Is UCONN Football positioning for independence?

[weyuo]

As long as the AAC gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tourney, ESPN and CBS broadcast conference basketball and football UConn is better off staying where they are. They still get national coverage and this gives the football program time and a platform to grow into a respectable product. Just going to have to bite the bullet til the next TV contract comes up but the AAC has proven itself. They won't get B1G dollars but they'll do better than the Big East and any G-5. If AAC football continues to compete nationally(ie; Houston and Temple winning big non conf games recently) and grow on that Aresco might be able to parlay that into Big 12 comparable money. Not quite Big 12 money but close. Remember, the AAC has something no other conference has. UConn women's basketball. Who knows how much that might count for but it does count for something when negotiating the next contract. Aresco has done a pretty good job so far.

 

[IMind]

The only thing "suffocating" the basketball team is Ollie's inexperience as a head coach and Terry Larrier's ACL.

You were making some good points and then come up with this guffaw for likes
BTW - I don't remember anyone saying anything about playing all home games at MSG - he was referring to the year end tournament

Sure, Ollie has been coaching forever and Terry Larrier's ACL is fine.

I love Ollie and think he's a great coach overall... He's beaten the best in the business... but he's also green as far as coaching goes. He wasn't an assistant for very long before he took over the HC job. It's insane to expect him to not have some bumps in the road.

And Nope he wasn't. Here's the quote: "and playing teams like St Johns, Villanova, The Hall, Georgetown, Butler, Xavier, and Providence in the Garden would definitely boost ticket sales." We get ticket sales from the year end tournament?

He was wrong from start to finish. Win the AAC... and if we're still having problems selling out the XL Center... then we'll talk.. (probably about how the XL Center needs to be replaced)

 

[huskyrob1]

Stop it. He was giving you a fact, which is that recruiting services did in fact rate our last incoming class that highly. Now, you may choose to disagree with the rankings (although I don't know on what basis you would do so as Diarra never played, the Point Guard played 2 games and Durham has not been healthy all year), but that doesn't change the fact that the rankings are what they were.

If you are judging a school's ability to recruit, as opposed to how good the coach is at finding the right players and building a team, rankings are actually at least as important as history five years down the road.

You're not looking at the big picture either, over time. If UCONN was recruiting decent big men for the past 4 years, do you think Brimah would still be starting as a senior???? Come on, the lack of depth on this team from injuries AND so-so recruiting is startling. Since the AAC, men's basketball recruiting has suffered and that is a fact. One or two decent and overated recruiting classes doesn't cut it anymore, decent incoming players is a necessity EVERY year. The list of great players that UCONN has recruited recently is still a long one but just about all of them now go elsewhere.

 

[businesslawyer]

You're not looking at the big picture either, over time. If UCONN was recruiting decent big men for the past 4 years, do you think Brimah would still be starting as a senior???? Come on, the lack of depth on this team from injuries AND so-so recruiting is startling. Since the AAC, men's basketball recruiting has suffered and that is a fact. One or two decent and overated recruiting classes doesn't cut it anymore, decent incoming players is a necessity EVERY year. The list of great players that UCONN has recruited recently is still a long one but just about all of them now go elsewhere.

I'm not looking at the big picture. You argued with what was a fact and I merely pointed out that it was a fact. Telling me "but I'm right anyway" is totally unresponsive to my post.

 

[Stinger92860]

UConn wants out of the AAC. What else is new.

UConn football will not go independent and the rest of the athletic program will not move to the NBE.

We were surprised when Fiasco was fired. Never say never.

EDIT: except for chief. I'd like to know what he is hearing

 

[junglehusky]

You're not looking at the big picture either, over time. If UCONN was recruiting decent big men for the past 4 years, do you think Brimah would still be starting as a senior???? Come on, the lack of depth on this team from injuries AND so-so recruiting is startling. Since the AAC, men's basketball recruiting has suffered and that is a fact. One or two decent and overated recruiting classes doesn't cut it anymore, decent incoming players is a necessity EVERY year. The list of great players that UCONN has recruited recently is still a long one but just about all of them now go elsewhere.

