Column: Matt Burke: UConn men's basketball is no longer 'big-time'

[gwhuskyfan]

Never heard of this guy, or the newspaper he writes for. Comparing us to St. John's is just stupid.

Matt Burke: UConn men's basketball is no longer 'big-time' – Metro

 

[Ewekon]

Metro is a free rag newspaper handout on subways and mass transit areas. Take the source at its worth, even as a UConn alum.

 

[UConnfan8]

yeah, please take this for what its worth. the kid is one of those "journalists" who has a day job because the paper he works for either has no money to pay him, or he's getting college credits. intern status. Metro?? sounds like that ThisIsNews crap..a bunch of people who work for free whenever they have some free time because of their "dream" to become a journalist or hard hitting op-ed reporter, when really, they also probably work as a secretary or something during the day to actually make money. Waste of time to read. Kid should stick to his day job.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

3 years removed since our last National Championship... whats that make UNC who hasnt won since 09'? They are the LIC of the college basketball world i guess

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Never heard of this guy, or the newspaper he writes for. Comparing us to St. John's is just stupid.

Matt Burke: UConn men's basketball is no longer 'big-time' – Metro

Matt Burke seems depressed. Help is available Matt, seek professional counseling!

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

"In recent years, I don’t even check the polls – because I know UConn won’t have a spot there." We were 16/18th to start the season. granted that was in 2016.

 

[boog204]

Fairly craptastic... However, are we closer to being Duke or St. Johns?

 

[ConnHuskBask]

The record on the court the past few seasons has nothing to do with being in the AAC. If we took care of business in conference play we would be seeded properly.

The atmosphere comment is hard to disagree with. Watching meaningless AAC conference games is just a chore sometimes. Not anything earth shattering, but with a Giants playoff game in the same spot as an under .500 UConn team taking on UCF? I'm shocked there were that many fans there.

 

[pnow15]

Didn't this guy see how UConn dismantled UCF?

 

[MexicoHusky]

If Matt Burke is this quick to remove our "big time" status then he'll be quick to hand it back when our program rebounds.

 

[willie99]

who said what?

and what does that "who" know about being "big time" again?




for the record, Zio Luigi in Naples thinks we're the best

 

[nomar]

He doesn't even mention our incoming recruiting class. Might that be an important factor to consider when discussing what the future holds?

 

[gtcam]

His next job will be with BuzzFeed - let's print it and if it sticks, great, if it doesn't - it was only for laughs!!!!

 

[Brochacho]

Fairly craptastic... However, are we closer to being Duke or St. Johns?

Fun fact, S. John's is 101st in the kenpom rankings and we are 102nd. Give me the Johnnies!

 

[NCHusky91]

AAC basketball is a crappy product to watch, in person or on TV, even with a good team. I wonder if the school even considers this aspect, or is it all about raw dollars?

 

[Huskybass]

I was at the UCF game. I think his figure of about 5000 fans was about right. In the 200's level there where whole sections that were virtually empty.

A lot of what he says is true. UConn hasnt been relevant on the national stage for the last 2 1/2 seasons. You can make all the excuses you want, but the program isnt what it once was. To not even be a contender for the regular season crown year after year in the AAC is disappointing to say the least.

The UCF game was definitely a step in the right direction. Jackson and Vital are getting plenty of minutes. That should help greatly next season.

 

[Dove]

Hey Matt Burke...

 

[Brochacho]

3 years removed since our last National Championship... whats that make UNC who hasnt won since 09'? They are the LIC of the college basketball world i guess

They've played in 21 NCAA tournament games and have qualified for the NCAA tournament 6 out of 7 years while posting a .733 winning percentage since their title. UConn has played in 2 NCAA games in the 2+ years and has a .593 winning percentage since their title.
There's more to success in college basketball than just winning championships.

 

[August_West]

I wouldn't pee on Matt Burke if he was on fire

 

[gtcam]

They've played in 21 NCAA tournament games and have qualified for the NCAA tournament 6 out of 7 years while posting a .733 winning percentage since their title. UConn has played in 2 NCAA games in the 2+ years and has a .593 winning percentage since their title.
There's more to success in college basketball than just winning championships.

I know what you're trying to get at BUT to compare 7 plus yrs to 2 plus yrs perhaps skews the numbers a bit
However, It's nice to see that the time gaps for one team is much shorter than another

 

[selles]

I wouldn't pee on Matt Burke if he was on fire

I'd pee on him if he wasn't on fire though.

 

[selles]

They've played in 21 NCAA tournament games and have qualified for the NCAA tournament 6 out of 7 years while posting a .733 winning percentage since their title.

That's great. In that same time period, we won two National Championships. #Quitthebitching

 

[Excalibur]

He doesn't even mention our incoming recruiting class. Might that be an important factor to consider when discussing what the future holds?

You gave his article the profound comment it deserves . . .

 

[HuskyHawk]

There is no need for an obituary for the UConn program. However, the patient is not well. Anyone who assumes that the UConn legacy is similar to that of Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, UCLA or North Carolina is not being realistic. It's much more fragile. Outside of the Big East, and without Calhoun the assumption of almost everyone is that we will revert to irrelevance. We have to constantly rebut that assumption. At the moment we are validating it.

Our position as a power program is stronger than Gonzaga's but is much weaker than our P5 blue blood competition. It will not persist if we do not win games, appear in the top 25 regularly and win tournament games. It will fade much more rapidly than Indiana's during similar down periods. Ollie is recruiting well, but a losing season will put an end to that pretty quickly. By the same token, winning the AAC tournament and making a miracle run to the sweet 16 would do wonders.

 

[80shusky]

Nice of him as an alumnus to support the brand.