Is the American good for uconn

[paisan]

I believe that the American is not a good fit for uconn. Racking up easy wins does not help develop a strong team. It leads to overconfidence and soft play. A more challenging conference would help toughen the players and get them used to playing with some pressure on them. I do think this years team thought their defense was better than it actually was. They got used to playing D for half the game then coasting.

 

[tomcat]

Okay, I totally agree, but there seems to be absolutely no option for UConn. It's not as though other, better leagues are breaking down their doors to get the Huskies. And UConn has out the word out that it's willing to move elsewhere. Bad decisions on the part of administrators, both in sports and higher in the institution, the egos of some politicians and a too=strong sense of hubris and entitlement caused others in sport to want to cut UConn down to size, so they did. All that was left was the American.

 

[EricSD]

I believe that the American is not a good fit for uconn. Racking up easy wins does not help develop a strong team. It leads to overconfidence and soft play. A more challenging conference would help toughen the players and get them used to playing with some pressure on them. I do think this years team thought their defense was better than it actually was. They got used to playing D for half the game then coasting.

I agree with your first sentence. Then...

 

[HuskyNan]

So, what’s your solution to the problem?

 

[Reypl21]

The debate goes on if it's bad for UConn or not. But I definitely don't believe it's good for you guys. I feel bad. I'm ignorant to the other UConn sports, but I read that they're bad. Too bad switching conference couldn't be for just WBB or CBB altogether. If I had the choice, I would swap out Boston College and UConn in ACC WBB. Of course, that's never going to happen.

 

[UConnNick]

I believe that the American is not a good fit for uconn. Racking up easy wins does not help develop a strong team. It leads to overconfidence and soft play. A more challenging conference would help toughen the players and get them used to playing with some pressure on them. I do think this years team thought their defense was better than it actually was. They got used to playing D for half the game then coasting.

It may not be a good thing for the women's team to mow down all AAC competition, but you can't look at it in a vacuum only from the perspective of women's BB.

UCONN has an athletic dept. with many sports programs. The AAC is by far the best of the G5 football leagues, which puts it only a small notch below the P5 leagues. It's arguably just as good if not better than the old Big East, which was a major BCS football league. The AAC is also a good baseball league. Football is the only sport that matters financially, so if you want to see UCONN get into a P5 league, improving football is the only way to make it there.

Right now there are no better options other than P5 membership, but that possibility is way off in the future, if ever. UCONN needs to stay the course in the AAC to have any chance, however slim, to get into a P5 league.

Also, despite an overall upgrade in competition level for women's BB, the bottom half of most P5 leagues don't offer much more competition than the AAC does against UCONN. When's the last time we lost to or were even threatened by a lower tier P5 team?

 

[Plebe]

What an original post. Amazing no one ever thought to complain about UConn’s conference until now.

 

[Adios]

Some people here do not understand how college athletics work. We are new blood at the top tier. You do realize jealousy is part of college athletics, too? We have to really earn our way up. We're in the process of doing that. Until then, just stop freaking complaining about the AAC. The AAC is actually not a bad conference, at all. All schools are trying to improve the profiles of their athletic departments and get the heck out of the conference. Geez.

This really does get old. Is it that hard to try to understand reality?

The AAC women's bball programs are interested in building themselves up. UConn is leading the freaking way for them all. We already won 2 national titles while a member of the AAC. And a title in men's bball, too.

 

[UconnU]

The debate goes on if it's bad for UConn or not. But I definitely don't believe it's good for you guys. I feel bad. I'm ignorant to the other UConn sports, but I read that they're bad. Too bad switching conference couldn't be for just WBB or CBB altogether. If I had the choice, I would swap out Boston College and UConn in ACC WBB. Of course, that's never going to happen.

We can switch conferences for basketball only.

 

[HoopsFan21]

The debate goes on if it's bad for UConn or not. But I definitely don't believe it's good for you guys. I feel bad. I'm ignorant to the other UConn sports, but I read that they're bad. Too bad switching conference couldn't be for just WBB or CBB altogether. If I had the choice, I would swap out Boston College and UConn in ACC WBB. Of course, that's never going to happen.

UConn has 22 NCAA Div. I championships across all sports. If UConn were in the ACC, only Virginia (25) and UNC (43) would have more. In other words UConn would have a better athletics pedigree than almost every team in today's ACC. If UConn were in the B1G, they'd be 8th, and 5th in the SEC. That's just from the list I found on Wikipedia, and the NCAA site probably has a more complete list, but that gives you an idea of where UConn stands among its peers.

 

[HoopsFan21]

We can switch conferences for basketball only.

No we can't. That would only be allowed if the AAC didn't have basketball.

 

[UconnU]

No we can't. That would only be allowed if the AAC didn't have basketball.

Sorry, we can remain in the AAC for football only and join the Big East for all other sports. Or join the Big East and go independent for football.

