Do other teams have the same media advantages?

[bags27]

Besides the greatness of Boneyard, I'm talking especially about SYN. The Geno show is such great "propaganda" for recruitment, and then having all the games posted, and all the YouTube interviews with Geno, not to mention things like Just a Kid from Chino, etc. There's so much media presence for the Huskies that a potential recruit can not only be attracted by that great media, but they can have some of their (natural) fears allayed concerning Geno and the program, offsetting what opposing coaches might say about Geno. For example, something like below is a masterpiece of sports psychology that has to inspire naturally intimidated high school players:
https://www.sny.tv/video/topic/157964364/542587383/the-geno-auriemma-show

 

[HoopsFan21]

The short answer is no. Just look at other top programs' boards and how they complain that games aren't televised. UConn has every game covered, plus nearly half of the games end up being picked up by ESPN or CBSSN. Perhaps having ESPN right down the road helps.

 

[Kibitzer]

UConn has every game covered, plus nearly half of the games end up being picked up by ESPN or CBSSN. Perhaps having ESPN right down the road helps.

Yet another internet legend. It doesn't help one tiny bit that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" is in Connecticut. The total focus of ESPN is ratings. Since UConn wcbb ratings are high, that translates into ad-revenue profits. Nothing else matters to ESPN or its parent corp. (Disney? CBS? I forgot). Money (by the $billion) always trumps geography.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Another short "no" answer.

I'd suggest that CPTV takes the credit for taking a risk and proving a women's team could be marketable. The fact other conferences have their own networks now help spread the word. The key word, though, is "profitable." The future of ESPN and all its multiple platforms is murky. They've overspent for broadcast rights... hence the cutbacks. Maintaining all their free content is hard - and folks aren't much interested in paying for a newspaper, much less sports coverage. Feels like there's a tipping point coming soon across the board. Not sure which way things are going to fall...

 

[Bonpland]

Yet another internet legend. It doesn't help one tiny bit that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" is in Connecticut. The total focus of ESPN is ratings. Since UConn wcbb ratings are high, that translates into ad-revenue profits. Nothing else matters to ESPN or its parent corp. (Disney? CBS? I forgot). Money (by the $billion) always trumps geography.

Picking up on Kib's comments. I heard the other day that Disney is unhappy with the losses ESPN has taken over the past three years and plans to "make some adjustments" in future programming to help right the ship.

I wondered (I have no idea) whether or not that might mean that we'll see more college sports (beyond football and men's basketball) because they're cheaper to broadcast than the half hour babble (about professional sports) that's regularly delivered by four in studio "experts", or if Disney will go in the other direction and add four or five more shows analyzing pro football.

If not for the courage shown by CPTV twenty some years ago I would only know the Huskies by whatever stories might have surfaced in the press, and we're lucky that everygame coverage continues on SNY. The rise nationally of the interest in women's basketball is tied to TV coverage, early on UCONN-Tennessee, and now Monday night games of the week.

I'm wondering if that's likely to change.

 

[UcMiami]

Yet another internet legend. It doesn't help one tiny bit that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" is in Connecticut. The total focus of ESPN is ratings. Since UConn wcbb ratings are high, that translates into ad-revenue profits. Nothing else matters to ESPN or its parent corp. (Disney? CBS? I forgot). Money (by the $billion) always trumps geography.

But, when they consider the expense of sending trucks and cameras and 'talent' - an hour drive is a lot less expensive than some of the other options, so it really doesn't hurt.

It is not just SNY (and while some may miss CPTV, the SNY national availability is a big bonus) and ESPN and CBSSN, but also having the print media (and therefore web content) on basically a daily basis - three full time reporters, plus a lot of spot coverage from other newspapers, and feature columns in every city we visit for road games. I don't think it ends up being a major deciding factor for recruits, but it certainly means they know a lot more about the program before they visit, and they have a much easier time keeping up with what is happening.

Another very strong benefit for Uconn is their alumni - both in the WNBA and on the USA team, and the exposure that Geno gets from the USA gig. I think most of the non-Uconn USA team candidates that have had a chance to work with Geno are likely to have a very positive impression of him, which also doesn't hurt. Seeing how he works with the players may dispel some of their 'prejudices' from their college days and playing with the alumni professionally probably helps as well. A player like Kara who might have been bitter about the end of her USA career, seems to be genuine in her appreciation for him as a coach in her broadcasting career - that also can't hurt.

 

[UcMiami]

Picking up on Kib's comments. I heard the other day that Disney is unhappy with the losses ESPN has taken over the past three years and plans to "make some adjustments" in future programming to help right the ship.

