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Taken from their "10 intriguing storylines to watch for 2021 recruiting class" page:
When the Big East effectively split up nearly a decade ago, the departing programs went to different conferences, including the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and the newly-formed AAC. Everyone involved has had their ups and downs but for the most part, the movement hasn’t destroyed any program.
But the UConn Huskies may have been the most affected since their move to the American Athletic Conference. While the league has held their own compared to original expectations, they simply didn’t have the prestige anywhere near the Big East, the lone “power conference” that doesn’t have D-I football. The Huskies weren’t able to land the same kind of talent, which showed in the standings and by their 4+ year absence from the NCAA Tournament.
The good news for the program is that they’re going back to the Big East, starting this upcoming season. They’re essentially sacrificing the football team, forcing them to become an Independent. But this was the right move overall, considering that the team on the gridiron has been a disaster, while the men’s and women’s hoops program are the real money winnings for their overall athletics.
There has already been a boost for the Huskies since the announcement, landing top-50 wing Andre Jackson and top-100 center Adama Sanogo, who reclassified this offseason to join the upcoming year. They’re also in the running to land potential five-star forward prospect Trey Patterson. That doesn’t even include the boost they’ll get via interested transfers, such as former Rhode Island wing Tyrese Martin.
UConn Basketball will have to improve on the recruiting trail in order to compete in the Big East. Even DePaul lands top-100 talent in this conference, while Seton Hall and Providence have greatly improved since the Huskies left the league. And Villanova has become a national power in their own right.
With around five scholarships available for the 2021 class, look for UConn to make a big splash. But they’ll need the on-the-court success to get better in order to obtain the top prospects off the court.
When the Big East effectively split up nearly a decade ago, the departing programs went to different conferences, including the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and the newly-formed AAC. Everyone involved has had their ups and downs but for the most part, the movement hasn’t destroyed any program.
But the UConn Huskies may have been the most affected since their move to the American Athletic Conference. While the league has held their own compared to original expectations, they simply didn’t have the prestige anywhere near the Big East, the lone “power conference” that doesn’t have D-I football. The Huskies weren’t able to land the same kind of talent, which showed in the standings and by their 4+ year absence from the NCAA Tournament.
The good news for the program is that they’re going back to the Big East, starting this upcoming season. They’re essentially sacrificing the football team, forcing them to become an Independent. But this was the right move overall, considering that the team on the gridiron has been a disaster, while the men’s and women’s hoops program are the real money winnings for their overall athletics.
There has already been a boost for the Huskies since the announcement, landing top-50 wing Andre Jackson and top-100 center Adama Sanogo, who reclassified this offseason to join the upcoming year. They’re also in the running to land potential five-star forward prospect Trey Patterson. That doesn’t even include the boost they’ll get via interested transfers, such as former Rhode Island wing Tyrese Martin.
UConn Basketball will have to improve on the recruiting trail in order to compete in the Big East. Even DePaul lands top-100 talent in this conference, while Seton Hall and Providence have greatly improved since the Huskies left the league. And Villanova has become a national power in their own right.
With around five scholarships available for the 2021 class, look for UConn to make a big splash. But they’ll need the on-the-court success to get better in order to obtain the top prospects off the court.
