Dan Hurley, Penny Hardaway bring AAC some much-needed buzz

[HooperScooper]

From David Borges at the New Haven Register.

“Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU, Houston — they’re all succeeding programs right now,” the new UConn coach noted. “The league is in good shape. With the history and tradition at UConn and Memphis, it’s critical for the growth of the league and ascension of the conference for us to hold up our end of the bargain and be the UConn and Memphis that have existed in college basketball.”

“I don’t think it’s important — I think it’s critical,” added UConn athletic director David Benedict. “For us to be a nationally-relevant league, taking nothing away from the teams that have established themselves, Memphis and UConn have to be name brands with national appeal.”

Dan Hurley, Penny Hardaway bring AAC some much-needed buzz

 

[CL82]

But there have been several six-figure gifts from donors over the past few months, mainly to help improve the Werth Family Champions Center, the practice facility that needs a lot of work on its locker rooms, weight room and other infrastructure.

Huh? It's brandy new (practically). Anyone know what the issues are? In any event, it's good to see money coming in.

 

[8893]

But there have been several six-figure gifts from donors over the past few months, mainly to help improve the Werth Family Champions Center, the practice facility that needs a lot of work on its locker rooms, weight room and other infrastructure.

Huh? It's brandy new (practically). Anyone know what the issues are? In any event, it's good to see money coming in.

Maybe it degraded from lack of use?

 

[CL82]

Maybe it degraded from lack of use?

 

[intlzncster]

But there have been several six-figure gifts from donors over the past few months, mainly to help improve the Werth Family Champions Center, the practice facility that needs a lot of work on its locker rooms, weight room and other infrastructure.

Huh? It's brandy new (practically). Anyone know what the issues are? In any event, it's good to see money coming in.

Because it keeps getting compared to things like this. The Alabama dining room is nice than our new practice facility.

 

[raf46]

But there have been several six-figure gifts from donors over the past few months, mainly to help improve the Werth Family Champions Center, the practice facility that needs a lot of work on its locker rooms, weight room and other infrastructure.

Huh? It's brandy new (practically). Anyone know what the issues are? In any event, it's good to see money coming in.

it was never completed. UCONN was offering naming rights to donors to finish off the interiors.

 

[CL82]

Because it keeps getting compared to things like this. The Alabama dining room is nice than our new practice facility.

Styrofoam plates... pssht.

 

[CL82]

it was never completed. UCONN was offering naming rights to donors to finish off the interiors.

Looks pretty finished.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Looks pretty finished.

Well now they wouldn't show the unfinished parts on video, would they?

 

[JMick]

it was never completed. UCONN was offering naming rights to donors to finish off the interiors.

Are you sure they didn't finish it and were
waiting for donations, or did they finish and then offer naming rights to pay it off?

 

[CL82]

Well now they wouldn't show the unfinished parts on video, would they?

You're right the dining hall and pool deck are completely missing from the video!

 

[ucp990411]

From David Borges at the New Haven Register.

“Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU, Houston — they’re all succeeding programs right now,” the new UConn coach noted. “The league is in good shape. With the history and tradition at UConn and Memphis, it’s critical for the growth of the league and ascension of the conference for us to hold up our end of the bargain and be the UConn and Memphis that have existed in college basketball.”

“I don’t think it’s important — I think it’s critical,” added UConn athletic director David Benedict. “For us to be a nationally-relevant league, taking nothing away from the teams that have established themselves, Memphis and UConn have to be name brands with national appeal.”

Dan Hurley, Penny Hardaway bring AAC some much-needed buzz

Will we please stop putting ourselves in the same breath as Memphis, Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU and Houston. We are UCONN and we have FOUR national championships!! We should be mentioned in the same breath as Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, it's like we have an inferiority complex. Man, the last 2 years have done a lot of freakin damage!!

 

[8893]

Will we please stop putting ourselves in the same breath as Memphis, Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU and Houston. We are UCONN and we have FOUR national championships!! We should be mentioned in the same breath as Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, it's like we have an inferiority complex. Man, the last 2 years have done a lot of freakin damage!!