I wondered (I have no idea) whether or not that might mean that we'll see more college sports (beyond football and men's basketball) because they're cheaper to broadcast than the half hour babble (about professional sports) that's regularly delivered by four in studio "experts", or if Disney will go in the other direction and add four or five more shows analyzing pro football.

If not for the courage shown by CPTV twenty some years ago I would only know the Huskies by whatever stories might have surfaced in the press, and we're lucky that everygame coverage continues on SNY. The rise nationally of the interest in women's basketball is tied to TV coverage, early on UCONN-Tennessee, and now Monday night games of the week.

I'm wondering if that's likely to change.

I suspect not - with the proliferation of sports networks content is always going to be in demand, and cheap content even more so. The studio shows are definitely cheap content, but you need live action too, and women's basketball is fairly popular and very cheap to produce and purchase rights for. The production costs are really minimal - indoor venue, with only two or three cameras and two reporters for a minimum production that looks and sounds decent.

 

[HoopsFan21]

But, when they consider the expense of sending trucks and cameras and 'talent' - an hour drive is a lot less expensive than some of the other options, so it really doesn't hurt.

It is not just SNY (and while some may miss CPTV, the SNY national availability is a big bonus) and ESPN and CBSSN, but also having the print media (and therefore web content) on basically a daily basis - three full time reporters, plus a lot of spot coverage from other newspapers, and feature columns in every city we visit for road games. I don't think it ends up being a major deciding factor for recruits, but it certainly means they know a lot more about the program before they visit, and they have a much easier time keeping up with what is happening.

Another very strong benefit for Uconn is their alumni - both in the WNBA and on the USA team, and the exposure that Geno gets from the USA gig. I think most of the non-Uconn USA team candidates that have had a chance to work with Geno are likely to have a very positive impression of him, which also doesn't hurt. Seeing how he works with the players may dispel some of their 'prejudices' from their college days and playing with the alumni professionally probably helps as well. A player like Kara who might have been bitter about the end of her USA career, seems to be genuine in her appreciation for him as a coach in her broadcasting career - that also can't hurt.

This is what I was thinking. Not so much the games but the other content that is easily and readily done because ESPN's studios are practically a stone's throw away.

 

[SCGamecock]

The answer to your question is a RESOUNDING no. I wish our women's team was covered as well as UCONN's. Don't get me wrong, our women's team is covered better than a lot of places and I've seen the media interest grow by leaps in just a few years... but the amount of media saturation UCONNWbb receives is impressive.. on all levels, broadcast..digital.. and print. Your women's team is probably coveted better than our men's team.

SNY is a huge asset to UCONN and I've watched the Geno Auriemna show and it's pretty impressive. I work in broadcast/media so I know a well made product when I see it.

 

[JordyG]

The answer to your question is a RESOUNDING no. I wish our women's team was covered as well as UCONN's. Don't get me wrong, our women's team is covered better than a lot of places and I've seen the media interest grow by leaps in just a few years... but the amount of media saturation UCONNWbb receives is impressive.. on all levels, broadcast..digital.. and print. Your women's team is probably coveted better than our men's team.

SNY is a huge asset to UCONN and I've watched the Geno Auriemna show and it's pretty impressive. I work in broadcast/media so I know a well made product when I see it.

One of the great things about The Geno Auriemma Show is that it's clear that this is Geno in a nutshell. Honest and to the point. Even when he couches his words and criticisms he still appears forthright. Every recruit recognizes this guy as the one they met, and every future recruit gets the word. Truth is the definitive argument against propaganda. And no, no other WBB team comes close to this type of coverage. Of course, no other team has Geno.

 

[DaddyChoc]

The answer to your question is a RESOUNDING no. I wish our women's team was covered as well as UCONN's. Don't get me wrong, our women's team is covered better than a lot of places and I've seen the media interest grow by leaps in just a few years... but the amount of media saturation UCONNWbb receives is impressive.. on all levels, broadcast..digital.. and print. Your women's team is probably coveted better than our men's team.

SNY is a huge asset to UCONN and I've watched the Geno Auriemna show and it's pretty impressive. I work in broadcast/media so I know a well made product when I see it.

South Carolina has a Men's team?

 

[bramos]

South Carolina has a Men's team?

Used to be coached by legendary Frank McGuire, who developed a pipeline of players from NY to South Carolina.. and you gotta remember the great John Roche.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Used to be coached by legendary Frank McGuire, who developed a pipeline of players from NY to South Carolina.. and you gotta remember the great John Roche.

I think UConn plugged that leak outta NY... and how are the Gamecocks doing these days?