We simply don't know that all of those issues would have gone away if UConn had gone to the ACC or Big Ten (or, for that matter, the Big 12). Maybe a dip in recruiting prior to the last 2 classes was due to being in the AAC, but there was also the NCAA ban and a period of uncertainty during the Calhoun/Ollie transition before the 2014 championship. If UConn had won out over Louisville to get n the ACC, it's not like we would have been the clear favorites to win the regular season title either.

/basketball post on the football board

 

[huskyrob1]

We simply don't know that all of those issues would have gone away if UConn had gone to the ACC or Big Ten (or, for that matter, the Big 12). Maybe a dip in recruiting prior to the last 2 classes was due to being in the AAC, but there was also the NCAA ban and a period of uncertainty during the Calhoun/Ollie transition before the 2014 championship. If UConn had won out over Louisville to get n the ACC, it's not like we would have been the clear favorites to win the regular season title either.

/basketball post on the football board

We came oh so close to getting the nod over Louisville, all the pieces were there, men's and women's b-ball championships, and other highly respected athletic programs, only thing missing was HCRE.

 

[BlueMAB]

we went into Louisville and beat a top 25 ranked team on the road on Saturday. their fans were congratulating us on getting into the ACC. The following week it was announced that Louisville was going and not us.

But yeah, HCRE.

 

[BlueMAB]

Wasn't part of the discussion as I joined the forum in January. Sorry if this is a repeat but I haven't seen any post regarding the subject since I became a member.

No apology necessary, those who have been here long enough get the joke. welcome to the board

 

[coachcap]

Here's what a typical independent football schedule would look like: 1 FCS, Army, Brigham Young, possibly BCU, possibly Syracuse, AT any other P-5, then 6 straight games against UMASS. Not pretty.

 

[buddy]

You're not looking at the big picture either, over time. If UCONN was recruiting decent big men for the past 4 years, do you think Brimah would still be starting as a senior???? Come on, the lack of depth on this team from injuries AND so-so recruiting is startling. Since the AAC, men's basketball recruiting has suffered and that is a fact. One or two decent and overated recruiting classes doesn't cut it anymore, decent incoming players is a necessity EVERY year. The list of great players that UCONN has recruited recently is still a long one but just about all of them now go elsewhere.

I thought UConn had one of the best recruiting classes ever this year? It is not the conference that is having a bad effect on recruiting, it is the people doing the recruiting. If recruiting is bad in the AAC, why is it that SMU, Cinci, Temple, Tulsa, seems to recruit and develop players and kick UConn's butt most of the time? I think this line of thinking here is erroneous. I hope this talk of Big East is just that, talk. It would be a very bad move. UConn has lost elite status in basketball because it has been fielding mediocre teams, at best. (I know you are all going to say we won the AAC tourney last year, we have four championships), etc. but look at the here and now and not the past. In my opinion UConn basketball is on a downward spiral. How many of us now expect the games to be losses, with the only question being how much will they lose by? They will be near the bottom of the Big East, the same way that they are near the bottom of the AAC. And for you KO lovers, next year will be a defining year for him, like it or not.

 

[huskyrob1]

Here's what a typical independent football schedule would look like: 1 FCS, Army, Brigham Young, possibly BCU, possibly Syracuse, AT any other P-5, then 6 straight games against UMASS. Not pretty.

Lashlee and Benedict couldn't get us a game at Auburn? Warde M. wouldn't play us? Or Iowa wouldn't? Their head coach, Kirk Ferentz, has deep ties to UCONN. Just a thought.

 

[Hoophound]

I've mentioned it before and I've been told it is true, UConn and SNY would like to find a way to increase the relationship in a way that provides serious value for both sides. The only way I can see for that to happen is as an independent in 1 or more major sports. Just a thought. When Dave Benedict was touting the women's basketball ratings in NY the other night, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to it than simple bragging.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Stop it. He was giving you a fact, which is that recruiting services did in fact rate our last incoming class that highly. Now, you may choose to disagree with the rankings (although I don't know on what basis you would do so as Diarra never played, the Point Guard played 2 games and Durham has not been healthy all year), but that doesn't change the fact that the rankings are what they were.

If you are judging a school's ability to recruit, as opposed to how good the coach is at finding the right players and building a team, rankings are actually at least as important as history five years down the road.

