If UConn were still in the AAC....

[Travelman6]

First of all, thank goodness they are not, but, to highlight how much better the Big East is...

12-6 (9-6 in BE)
0-1 vs #1 BE team, Nova
0-2 vs #2 BE team, Creighton
0-1 vs #4 BE team, Shall
1-0 vs #5 BE team, Xavier
0-1 vs #6 BE team St. Johns
1-1 vs #7 BE team Providence
1-0 vs #8 BE team Gtown
2-0 vs #9 BE team Butler
2-0 vs #10 BE team Marquette
2-0 vs #11 BE team Depaul

And most metrics have UConn in, many as last four in, or if they are not in - last four out.

In the AAC, a 9-6 with similar performance would look like....
0-1 vs Witchita St
0-2 vs Houston
0-1 vs Memphis
1-0 vs SMU
0-1 vs Cincy
0-1 vs Tulsa
1-0 vs UCF
1-0 vs USF
2-0 vs Temple
2-0 vs Tulane
2-0 vs ECU

When you look at it this way, the difference between AAC and BE is really very clear.

Even with a win over USC, I think even the most diehard UConn fan would be hard-pressed to make an argument for 2nd, AAC version of the team belonging in the field with a similar AAC record according to how teams are ranked. UConn 2020 AAC version isn't even close to 2020 BE version. But in the Big East, they are clearly in the mix, AAC not even close.

 

[BlueDogs]

If we were in the AAC we would be in second place behind Houston with a better record than we have in the BE. But, we also wouldn’t likely have the same players, so it’s apples and oranges. Clearly by the eye test, the BE is more competitive top to bottom. It’s not as clear whether the top quadrant from one to the other is that different. Overall, the RPI difference between the Big East and American is minuscule. BE .542 vs AAC .541. In fact, essentially the AAC, BE, Pac12 and AAC are basically clustered together as effective equals by RPI rating.
The cache effect of the BE (whether warranted or not) helps generate a whole lot more interest. I enjoy the matche-ups more.

 

[SubbaBub]

I wouldn't go broadcasting this. Yes, the bottom of the BE is way better than the bottom of the AAC.

Looking just at wins, I don't see a huge margin in beating Xavier and beating SMU if I'm in the committee room.

We have no bad losses and all the questionable ones were without Bouk. We have very few Q1 wins compared to other bubble teams. The NBE is not the OBE. 2011 finished 9-9, that team runs the table or close to it in this league.

 

[Travelman6]

If we were in the AAC we would be in second place behind Houston with a better record than we have in the BE. But, we also wouldn’t likely have the same players, so it’s apples and oranges. Clearly by the eye test, the BE is more competitive top to bottom. It’s not as clear whether the top quadrant from one to the other is that different. Overall, the RPI difference between the Big East and American is minuscule. BE .542 vs AAC .541. In fact, essentially the AAC, BE, Pac12 and AAC are basically clustered together as effective equals by RPI rating.
The cache effect of the BE (whether warranted or not) helps generate a whole lot more interest. I enjoy the matche-ups more.

I am merely saying that a 9-6 record in the AAC vs BE, with exact same performance vs teams 1-11, would be perceived a lot different.

 

[AuRevoirAAC]

Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson would not be on the roster.

 

[Caronimo]

We probably don't finish top 2 or 3 in that league. It's just not a fit for us and traveling to those schools during a pandemic makes it even more difficult.

 

[Palatine]

If we were in the AAC history says we would be in the middle of the pack fighting to reach 500.

 

[UCSouth]

I don't understand why anyone even cares about shoulda, coulda, woulda in regards to the AAC. Pointless to even make reference to that Conference anymore.

 

[McLovin]

The difference between the Big East and AAC is simple. The number 10 team in our conference has wins against Wisconsin, @ UNC and @ Creighton. The number 10 team in the AAC plays their games in a high school gymnasium.

 

[Waquoit]

If we were in the AAC...

I would probably be bleeding from the eyes by now

 

[SportsFan88]

Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson would not be on the roster.

And definitely wouldn’t have a class of diggins Hawkins or Johnson

 

[VAHuskyFan]

I am merely saying that a 9-6 record in the AAC vs BE, with exact same performance vs teams 1-11, would be perceived a lot different.

It would not be the same exact performance though.

Put it this way: if UConn were 9-6 against NBA teams, we’d be perceived as an NBA-caliber squad! But if we put in “similar performances” against NBA teams, we’d be 0-15, not 9-6.

 

[Scoe]

Imagine if we moved to the Big East oh wait we did. Even in a covid year it’s 1,000 times better.

Sadly there’s one poster who believes were better off in the AAC ,not mentioning any names. Has to be trolling.

 

[HooperScooper]

And definitely wouldn’t have a class of diggins Hawkins or Johnson

There are some people on here who disagree with that. (I'm not one of those.)

 

[HuskyBoi]

The difference is quite simple. Marquette who is 10th would probably go to Houston or Wichita State and win.

 

[SportsFan88]

There are some people on here who disagree with that. (I'm not one of those.)

Yea and we both know that they are out of their minds LOL

 

[MU in MKE]

If we were in the AAC we would be in second place behind Houston with a better record than we have in the BE. But, we also wouldn’t likely have the same players, so it’s apples and oranges. Clearly by the eye test, the BE is more competitive top to bottom. It’s not as clear whether the top quadrant from one to the other is that different. Overall, the RPI difference between the Big East and American is minuscule. BE .542 vs AAC .541. In fact, essentially the AAC, BE, Pac12 and AAC are basically clustered together as effective equals by RPI rating.
The cache effect of the BE (whether warranted or not) helps generate a whole lot more interest. I enjoy the matche-ups more.

This is exactly why RPI is no longer relevant.

For example, here is the mean Kenpom adjusted efficiency margin by conference. AAC is much closer to WCC/A10 than BE/ACC/SEC/B12.

Conf	Average of AdjEM
B10	20.40​
B12	15.85​
SEC	15.03​
BE	14.14​
ACC	13.97​
P12	11.72​
Amer	9.92​
WCC	7.93​
A10	6.73​
MVC	4.75​

Keep in mind this is a very down year for the BE too. The average NET rating this year for BE is something like 71 compared to 36 last year. If UConn played in BE last year, instead of 4 Q1 conference games you would have most likely had 12.


Here is the 2020 Kenpom average adjusted efficiency margin by conference:

Conference	Average of AdjEM
B10	16.74​
B12	16.21​
BE	15.46​
ACC	11.64​
P12	11.29​
SEC	10.83​
Amer	8.46​
WCC	6.30​
MWC	5.17​
A10	5.15​

 

[Jbirdp5]

This is exactly why RPI is no longer relevant.

For example, here is the mean Kenpom adjusted efficiency margin by conference. AAC is much closer to WCC/A10 than BE/ACC/SEC/B12.

Conf	Average of AdjEM
B10	20.40​
B12	15.85​
SEC	15.03​
BE	14.14​
ACC	13.97​
P12	11.72​
Amer	9.92​
WCC	7.93​
A10	6.73​
MVC	4.75​

Keep in mind this is a very down year for the BE too. The average NET rating this year for BE is something like 71 compared to 36 last year. If UConn played in BE last year, instead of 4 Q1 conference games you would have most likely had 12.


Here is the 2020 Kenpom average adjusted efficiency margin by conference:

Conference	Average of AdjEM
B10	16.74​
B12	16.21​
BE	15.46​
ACC	11.64​
P12	11.29​
SEC	10.83​
Amer	8.46​
WCC	6.30​
MWC	5.17​
A10	5.15​

This is the best example for the people who see a negligible difference.