 

[TitleTown]

I believe that the American is not a good fit for uconn. Racking up easy wins does not help develop a strong team. It leads to overconfidence and soft play. A more challenging conference would help toughen the players and get them used to playing with some pressure on them. I do think this years team thought their defense was better than it actually was. They got used to playing D for half the game then coasting.

Of course it isn't! The lack of competition, brutal travel schedule, lack of traditional rivalries, and difficulties in recruiting are all huge factors as to why the AAC is a horrible fit for UConn. The ACC was the perfect fit for UConn in terms of geographical location, rivalries(ND, Duke, Louisville, competition, etc). Unfortunately, thanks to BC, that ship has sailed, and we are now stuck in this embarrassment of a conference for the foreseeable future

 

[Reypl21]

UConn has 22 NCAA Div. I championships across all sports. If UConn were in the ACC, only Virginia (25) and UNC (43) would have more. In other words UConn would have a better athletics pedigree than almost every team in today's ACC. If UConn were in the B1G, they'd be 8th, and 5th in the SEC. That's just from the list I found on Wikipedia, and the NCAA site probably has a more complete list, but that gives you an idea of where UConn stands among its peers.

Well I was talking about more or less recent history with the boys basketball and football. I definitely don't keep up to date with almost any other NCAA sport.

 

[Blue Huskie]

Of course it isn'tgood but what's to be done? Until a big conference accepts the entire package of our sports teams the women are stuck in the crummy American.

 

[HuskyNan]

The debate goes on if it's bad for UConn or not. But I definitely don't believe it's good for you guys. I feel bad. I'm ignorant to the other UConn sports, but I read that they're bad. Too bad switching conference couldn't be for just WBB or CBB altogether. If I had the choice, I would swap out Boston College and UConn in ACC WBB. Of course, that's never going to happen.

UConn women’s sports is quite strong. This year, the field hockey team won its third consecutive national championship - beating three ACC teams along the way. Soccer and ice hockey have historically been in and out of the rankings. Men’s soccer has won a couple championships and is usually ranked. It’s football and men’s hoops that are down; both have new coaches, so we’ll see.

BC is the reason UConn isn’t in the ACC now. They blackballed UConn so you got Louisville instead.

 

[HuskylnSC]

The AAC football got a big boost this year from UCF who was the only undefeated D1 team. They also beat both teams that played for the NC. Of course the head coach was poached by Nebraska (his alma mater). But it's a step in the right direction for football.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Well I was talking about more or less recent history with the boys basketball and football. I definitely don't keep up to date with almost any other NCAA sport.

Boy’s basketball 4 titles of the last 22. How many other schools have that many? The men’s and women’s basketball teams have combined to win 14 basketball titles of the last 44 since 1997. Find me another school that has dominated basketball that much. We are still new to football at this level having made the jump to the FBS level 15 years ago. We have other sports that are pretty good as well as Nan mentioned above. UConn belongs in a P5 conference more than half the teams that are in those leagues today. Better academics than most of those teams, better media market, and an albeit short sports history that is also better than most of those teams. Plus our school generally is free from the kind of scandals and controversy that seem like a requirement to get into the P5 these days. It’s funny how everyone thinks their school has the athletic history of Stanford, USC, or UCLA while little old UConn just doesn’t measure up.

 

[HuskyNan]

Sorry, we can remain in the AAC for football only and join the Big East for all other sports. Or join the Big East and go independent for football.

You make it sound like UConn just needs to ask the ACC or Big 10 to join to get in. It’s not that eas

 

[Adios]

Sorry, we can remain in the AAC for football only and join the Big East for all other sports. Or join the Big East and go independent for football.

Uh, no we can't. Do you even bother to compute 1+1=2?

On top of that, the Big East is a step down. The AAC lost Vilanova in women's rowing but gained Florida and Vanderbilt in women's lacrosse. The SEC even puts their programs in the AAC. Yeah, the Big East sure sounds like the way to go.

This gets so old. Who the heck does the Big East give UConn competition in women's basketball? Has anyone ever even bothered to think about even that? God Almighty.

 

[Woof 101]

I believe that the American is not a good fit for uconn. Racking up easy wins does not help develop a strong team. It leads to overconfidence and soft play. A more challenging conference would help toughen the players and get them used to playing with some pressure on them. I do think this years team thought their defense was better than it actually was. They got used to playing D for half the game then coasting.

No beating a dead horse attack here paisan although it is deserved.
This topic has been hashed, bashed and rehashed for four years now. Geno has aggressively pursued the best out of conference schedule possible to offset the conference. If you do your homework on woman's basketball the dynamics are simply not yet what some people expect.

My question to you would be, when have you ever seen a Geno coached team coast??? He sits starters if they don't play up to his expectations as well as bench players.
He has made national headlines for benching AA type players and not afraid to let some walk if they don't like to work hard. Good gracious, they have been in the last 11 Final Fours in a row, sometimes the other team actually wins. Should they get some credit for actually paying attention to what Geno has been doing and willing to share and making it work?
There are 335 D1 woman's teams, how many would one think would like to be in this company. I will let you do the math on the few that are.