I hear you and that is always my first reaction. Then I remember that, for better or worse, these are our conference mates, and we have yet to win the conference. And most of them have been beating the stuffing out of us.

 

[August_West]

Styrofoam plates... pssht.

Its Alabama.

 

[Hurleyman216]

But there have been several six-figure gifts from donors over the past few months, mainly to help improve the Werth Family Champions Center, the practice facility that needs a lot of work on its locker rooms, weight room and other infrastructure.

Huh? It's brandy new (practically). Anyone know what the issues are? In any event, it's good to see money coming in.

Anyone know if @Chief00 is still "off the circuit"? He would definitely know the details of this, right?

 

[Austin316]

Anyone know if @Chief00 is still "off the circuit"? He would definitely know the details of this, right?

Chief is always watching.

 

[Palatine]

Because it keeps getting compared to things like this. The Alabama dining room is nice than our new practice facility.

Comparing any basketball facility (including the NBA) to Bama's football facility will leave the BB facility wanting.

 

[BUConn10]

Will we please stop putting ourselves in the same breath as Memphis, Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU and Houston. We are UCONN and we have FOUR national championships!! We should be mentioned in the same breath as Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, it's like we have an inferiority complex. Man, the last 2 years have done a lot of freakin damage!!

Conference realignment has forced us into this position. Do you really think we WANT to be associating ourselves with this group of second-tiers?

 

[TRest]

You're right the dining hall and pool deck are completely missing from the video!

Air conditioned scooter garage.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Are you sure they didn't finish it and were
waiting for donations, or did they finish and then offer naming rights to pay it off?

“The Kevin Ollie Relaxation Station”

 

[WrenchFan69]

Looks pretty finished.

The opening lobby is going to become a trophy room/hall of fame sort of area, will also be at least part-time open to the public. There were plans for more TVs throughout that were delayed, for example at :55 each of the white posters was covering a hole in the wall already run with electricity for a TV to be mounted. The teams shared a GUN shooting machine so they probably wanted at least one more of those. The only other thing I could imagine using significant spending to improve on would be the dining area, but there was never a plan to build out a real kitchen or anything. Although this info is all a year old

 

[CL82]

Air conditioned scooter garage.

Those seats get hot when you leave them in the sun!

 

[CL82]

The opening lobby is going to become a trophy room/hall of fame sort of area, will also be at least part-time open to the public. There were plans for more TVs throughout that were delayed, for example at :55 each of the white posters was covering a hole in the wall already run with electricity for a TV to be mounted. The teams shared a GUN shooting machine so they probably wanted at least one more of those. The only other thing I could imagine using significant spending to improve on would be the dining area, but there was never a plan to build out a real kitchen or anything. Although this info is all a year old

I remember the museum thing. I was disappointed that that didn't happen.

 

[husky429]

The opening lobby is going to become a trophy room/hall of fame sort of area, will also be at least part-time open to the public. There were plans for more TVs throughout that were delayed, for example at :55 each of the white posters was covering a hole in the wall already run with electricity for a TV to be mounted. The teams shared a GUN shooting machine so they probably wanted at least one more of those. The only other thing I could imagine using significant spending to improve on would be the dining area, but there was never a plan to build out a real kitchen or anything. Although this info is all a year old

They had to share a "The Gun"?? We should have a dozen of those.

Well, they're like 10,000$ I think. So maybe 3 or 4. But seriously, those are invaluable in improving shooting.

 

[intlzncster]

Comparing any basketball facility (including the NBA) to Bama's football facility will leave the BB facility wanting.

That's not even their main football facility.

It's solely their 'nutrition facility'.

 

[StunningSteve]

 

[StunningSteve]

Will we please stop putting ourselves in the same breath as Memphis, Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU and Houston. We are UCONN and we have FOUR national championships!! We should be mentioned in the same breath as Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, it's like we have an inferiority complex. Man, the last 2 years have done a lot of freakin damage!!

Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, UNC, etc, are associated with many lower profile MBB programs than Memphis, Wichita State, Cincinnati, SMU and Houston. I believe the last B12 MBB Natty was 2008 (when Kansas upset Memphis). B1G was 2002. P12 was 1997.