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Don't Kill the messenger!

If we are going to compete for recruits with schools like Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and others, and want to be considered nationally an elite program with the brand that goes with it, I think it would be really beneficial to play these folks on some kind of rotating basis. Last year we played Arizona, Villanova, Michigan State, Auburn, and a couple of others, and I hope this year our OOC schedule is equally nationally relevant or better than this past year.
 
Son of Robert said:
If we are going to compete for recruits with schools like Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and others, and want to be considered nationally an elite program with the brand that goes with it, I think it would be really beneficial to play these folks on some kind of rotating basis. Last year we played Arizona, Villanova, Michigan State, Auburn, and a couple of others, and I hope this year our OOC schedule is equally nationally relevant or better than this past year.
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I agree. While it’s wise to focus on northeast/mid Atlantic teams, I think you also need one or two National powers a year. Jim always did that and it worked well.
 
Your list does not jibe with the UConn record books. URI is far and away the most played opponent all time for UConn with UNH next. The history with the old Yankee Conference foes go back to the early days of Husky hoops.
 
TJT said:
Your list does not jibe with the UConn record books. URI is far and away the most played opponent all time for UConn with UNH next. The history with the old Yankee Conference foes go back to the early days of Husky hoops.
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Yeah, I thought this chart looked a little off. I can't access all my databases at work...This one I used was a little flawed...really bad for football...But still it shows the preponderance of our foes.
 
Chief00 said:
I agree. While it’s wise to focus on northeast/mid Atlantic teams, I think you also need one or two National powers a year. Jim always did that and it worked well.
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I'm fine with that but folks need to be realistic in their expectations then...we aren't currently built to beat the likes of Kansas, Duke, or UNC. If we can't even keep those games competitive why would those schools schedule us? I say in Hurley's 4th year, given success in the regional game, we expand out. But I'm a deliberate, long-term vision guy...it's what I do for a living...Slow and steady builds a firm foundation for future sustained success.

Build the program on a rock not the sand .
 
My goal would be this:

Three home/home/every year games with Syracuse, Villanova, Georgetown. They're our biggest historical rivals
1-2 games against old Big East rivals that rotate every 2-3 years: St. John's, Providence, Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Seton Hall
Get one big national opponent: A big fish. Arizona was a good fit this year. Would love to see a Kansas, Duke, whoever. It's good as a measuring stick even though expectations should be low.
Keep early season local: Love Yale, Wagner probably gets done a solid. Vermont could be in the mix. DO like the idea of UMass/URI as an A-10 opponent rotated.

That'd be my mix.
 
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Towney007 said:
My goal would be this:

Three home/home/every year games with Syracuse, Villanova, Georgetown. They're our biggest historical rivals
1-2 games against old Big East rivals that rotate every 2-3 years: St. John's, Providence, Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Seton Hall
Get one big national opponent: A big fish. Arizona was a good fit this year. Would love to see a Kansas, Duke, whoever. It's good as a measuring stick even though expectations should be low.
Keep early season local: Love Yale, Wagner probably gets done a solid. Vermont could be in the mix. DO like the idea of UMass/URI as an A-10 opponent rotated.

That'd be my mix.
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I think you're spot on. The Big East as we know it is dead and gone, but there's a lot to gain (for everyone involved) by keeping the rivalries alive .
 
Zissou said:
We already have the BET every year at MSG, This year we also played Gonzaga at MSG. Keeping an OOC is a good thing for all schools, I think. There is a rule about not participating in the same tournaments every year (every fifth year I think), so the invitational would be difficult as an annual event.
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Ok so UConn, Syracuse and Georgetown it is
 
I like playing some of these teams H/H, but let’s not fall in love with the past. I would use this as a substitute for the Coppin State opponents but Chief still believes we need to
play national powers from around the country.
 
Zissou said:
These are H&H as opposed to Neutral Site. In years past the games were played at the Palestra, often as double headers. Now mostly at home arenas. It is good for the schedule and local rivalries though.
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You are correct. I was in Philly for about 8 years back when they were all held at the Palestra - a louder venue doesn’t exist. The roof reflects all of the sound straight down.
 
