How UConn athletic director David Benedict views conference realignment: ‘Landscape is changing’ (Borges)

[CL82]

There’s gotta be a limit to the greed

 

[CL82]

Indeed. It won't happen for that reason. College football is just different. There is no Cinderella storyline (despite Cincy last year). The NCAA tournament is popular because of the Loyala-Chicago and St. Peters moments.

If a football super-conference emerges, I think it will just be for football. Other conferences will exist for Olympic sports even for those schools in the super football league. The rest of the D1 football schools will simply become an effective 1A level sport, possibly with a tournament of their own.

So what is the monetary value of the “Cinderella story line“? Let’s say, hypothetically, it’s worth 50% of the value of the NCAA tournament. If you are the P2, do you leave a half $1 billion a year on the table?

(For what it’s worth, there will always be Cinderella teams. If Rutgers, or Northwestern goes on a run, there’s your Cinderella.)

 

[CL82]

Do you think the SEC and Big 10 will want to take that money away from 1000 other schools?

Yes.

Politically, do you think they can get away with it?

Yes.

 

[HuskyHawk]

So what is the monetary value of the “Cinderella story line“? Let’s say, hypothetically, it’s worth 50% of the value of the NCAA tournament. If you are the P2, do you leave a half $1 billion a year on the table?

(For what it’s worth, there will always be Cinderella teams. If Rutgers, or Northwestern goes on a run, there’s your Cinderella.)

It's about how broad the appeal is in my opinion. We tend to think about UConn, other flagship state universities and a few elite private schools. Most people attend schools more like CCSU. Knowing they can get in, or go on a run if they do, expands the appeal of college basketball. Unlike football, there are 350 D1 basketball programs. So the number "left out" is much larger. Narrow the access to the NCAA tournament from 350 to 60, and honestly not many people would care about it anymore.

 

[bobbyinaz]

who in the bleep thinks an SEC-B1G challenge is comparable to march madness. dont they already have that?

It doesn't have to compare to March Madness. You keep thinking they care about keeping the magic of the tournament when all they care about is how can they make more money.

My point is that IF someone is willing to pay them more money than each of those conferences currently gets in distributions from the NCAA they will absolutely explore it.

 

[CL82]

It's about how broad the appeal is in my opinion. We tend to think about UConn, other flagship state universities and a few elite private schools. Most people attend schools more like CCSU. Knowing they can get in, or go on a run if they do, expands the appeal of college basketball. Unlike football, there are 350 D1 basketball programs. So the number "left out" is much larger. Narrow the access to the NCAA tournament from 350 to 60, and honestly not many people would care about it anymore.

How much do the Cinderella fans really care about their programs, in the context that you were talking about? Do they have media deals? Is that an indicator of the perception of the strengths of their fandom?

Now, look at the vast majority of the high majors and particularly the P2 schools. What is their level of fan intensity? I don’t know what the value is of “oh look St. Mary’s is having a run, isn’t that nice?” Versus the day in, day out intensity of, say, a Michigan fan. If, say, 20% of the people in the country bring 90% of the viewership value to watching college sports, is it a better investment to target that 20% or to take a shotgun approach trying to get the remaining 10% of viewership?

(60 is probably too low number, but 80 to 90 schools, might be the sweet spot.)

Keep in mind, also, that a P2 owned tournament wouldn’t necessarily have to exclude the rest of the schools. They could invite other schools to participate. If the P2 tournament payment was greater than the NCAA tournament payment, schools would pick it over the NCAA, and the NCAA would go the way of the NIT.

 

[bobbyinaz]

So what is the monetary value of the “Cinderella story line“? Let’s say, hypothetically, it’s worth 50% of the value of the NCAA tournament. If you are the P2, do you leave a half $1 billion a year on the table?

(For what it’s worth, there will always be Cinderella teams. If Rutgers, or Northwestern goes on a run, there’s your Cinderella.)

It doesn't even have to be $500MM to make a move. This article shows the money paid to each conference for the tournament:

March Madness — ACC, Big Ten Earn $36.4 Million in NCAA Tournament

The ACC and Big Ten made the most money in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

www.basketballinsiders.com

Would someone be willing to pay the SEC/B1G $100+MM/year to play a 16 or 24 team tournament? I don't know, but if people don't think they will explore it they're being foolish.

 

[superjohn]

How much do the Cinderella fans really care about their programs, in the context that you were talking about? Do they have media deals? Is that an indicator of the perception of the strengths of their fandom?