Agreed. And let's look at it so far.
1. Gilbert looked very good before getting hurt
2. Vance looks like he will be a hell of a player. Can you recall a small forward with his offensive gifts in recent years?
3. Durham is clearly young, but shows more skill than Enoch already and will likely be very good.
4. Vital...who was never supposed to play much, is actually a very capable D1 player.
5. Diarra. never played.
6. Larrier...part of the class, looked like a star and future NBA player in his limited minutes.

So there it is. It's incomplete, but based on what we've seen, yes, that's a top 5 class.

 

[Stinger92860]

This thread is interesting in that it has 2 topics which appear to be independent of each other. Like watching a game of thrones episode.

 

[businesslawyer]

Lashlee and Benedict couldn't get us a game at Auburn? Warde M. wouldn't play us? Or Iowa wouldn't? Their head coach, Kirk Ferentz, has deep ties to UCONN. Just a thought.

We could possibly get a road game, with no return, with any of those clubs. But none of them will return the visit. UMass will.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Here's what a typical independent football schedule would look like: 1 FCS, Army, Brigham Young, possibly BCU, possibly Syracuse, AT any other P-5, then 6 straight games against UMASS. Not pretty.

We know that staying in the AAC is failure. Your only argument against leaving is a strawman that it will be worse if we go, which you present as if you knew this for an absolutely certainty. The only certainty we have is that the AAC has been terrible for UConn.

At least no one is still claiming that the AAC is equal to the Big East in basketball.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We could possibly get a road game, with no return, with any of those clubs. But none of them will return the visit. UMass will.

We might manage a road + neutral (at Gillette, Met Life, whatever), that's about it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We know that staying in the AAC is failure. Your only argument against leaving is a strawman that it will be worse if we go, which you present as if you knew this for an absolutely certainty. The only certainty we have is that the AAC has been terrible for UConn.

At least no one is still claiming that the AAC is equal to the Big East in basketball.

I've said it before, the move of Olympic sports to the NBA can't work unless the American lets football stay, which we all believe to be unlikely.

A move of Olympics to the ACC, plus a 5 game scheduling deal for football, could work, as it does for Notre Dame. We won't get USC, MSU, Stanford etc. on the schedule, but we can fill the remaining games with BYU, Army, UMass and some others easily enough. That would be good for the ACC, would balance their schedule and lock in team #16 for the future.

 

[BlueMAB]

I've said it before, the move of Olympic sports to the NBA can't work unless the American lets football stay, which we all believe to be unlikely.

A move of Olympics to the ACC, plus a 5 game scheduling deal for football, could work, as it does for Notre Dame. We won't get USC, MSU, Stanford etc. on the schedule, but we can fill the remaining games with BYU, Army, UMass and some others easily enough. That would be good for the ACC, would balance their schedule and lock in team #16 for the future.

I don't think the NBA is focused on anything other than basketball at the Olympics.

Your suggestion would be a great move for us, but what's in it for the ACC?

They don't seem to be hurt by an unbalanced schedule with FSU and Clemson both winning national championships recently. They can have us just about any time they want us. If we aren't around, there's always USF or UCF. Maybe even Navy. ND might push for them over us anyway.

What's the financial incentive for the ACC? Furthermore, BCU, Cuse, and Pitt would understand very much what that would do for us. Not only would we get to schedule them, we'd get our own money/deal with SNY. While it wouldn't be as lucrative as the ACC, it would have to be more lucrative than the AAC. Why would they help us, without helping themselves?

 

[weyuo]

At least no one is still claiming that the AAC is equal to the Big East in basketball.

Like to see Aresco set up a Big East/AAC challenge. Cinci vs Xavier, UConn vs Providence, Temple vs Villanova, Tulsa vs Creighton, Memphis vs Butler. There's five games right there that could be sold to TV.

 

[BlueMAB]

Like to see Aresco set up a Big East/AAC challenge. Cinci vs Xavier, UConn vs Providence, Temple vs Villanova, Tulsa vs Creighton, Memphis vs Butler. There's five games right there that could be sold to TV.

ummmmm.....

2016 Gavitt Games Schedule & Thoughts

 

[businesslawyer]

We know that staying in the AAC is failure. Your only argument against leaving is a strawman that it will be worse if we go, which you present as if you knew this for an absolutely certainty. The only certainty we have is that the AAC has been terrible for UConn.