FWIW, here are some notable schools looking to fill dates per the schedule board:
@Rhode Island, multiple dates
@Gonzaga, multiple dates
@VCU, 12/15-22
@Illinois, 12/15
@USC, 11/30

No surprise that teams aren't actively seeking to start on the road.
 
The most current opponent series listing I found for UConn Men's Basketball was from the Media Guide at the start of the 2017-18 season (does not include games played this past year). The top 15 most played opponents all time for the Huskies at that time appear to have been:

Rhode Island 145
New Hampshire 117
UMass 108
Maine 100
Syracuse 93
Boston College 90
Providence 72
Yale 67
Georgetown 66
Holy Cross 64
Villanova 64
St Johns 63
Seton Hall 63
Pittsburgh 61
BU 55
Vermont 55

Link:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/conn/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2017-18/prospectus/prospectus.pdf
 
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Brochacho said:
FWIW, here are some notable schools looking to fill dates per the schedule board:
@Rhode Island, multiple dates
@Gonzaga, multiple dates
@VCU, 12/15-22
@Illinois, 12/15
@USC, 11/30

No surprise that teams aren't actively seeking to start on the road.
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Gonzaga, USC and Illinois - Chief would endorse H/H.
 
I have a couple of thoughts on this. First it is always good to play regional rivals. PC, Syracuse, St Johns Villanova. URI and UMass. Even BC and for the mid major games I have a preference for New England and Connecticut schools. But you can’t do only those schools. The odd one off with Coppin State or Gulf Coast is fine. But I also think we need with a series with a Carolina or Indiana or some other national team annually to resurrect the brand. We don’t need to play 4 of them but we should play one.

As far as competing with UNC or Louisville or any other national program I don’t necessarily think we plan to do that on the recruiting trail. I think we are going back to the old Calhoun style approach (and Villanova’s too to be honest) if landing players who are really talented but not necessarily 1-done types. Guys with a high upside who will be there for a while and will improve over their careers. We aren’t necessarily landing the can’t miss burger star from LA but the high 4star kid from Boston who goes on to be an NBA prospect after his Jr. season and a sure 1st rounder as a senior.
 
freescooter said:
I have a couple of thoughts on this. First it is always good to play regional rivals. PC, Syracuse, St Johns Villanova. URI and UMass. Even BC and for the mid major games I have a preference for New England and Connecticut schools. But you can’t do only those schools. The odd one off with Coppin State or Gulf Coast is fine. But I also think we need with a series with a Carolina or Indiana or some other national team annually to resurrect the brand. We don’t need to play 4 of them but we should play one.

As far as competing with UNC or Louisville or any other national program I don’t necessarily think we plan to do that on the recruiting trail. I think we are going back to the old Calhoun style approach (and Villanova’s too to be honest) if landing players who are really talented but not necessarily 1-done types. Guys with a high upside who will be there for a while and will improve over their careers. We aren’t necessarily landing the can’t miss burger star from LA but the high 4star kid from Boston who goes on to be an NBA prospect after his Jr. season and a sure 1st rounder as a senior.
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Some good points - I would like to play 2 H/H national teams a year rather than 1.
I like the northeast /Mid Atlantic base for recruiting but let’s recruit TX, FL, GA and CA too. Places where we have been successful in the past.
 
I really have no desire to play A-10 schools. Maybe I'll come around to the idea like many people have in regards to scheduling PC but for now I'll pass.
 
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Zissou said:
These are H&H as opposed to Neutral Site. In years past the games were played at the Palestra, often as double headers. Now mostly at home arenas. It is good for the schedule and local rivalries though.
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The Palestra is a GREAT venue for basketball. I once was at a St. Joe’s/Villanova game (ex-husband was a St. Joe’s guy) and the Villanova Wildcat jumped on the Hawk to try to get him to stop flapping his wing... that Hawk never did stop. It was fantastic!
 
The AAC has a chance to schedule its tourney at the Pslestra but passed. I thought that would have been a great location. History tradition and a terrific venue. The right size too to make tickets an item.
 
JMick said:
As a two for one, sure
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Or a one off home game was what I was thinking. A-10 games are good for RPI and Kenpom purposes and are somewhat attractive scheduling names
 
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