Now, look at the vast majority of the high majors and particularly the P2 schools. What is their level of fan intensity? I don’t know what the value is of “oh look St. Mary’s is having a run, isn’t that nice?” Versus the day in, day out intensity of, say, a Michigan fan. If, say, 20% of the people in the country bring 90% of the viewership value to watching college sports, is it a better investment to target that 20% or to take a shotgun approach trying to get the remaining 10% of viewership?

(60 is probably too low number, but 80 to 90 schools, might be the sweet spot.)

Keep in mind, also, that a P2 owned tournament wouldn’t necessarily have to exclude the rest of the schools. They could invite other schools to participate. If the P2 tournament payment was greater than the NCAA tournament payment, schools would pick it over the NCAA, and the NCAA would go the way of the NIT.

It's not about alumni of the small Cinderella schools, it's that the small schools have a chance of competing against the huge schools with all the advantages. It's what gets everyone around the country to tune in and care about the tournament. You get people who never watch college basketball or sports in general to actually care about it and no Rutgers winning a couple of games doesn't have any of that same effect that the Roadrunners, Peacocks or Banana Slugs winning a couple of games does.

 

[CL82]

It's not about alumni of the small Cinderella schools, it's that the small schools have a chance of competing against the huge schools with all the advantages. It's what gets everyone around the country to tune in and care about the tournament. You get people who never watch college basketball or sports in general to actually care about it and no Rutgers winning a couple of games doesn't have any of that same effect that the Roadrunners, Peacocks or Banana Slugs winning a couple of games does.

I get it, but think about all your favorite division two teams who don’t get a chance to compete for in March madness… On a 0 to 10 scale, how frustrated are you every March that they are not competing for the D1 championship? It will be the same way with whomever are the cast offs from D1. Out of sight, out of mind.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to be wrong on this. I just don’t think I am.

 

[87Xfer]

 

[McLovin]

Certainly a better pitch than playing games on Nickelodeon!

 

[McLovin]

How much do the Cinderella fans really care about their programs, in the context that you were talking about? Do they have media deals? Is that an indicator of the perception of the strengths of their fandom?

Now, look at the vast majority of the high majors and particularly the P2 schools. What is their level of fan intensity? I don’t know what the value is of “oh look St. Mary’s is having a run, isn’t that nice?” Versus the day in, day out intensity of, say, a Michigan fan. If, say, 20% of the people in the country bring 90% of the viewership value to watching college sports, is it a better investment to target that 20% or to take a shotgun approach trying to get the remaining 10% of viewership?

(60 is probably too low number, but 80 to 90 schools, might be the sweet spot.)

Keep in mind, also, that a P2 owned tournament wouldn’t necessarily have to exclude the rest of the schools. They could invite other schools to participate. If the P2 tournament payment was greater than the NCAA tournament payment, schools would pick it over the NCAA, and the NCAA would go the way of the NIT.

For basketball I think your right, the pool needs to be bigger than the 40/48 in the 2 super leagues to have a legitimate tournament.

I’d hate it, but I’d bet it would become somewhere where a .500 or better conference record from the 2 super leagues guarantee a spot and the rest of the “at large” field will be hand picked to fill out the 64 slots. Gone will be the auto bids for the MAAC and American East.

And if the super leagues own the tournament and it’s rights, they can payout the money to participating schools any way they want, meaning they can choose to pay little to no money. Would UConn accept an invite to play in March Madness for $0 but a shot at glory / taking down the super league, or would they choose to play the NIT for some small NCAA distributions. A decision we may have to make one day…

 

[superjohn]

I get it, but think about all your favorite division two teams who don’t get a chance to compete for in March madness… On a 0 to 10 scale, how frustrated are you every March that they are not competing for the D1 championship? It will be the same way with whomever are the cast offs from D1. Out of sight, out of mind.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to be wrong on this. I just don’t think I am.

I strongly disagree and I've never watched a D2 game in my life.

 

[McLovin]

I've never watched a D2 game in my life.

That was his point. They are irrelevant and no one cares about their programs simply because their exclusion from March Madness has made it that way.

 

[ThabeetDown]

The latest rumor is that UNC/UVA/FSU/Clemson are trying to go to SEC and ESPN is trying to void their ACC deal. I'm not even going to bother posting the tweet even though it's by a verified Twitter user since he's a swimming reporter. With that said, both scenarios are obviously realistic and I think the hybrid BE/ACC would still make the most sense. Like I said in my crazy post yesterday, there is still value in basketball, even if it's less than football.

