic schools in the BE are ever going to put together NIL deals like P5 conferences or even UConn and will continue to serve as minor leagues for them. They certainly aren't going to put in improvements to facilities like large state universities can or schools that have huge overall TV money like the BIG. There will be one or two better teams per year but what you see today is what you are going to see in the future.

 

[WiseWillie]

I don't think the small Catholic schools in the BE are ever going to put together NIL deals like P5 conferences or even UConn and will continue to serve as minor leagues for them. They certainly aren't going to put in improvements to facilities like large state universities can or schools that have huge overall TV money like the BIG. There will be one or two better teams per year but what you see today is what you are going to see in the future.

Pretty sad to admit but you are probably right Big Fan and unless the BE expands away from the small Catholic colleges it won't grow.

Of course we all can't forget that the original conference was founded by Catholic colleges and basketball focused due to its lower maintenance cost. Once the football-playing members departed in 2012 the seven remaining schools known as the "Catholic 7" kept the Big East name and continued the focus on basketball. UConn today is far from the original and continued focus of the Big East on basketball and is like a square peg in a round chalice. It's been said many times before: it is what it is.

 

[HopJim]

I don't think the small Catholic schools in the BE are ever going to put together NIL deals like P5 conferences or even UConn and will continue to serve as minor leagues for them. They certainly aren't going to put in improvements to facilities like large state universities can or schools that have huge overall TV money like the BIG. There will be one or two better teams per year but what you see today is what you are going to see in the future.

It is what it is. Uconn is Uconn. There was some competition when the original BE was , then everything changed and it broke apart and Uconn had to go with the flow. Uconn was ALWAYS dominating and seldom lost to anyone.Their record of titles in the leagues they played in is testament to whoever they play that they will prevail. Uconn is fortunate that they have GENO and CHRIS and the other schools don't. It is their philosophy and coaching that makes Uconn, Uconn Many, many more wins coming in the future and NC's also. Superiority can't be ignored. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, with NIL, college sports is rapidly becoming stratified to a top 20-40 in football and basketball. Many Catholic, academic focused, and smaller alumni schools are finding it difficult to keep up. For every Notre Dame, there are multiple Boston Colleges, Lehigh/Bucknell's and Xaviers that are drifting to D2 status. Predicting that within 2-3 years, there will be a super conference of football schools, with basketball soon to follow. UConn may be forced to make some difficult choices since the Big East as we know it is unlikely to exist.

 

[Dugway]

I'm of the opinion there is only a handful of really competitive teams. Even in the P4 conferences, once you get below the top very few teams the quality drops off. So, the BE might be an extreme case, but it's not unique. (Not sure "extreme" is the right word here, maybe "unfortunate" works better, but hopefully you know what I mean.)

I agree with this statement.

In this day of 100% unrestricted free agency for every collegiate player at the conclusion of each season, coupled with “who is going to pay me the most”, the disparity between the top four to six teams versus the rest will continue to increase. Not just WBB, but all of the sports.

 

[huskyd]

The Big East will not be any challenge to UConn this year. Xavier a team that UConn just smoked 104-39 just beat Providence 61-47. The only teams that might give UConn some type of a game are Villanova, St. John's and Seton Hall, but I doubt it.

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.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

The Big East will not be any challenge to UConn this year. Xavier a team that UConn just smoked 104-39 just beat Providence 61-47. The only teams that might give UConn some type of a game are Villanova, St. John's and Seton Hall, but I doubt it.

We need an I Agree button. I liked, but I don't like, I agree. It is not healthy for the team or any of the lambs being led to the slaughter.

 

[JoePgh]

Why is it that men's basketball in the Big East continues to be very competitive, and BE men's teams are reasonably often able to contend with top P-4 teams, and usually do very well against the lesser teams in the P-4? I'm thinking of Creighton, Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova, and (since Pitino arrived) St. John's. Where do they get their NIL money (obviously not from football)? Is it from the TV revenues from the MBB games?

And why can't whatever has been working for MBB also work for WBB?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Until other schools anti-up with funding women's sports (all sports?), in particular hiring and keeping top coaches, we can expect little change.