 

[uconnfan68]

Besides the greatness of Boneyard, I'm talking especially about SYN. The Geno show is such great "propaganda" for recruitment, and then having all the games posted, and all the YouTube interviews with Geno, not to mention things like Just a Kid from Chino, etc. There's so much media presence for the Huskies that a potential recruit can not only be attracted by that great media, but they can have some of their (natural) fears allayed concerning Geno and the program, offsetting what opposing coaches might say about Geno. For example, something like below is a masterpiece of sports psychology that has to inspire naturally intimidated high school players:
https://www.sny.tv/video/topic/157964364/542587383/the-geno-auriemma-show

They EARNED that media attention.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

The Big Ten has the BTN. All the women games are televised either on BTN or BTN to go. Maryland women fans love it. Maryland also have "Inside The Shell" which is broadcast in Baltimore and the DMV.

 

[bags27]

Thanks for all observations. They've helped clarify for me what I initially meant to--but did not--ask. There seem to be different ways that recruits access media in making their decisions. First, going to or watching on TV the games of a school. Okay, let's put that aside, since there are various league games, national games, etc. for most power teams.

What I'm driving at is how a recruit forms a richer opinion of what the program is really like. When I referenced SNY, I wasn't referring to live game coverage, but to Geno's show, the archiving of previous games (and national championships), etc. And then there is so much more about UConn on YouTube, etc. Watching all that, a recruit gets a distinct impression that, while it's a very challenging program (very scary!), Geno and his ass't coaches are actually thoughtful and caring (not scary!). In fact, they seem to have a pretty sophisticated sense of what's in the player's best interests (comforting!). It's Geno's seemingly infinite capacity to submit to media exposure and largely (not always!) express positive values in support of his players (even when he is criticizing them) and have these events archived for later access by recruits that is most striking. I just wonder if high profile coaches of other power schools have the same opportunity to present their image to potential recruits, since I don't live in their media markets and am too lazy to surf the web for them.

 

[UcMiami]

bags27 - I think the answer to your 'real question' is yes - most large programs do produce year in review videos and occasionally have outside media do 15 minute pieces on their programs which all get archived and posted and downloaded to DVD to send to prospects along with the school's own promotional products. And then most large schools have some sort of communications/media major that will produce coverage as well - we occasionally get some of that posted here. But no women's program gets the quantity and quality of production that Uconn enjoys. SNY really does a great job with production values equal to anything out there and CPTV did a good job before them. The Uconn women's coverage stacks up well against pretty much any college sport program including men's basketball and football - it is that good.

Add in that Geno is a national figure and crosses over from 'women's' sports to just Sports, and CD and the other coaches and the players themselves are all good at the public relations aspects of their lives. Geno himself is a great interview, funny, and 'controversial', and thoughtful which adds to his exposure. He is a good 'get' for any interview format because he will not be boring and the interview will not get bogged down.

 

[SCGamecock]

I think UConn plugged that leak outta NY... and how are the Gamecocks doing these days?

Not too shabby, our coach is from Miami, so now we're developing a pipeline to South Florida.. We are 21-5 and a projected 7 seed in the tournament. Was in the top 25 for a few weeks, got as high as #15. Battling Kentucky and LSU for the regular season SEC title.

 

[Orangutan]

The Big Ten has the BTN. All the women games are televised either on BTN or BTN to go. Maryland women fans love it. Maryland also have "Inside The Shell" which is broadcast in Baltimore and the DMV.

That's so nice. Some of the ACC games are on regional sports networks. Some are ESPN3 only. Some have no TV at all (e.g. ND @ Wake last night).

It's a definite drawback of the ACC compared to the SEC or the Big Ten.

 

[huskyd]

Yet another internet legend. It doesn't help one tiny bit that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" is in Connecticut. The total focus of ESPN is ratings. Since UConn wcbb ratings are high, that translates into ad-revenue profits. Nothing else matters to ESPN or its parent corp. (Disney? CBS? I forgot). Money (by the $billion) always trumps geography.

Behind that flippant mask, Kib, lies a cynical heart. Money? Trump? Gwan.

 

[carpe diem]

One has to consider that the media coverage is in many ways a direct correlation with the success of the team. I makes sense to me, in a big picture sort of way, that the team that is on a different level of excellence than any other should also have media coverage that is on another level of excellence. One goes with the other. Just as being the best attracts the best players, it also attracts the most media attention. And it is because it has been this way beginning in 1995.

 

[Waquoit]

... and you gotta remember the great John Roche.

Never heard of him before that short video, the John Roche clip.

 

[CTtransplant]

Used to be coached by legendary Frank McGuire, who developed a pipeline of players from NY to South Carolina.. and you gotta remember the great John Roche.

McGuire was the coach at St Johns and UNC before he went to the NBA for a year. He took some time off and then went to South Carolina for 15 years. He took both St Johns and UNC to the final four, and won a National Championship at UNC S. Carolina won the ACC (back when they were in the ACC) several times I think. This guy was the real deal.