Duke now becomes the sole biggest brand in the new ACC, and they are basketball. Appease to them. Adding UConn/BE schools especially Nova are a huge boost to salvage what's left. You get MSG for the Big East Coast Conference tourney. It's worth noting the current BE media deal expires after 2024-25...aka 3 years...aka when Mora said he wants to be in the ACC...

I think 24 teams (14 for football) should still be on the table. But instead of UNC/UVA being included like my proposed list yesterday you probably have to add USF and then who knows (with UConn/Memphis already in to play football). SMU? UNC Charlotte? And that's of course if the B12 doesn't pick off Pitt/Louisville -- maybe the BE/ACC can pick off WVU first?

 

[superjohn]

That was his point. They are irrelevant and no one cares about their programs simply because their exclusion from March Madness has made it that way.

They were never relevant in Division 1 basketball or the NCAA tournament because they are Division 2 programs and have never been a part of the NCAA tournament. Same goes for Division 3.

It's not a good example.

 

[Jbirdp5]

They were never relevant in Division 1 basketball or the NCAA tournament because they are Division 2 programs and have never been a part of the NCAA tournament. Same goes for Division 3.

It's not a good example.

I agree, as greedy as those leagues are even they can realize that march madness won’t work with an sec big 10 challenge. Football playoffs have been changed many times over the last 20 years there’s a reason basketball hasn’t changed.

 

[CL82]

For basketball I think your right, the pool needs to be bigger than the 40/48 in the 2 super leagues to have a legitimate tournament.

I’d hate it, but I’d bet it would become somewhere where a .500 or better conference record from the 2 super leagues guarantee a spot and the rest of the “at large” field will be hand picked to fill out the 64 slots. Gone will be the auto bids for the MAAC and American East.

And if the super leagues own the tournament and it’s rights, they can payout the money to participating schools any way they want, meaning they can choose to pay little to no money. Would UConn accept an invite to play in March Madness for $0 but a shot at glory / taking down the super league, or would they choose to play the NIT for some small NCAA distributions. A decision we may have to make one day…

Or alternatively, would UConn choose to accept an invitation to a P2 tournament and earn, say, $250,000 per game playing against the top teams in the nation versus the chance to go to an NCAA tournament and earn, say, $100,000 a game playing against the best of the rest?

To me, that’s not a hard decision.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The latest rumor is that UNC/UVA/FSU/Clemson are trying to go to SEC and ESPN is trying to void their ACC deal. I'm not even going to bother posting the tweet even though it's by a verified Twitter user since he's a swimming reporter. With that said, both scenarios are obviously realistic and I think the hybrid BE/ACC would still make the most sense. Like I said in my crazy post yesterday, there is still value in basketball, even if it's less than football.

Duke now becomes the sole biggest brand in the new ACC, and they are basketball. Appease to them. Adding UConn/BE schools especially Nova are a huge boost to salvage what's left. You get MSG for the Big East Coast Conference tourney. It's worth noting the current BE media deal expires after 2024-25...aka 3 years...aka when Mora said he wants to be in the ACC...

I think 24 teams (14 for football) should still be on the table. But instead of UNC/UVA being included like my proposed list yesterday you probably have to add USF and then who knows (with UConn/Memphis already in to play football). SMU? UNC Charlotte? And that's of course if the B12 doesn't pick off Pitt/Louisville -- maybe the BE/ACC can pick off WVU first?

CBS sports guy on Twitter shut that down. Called it silly. Said the SEC is not negotiating with those schools. Indeed, any offer it made would be take it or leave it. But they don't need any of those schools. What do they add?

 

[ThabeetDown]

CBS sports guy on Twitter shut that down. Called it silly. Said the SEC is not negotiating with those schools. Indeed, any offer it made would be take it or leave it. But they don't need any of those schools. What do they add?

Clemson and FSU want to join but you're right, why would current SEC members want that? They already have a South Carolina and Florida school. UNC/UVA football don't move the needle whatsoever either, can't imagine they increase the $ value (whereas a Clemson and FSU most likely would).

 

[bendm]

CBS sports guy on Twitter shut that down.

well it was a fun way to spend the morning

 

[CL82]

They were never relevant in Division 1 basketball or the NCAA tournament because they are Division 2 programs and have never been a part of the NCAA tournament. Same goes for Division 3.

It's not a good example.