Those schools are perfectly content where they sit. Most still see women's athletics as something that has been foisted on them and does not enhance enrollment.

 

[Dogdude]

Frankly, I just don't think many of the BE schools care enough to play the compete-with-the-big-conferences game. They have the teams for the enjoyment of the kids, and realistically, most of the kids know there's no pro life for them after college ball. They like playing, they get a free education, and it's just like it was supposed to be back in the days of black and white tv. Why go through the stress of competing with "the big guys" when it's not even necessary? The money is simply not there for all but a handful of women's sports teams, and investing in something that might not pan out is less attractive than perhaps a new science building. I'm not sure that there's not going to be some sort of implosion and a reset anyway. Let Geno, CD and the gang recruit, coach and win, and when they all go off to retirement, we'll all take up pickleball or something.

 

[DefenseBB]

There is the old cliche of “it’s about the money, stupid”. The simple and incontrovertible fact is that the BE schools only have so much money to dole out and fundraise for. The vast majority goes to Men’s basketball to keep their flagship sport competitive and viable.

Some schools realize the landscape and just support the coaches and teams with what they can. I speak specifically about SJU and SJU whose administrators wholly support the women’s coaches which is why they have had such longevity despite mediocre results that if they were a “men’s program” would have had them let go years ago.

I am not sure how many of the BYers caught the Geno pregame preser before the Xavier/USF trip but it was talked about how he was having “fundraiser events in Tampa and ado in LA as UConn has strong fan bases there. He mentioned the reason for the home and home with FSU (which hinted at further fundraising in FL next year).

Another cliche that also applies now is the old adage “it is what it is”…

 

[Charliebball]

Feels like UConn is back in the AAC.......you'd think that at this point the ACC would be interested in bringing UConn on board, but I know there are significant penalties involved if they were asked to join and so far there have been no invitations....

 

[RockyMTblue2]

We need an I Agree button. I liked, but I don't like, I agree. It is not healthy for the team or any of the lambs being led to the slaughter.

I give @MSGRET a like on the post, but I don't like the situation being described. I agree with the post though. I think we should have an I Agree button, but I'd really love to see the Red Question Mark disappear.😂

 

[donalddoowop]

First of all, there are no more P5 teams. Secondly, UConn played no BE teams in the Elite Eight or Final Four last season and beat them all just as badly as they beat BE teams. Playing in the BE evidently did not hurt them.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Feels like UConn is back in the AAC.......you'd think that at this point the ACC would be interested in bringing UConn on board, but I know there are significant penalties involved if they were asked to join and so far there have been no invitations....

Nobody wants to ask the elephant in the room to join their party. The only thing that talks is money and UConn brings none of that to the Conference dining room.

 

[jabstep]

Frankly, I just don't think many of the BE schools care enough to play the compete-with-the-big-conferences game. They have the teams for the enjoyment of the kids, and realistically, most of the kids know there's no pro life for them after college ball. They like playing, they get a free education, and it's just like it was supposed to be back in the days of black and white tv. Why go through the stress of competing with "the big guys" when it's not even necessary? The money is simply not there for all but a handful of women's sports teams, and investing in something that might not pan out is less attractive than perhaps a new science building. I'm not sure that there's not going to be some sort of implosion and a reset anyway. Let Geno, CD and the gang recruit, coach and win, and when they all go off to retirement, we'll all take up pickleball or something.

I'm already at the pickleball stage!!

 

[BobbyJ]

Nobody wants to ask the elephant in the room to join their party. The only thing that talks is money and UConn brings none of that to the Conference dining room.

How do you know this? Do you have any figures to back up this statement?

 

[YKCornelius]

Nobody wants to ask the elephant in the room to join their party. The only thing that talks is money and UConn brings none of that to the Conference dining room.

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.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

First of all, there are no more P5 teams. Secondly, UConn played no BE teams in the Elite Eight or Final Four last season and beat them all just as badly as they beat BE teams. Playing in the BE evidently did not hurt them.

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.