I’m serious and am just as big a UConn fan as you are. Only difference is I can see what Hurley and Luke are up against. I hope to god that Mullins and Reibe come here, that would be great. Ask yourself why there are there so many posts by hard UConn fans who continually ask why these kids are not lining to play for the best coach in the game? The reason is UConn is in a crappy basketball conference, with an athletic department starved for cash. Even Cooper Flagg probably wishes he could play for Hurley instead of Scheyer, but not if his short time in college is spent playing multiple conference games against Seton Hall, Providence, DePaul, Xavier, Butler or Marquette.
Yeesh this is a rough take. To address a few things:
The ACC had perhaps the worst P5 hoops conference last year, as a fairly identity-less (SMU, Cal/Stanford) wannabe football first conference. While their March run turned out ok (UNC bounced early, Clemson with a nice run, Duke got a lucky road and NC St was a Cinderella) no one is doing jumping jacks for the ACC hoops schedule. Their conference tourney is an utter bore sitting in Greensborough. Flagg went fo Duke for its brand and because he and his parents have fawned over it nostalgically. Who can blame him for one year in a situation where he’d have to flop not to be the first pick?
The BE is a hoops first, intimate league with a post season tournament seen as the far and away best, in an iconic venue and best location in the US. It has close knit historic regional rivalries, and likely the best assortment of coaches of all leagues. It has 4 of the last 8 NCs. Take a look at the first round of the draft last year: 3 lottery picks and 4 first rounders, that leads all conferences.
One year kids don’t care about a schools overall economics as long as they’re getting their share and are having the best experience possible. A day and age may come when the financials of P4 schools allow them a bigger budget and decided advantage to land recruits, but we’re not there yet.
End of day who cares with the OADs. It’s yet to be proven they win other than in complimentary roles. I like what Dan Hurley is doing this year in going after the 15-30 tranche where he won’t be dealing with quite the ego to leave in one year.
On the flip side you might think Kansas would have kids lining up to play for Self, but he still has to go out there and work to land the kids he wants, rarely has the UK/Duke pulls. Historic brand, 3 years out of a NC, B12. Kids have a variety of drivers, such as playing time, etc. And just maybe not every kid wants the tough love Dan Hurley gives.
There may be a time soon where the landscape is problematic. We aren’t there yet.