Will it make you happier if I used Ivy League schools as the comparison point? Yes, I know that they can participate in March madness but the vast majority don’t. Do you care about it?

 

[CL82]

CBS sports guy on Twitter shut that down. Called it silly. Said the SEC is not negotiating with those schools. Indeed, any offer it made would be take it or leave it. But they don't need any of those schools. What do they add?

UNC and UVA extend the market. Plus UNC with its class is optional philosophy fits right into the SEC culture.

 

[Doug98]

Alternate access link here

-> “I don’t think you can ever be comfortable,” athletic director David Benedict told Hearst Connecticut Media. “The nature of the landscape of college athletics right now, I don’t think anybody is comfortable, whether it’s conference realignment or the transformation that needs to take place in the NCAA.

“Just like we proactively made a decision to change conferences, I do think we certainly feel like we’re in more control of where we stand, versus (being in the American). While it was a competitive conference in a lot of ways, there was nobody committed to staying there. Everyone was always looking for something different. It was more of a matter of opportunity.”

Certainly, Benedict admits that UConn’s fan base and coaches are more comfortable and confident with where the athletic program currently sits.

“However,” he pointed out, “the landscape is changing in lots of different ways. You have to be cognizant of that, and try to manage it in the best way you possibly can, for whatever is best for your institution.” <-

I know I'm comfortable where we are as are most of the UCONN alums I know. So what does that last sentence mean? The only reason to complain would be football and they're have a banner recruiting season.

 

[87Xfer]

I know I'm comfortable where we are as are most of the UCONN alums I know. So what does that last sentence mean? The only reason to complain would be football and they're have a banner recruiting season.

I think it means what it says. Things are changing. Fast. We may be confortable now, but you can guarantee that things will look really different in, say, '24 when I believe our media contracts expire. I'm glad you're comfortable, but a lot more glad that the UConn admins aren't.

 

[superjohn]

Will it make you happier if I used Ivy League schools as the comparison point?

No but it would make more sense.

 

[shizzle787]

For the big schools to take over March Madness and exclude every one else, every one else would have to become irrelevant over time (the Big East, Gonzaga, Memphis, the remnants of the Big 12, Pac-12, ACC). I don't see that happening any time soon. Once the non-B1G and SEC schools become irrelevant due to significant budgetary differences then you could see a breakaway but until then, I don't see it. Right now, for instance, all eleven Big East schools are in the top-86 in basketball budget (there are 80 power conference basketball schools + Gonzaga + Memphis). Also, I think if they tried to break away, it would fail like the European Super League. The public backlash would be too significant.

Always remember: college basketball is a populist sport (like European soccer). College football is an elitist sport.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Indeed. It won't happen for that reason. College football is just different. There is no Cinderella storyline (despite Cincy last year). The NCAA tournament is popular because of the Loyala-Chicago and St. Peters moments.

If a football super-conference emerges, I think it will just be for football. Other conferences will exist for Olympic sports even for those schools in the super football league. The rest of the D1 football schools will simply become an effective 1A level sport, possibly with a tournament of their own.

I agree especially if current P5 schools are further culled .
They already are separate for football plus get the lion share of the distribution from BB.
I don’t even think the power football teams breakaway. They have their cake and get to eat it too, just by becoming a somewhat autonomous branch of the NCAA
These schools are also over represented in minor sport championships that are financed by men’s basketball . Those schools are scammers .
I agree with Huggy in theory the 350 men’s basketball schools are the ones being currently taken advantage of . Maybe they should breakaway and distribute all the money among themselves so they would have a competitive advantage. Getting a million per unit makes BB a lot more attractive and viable.
The idea of s feasible tourney from a group as small as the p 2, 3,4 ,5 is insane . Half the schools in that group haven’t had viable BB teams in decades .
Plus almost every state that has P football team has one or more competitive basketball teams who live for the tournament.
Ie Ohio , has , Dayton , Xavier , and Cinncy
plus a bunch more .

 

[JSB60]

Unless we believe that UConn can be a successful football school, while also believing that UNC, NCS, and Duke will remain in the ACC, do you think we might be better off staying in the BE?

Yes, yes, yes. Do not leave the Big East again to accommodate a lousy football program.

 

[CL82]

Yes, yes, yes. Do not leave the Big East again to accommodate a lousy football program.

Is it OK if we leave the big east in order to make more than $4 million a year in media money? Because given that the Big Ten in the SEC are going to be distributing $100 million a year to each school, it seems like that might be a good idea.