Hammond said that ACC best conference - whatcha smokin girl

[Vowelguy]

Stipends will matter a bit -- esp for kids from poorer families. But short-term monetary concerns don't drive all college decisions. If they did, no one would go to Ivy league schools.

 

[HoopsFan21]

$5,000-10,000/year stipend?

It's women's basketball. The $ effect will mostly affect the men's game and football. In my opinion, anyway. It's possible UConn might miss out on some recruits, but let's look around on the team. Not many if any of those kids come from really poor backgrounds or the ghetto where $10k/yr is going to matter to them and their parents. The women are there to get an education and prepare for their pro career if they have those aspirations. Compare that to the men's side where college is basically a semi-pro league and you know they got babies and baby mommas to take care of. If one does have a pro career in mind, Geno is the best at developing talent, and easily worth forgoing $40k to be coached by the best. One might consider giving up the $40k an investment in their own career.

 

[j66kicker]

It'll be a classic test of market economics, how long will it take for those stipends to turn into NCs?

IMO that's the only question - how long. Not "if".

 

[HuskiesU]

I would love UConn to get out of the AAC but as long as we still getting top players like KLS Collier Boykins and Dangerfield it doesn't matter. We left our mark of beating any and every team we play.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Are you seriously trying to tell me that the BEast was not the best conference in 2008-09 when UConn rolled through everyone in conference play, saw six other BEast teams in the Tourney, and met Louisville in the NC game? Same thing in 2000 when UConn towered above the BEast on the way to the NC and the conference went 13-3 in the Tournament. Top-level action within a conference breeds both competitiveness and success in Tournament play.

A bunch of conference teams beating up on each other in closely competitive play can strengthen the teams if they have a high-level of proficiency, but if they're just a bunch of flawed teams reinforcing each others' weaknesses, then the teams won't be getting better and none will get to the FF, if you get where this is going.