2008

Tennessee

64–48

Stanford

St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, Florida)

LSU & Connecticut

2009

Connecticut

76–54

Louisville

Scottrade Center (St. Louis, Missouri)

Stanford & Oklahoma

2010

Connecticut

53–47

Stanford

Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)

Baylor & Oklahoma

2011

Texas A&M

76–70

Notre Dame

Conseco Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Connecticut & Stanford

2012

Baylor

80–61

Notre Dame

Pepsi Center (Denver, Colorado)

Stanford & Connecticut

2013

Connecticut

93–60

Louisville

New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Notre Dame & California

2014

Connecticut

79–58

Notre Dame

Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee)

Stanford & Maryland

2015

Connecticut

63–53

Notre Dame

Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida)

South Carolina & Maryland

2016

Connecticut

82–51

Syracuse

Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Oregon State & Washington

2017

South Carolina

67–55

Mississippi State

American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)

Connecticut & Stanford

2018

Notre Dame

61–58

Mississippi State

Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

Connecticut & Louisville

 

[UConnNick]

Sorry, we can remain in the AAC for football only and join the Big East for all other sports. Or join the Big East and go independent for football.

Your ideas are ludicrous. NBE commish Val Ackerman was asked recently about UCONN joining her conference. Her response was what are they going to do with their football program? She came pretty close to saying she'd have to personally witness P&W Stadium being destroyed by a wrecking ball for that to happen.

Going independent in football is complete nonsense. There's no way you can put together an adequate schedule and you have no bowl tie ins. UCONN went 9-3 during the 2003 season as an independent I-A team and sat home during bowl season while lesser teams from every football league in the country got bowl bids.

The bottom line is UCONN isn't giving up on getting into a P5 league by bulldozing the football stadium anytime soon. The state isn't about to let Rentschler Field become a 90 million dollar white elephant. If you want to see UCONN in a better conference, football is the only way to get there.

 

[buddy]

The AAC will be the home of the UConn Huskies for the foreseeable future. AAC members could say the same about UConn men's athletics that some here say about women's athletics. UConn men's athletics are dragging the conference down, in reality. The other AAC members will catch up on the women's level, it is only a matter of time. The AAC is not the reason that UConn women's basketball choked in the last two final fours.

 

[Reypl21]

UConn women’s sports is quite strong. This year, the field hockey team won its third consecutive national championship - beating three ACC teams along the way. Soccer and ice hockey have historically been in and out of the rankings. Men’s soccer has won a couple championships and is usually ranked. It’s football and men’s hoops that are down; both have new coaches, so we’ll see.

BC is the reason UConn isn’t in the ACC now. They blackballed UConn so you got Louisville instead.

It's a bummer that so many programs are successful except the two "important" ones.

 

[HoopsFan21]

It's a bummer that so many programs there are successful except the two "important" ones.

Why do you think our men's basketball isn't successful? Just because it has been a whole 4 years since our last national championship? What other program has won 4 national championships in the last couple of decades?

 

[maccca3232]

Is the conference the right topic for discussion when talking about addressing the lack of competition? The last 2 years UConn were 4th (16-17) and 2nd (17-18) in SOS. If they had a tougher Conference schedule do we really think they would schedule the same OOC schedule?

While I appreciate the coaching staff want to maximize the cohesion within the starters and core playing rotation couldn't we manufacture closer games by giving more minutes to the non-starters in the second quarter? You can practice as much as you like but nothing can replace in game competition.

Anyway all things being equal the starters will still play similar amounts of minutes together with the decrease in minutes in 2nd Qtr mostly offset by an increase in minutes in 4th Qtr (assuming game will be closer).

I understand using the term manufacture might be frowned upon but the goal to is best prepare the players for the challenges they will face in March not December.

 

[shiverz45]

The AAC football got a big boost this year from UCF who was the only undefeated D1 team. They also beat both teams that played for the NC. Of course the head coach was poached by Nebraska (his alma mater). But it's a step in the right direction for football.

UCF did not beat Alabama or Georgia. They did not play either team. However they did beat Auburn who split with Georgia and beat Alabama.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Yes, it is a dead horse. But if nothing else, it reveals the complexity of the "whole sports" environment.

 

[HuskylnSC]

UCF did not beat Alabama or Georgia. They did not play either team. However they did beat Auburn who split with Georgia and beat Alabama.

I am corrected - thank you

 

[TitleTown]

Uh, no we can't. Do you even bother to compute 1+1=2?

On top of that, the Big East is a step down. The AAC lost Vilanova in women's rowing but gained Florida and Vanderbilt in women's lacrosse. The SEC even puts their programs in the AAC. Yeah, the Big East sure sounds like the way to go.

This gets so old. Who the heck does the Big East give UConn competition in women's basketball? Has anyone ever even bothered to think about even that? God Almighty.

Who in the AAC gives UConn competition? Depaul is as good or better than any team(besides UConn) in the AAC!