At least no one is still claiming that the AAC is equal to the Big East in basketball.

You think others post with too much certainty? Talk about a "pot to kettle -- black" moment.

 

[weyuo]

ummmmm......

2016 Gavitt Games Schedule & Thoughts

So does that mean that Aresco couldn't try and arrange a "Old Big East vs New Big East" spin on some sort of future challenge? It's just one extra set of non conference games that both conferences need to fill and I think Xavier and Cincy play almost every year anyways. So why not hype it up into some sort of challenge? Especially early in the season could fill a need for ESPN or CBS or Fox. Just a thought. probably be moire interesting than Seton Hall and Iowa or St. Johns and Minnesota.

 

[BlueMAB]

So does that mean that Aresco couldn't try and arrange a "Old Big East vs New Big East" spin on some sort of future challenge? It's just one extra set of non conference games that both conferences need to fill and I think Xavier and Cincy play almost every year anyways. So why not hype it up into some sort of challenge? Especially early in the season could fill a need for ESPN or CBS or Fox. Just a thought. probably be moire interesting than Seton Hall and Iowa or St. Johns and Minnesota.

Aresco can try and do any number of things. Whether or not the Big East is interested is the issue.

In addition to the Xavier/Cincy games, with UConn already scheduling games against GTown and Nova, I suspect the Big East isn't interested. But it's not likely that we'd hear about him trying, we'd only hear about him succeeding.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I don't think the NBA is focused on anything other than basketball at the Olympics.

Your suggestion would be a great move for us, but what's in it for the ACC?

They don't seem to be hurt by an unbalanced schedule with FSU and Clemson both winning national championships recently. They can have us just about any time they want us. If we aren't around, there's always USF or UCF. Maybe even Navy. ND might push for them over us anyway.

What's the financial incentive for the ACC? Furthermore, BCU, Cuse, and Pitt would understand very much what that would do for us. Not only would we get to schedule them, we'd get our own money/deal with SNY. While it wouldn't be as lucrative as the ACC, it would have to be more lucrative than the AAC. Why would they help us, without helping themselves?

Doh! on the typo.

Here is my reasoning. UCF and USF aren't real options for them. Temple...maybe. Cinci...maybe. But they lost a lot market value with Maryland. The new ACCN is coming out and will need content, and will need broader markets for it.
The basic math we've used for years, that BC, plus Cuse plus UConn is more than the sum of its parts, holds up.

Should UConn football start winning, and basketball have an Elite 8 type of year, and the women win again...UConn will be back on the radar screen. ESPN is going to have to renegotiate the AAC deal, and UConn is going to make sure Aresco drives a hard bargain. Pull UConn out of the AAC, pay them as part of the ACC, and suddenly the AAC loses leverage.

I'm not saying it is likely. Simply that it has fewer clear impediments than a move to the NBE does.

 

[BlueMAB]

Doh! on the typo.

Here is my reasoning. UCF and USF aren't real options for them. Temple....maybe. Cinci....maybe. But they lost a lot market value with Maryland. The new ACCN is coming out and will need content, and will need broader markets for it.
The basic math we've used for years, that BC, plus Cuse plus UConn is more than the sum of its parts, holds up.

Should UConn football start winning, and basketball have an Elite 8 type of year, and the women win again....UConn will be back on the radar screen. ESPN is going to have to renegotiate the AAC deal, and UConn is going to make sure Aresco drives a hard bargain. Pull UConn out of the AAC, pay them as part of the ACC, and suddenly the AAC loses leverage.

I'm not saying it is likely. Simply that it has fewer clear impediments than a move to the NBE does.

Yeah I see the logic. IMO if the reasoning is that it provides a clear #16 if/when ND joins as a full member, well, they don't need a clear #16.

We're probably most valuable to the ACC, and with us doing very well in NYC, we've gotta be more valuable than Temple. BUT...if you get ND, you're getting one of the most valuable programs in the country. I dont' think the ACC needs to do anything right now until ND decides (or has their fate decided, which looks unlikely). Adding UConn would be icing, but if we aren't available, and they have ND, then Temple, Cinci, USF or UCF would be completely acceptable. So again, it comes down to Cuse/BCU, and potentially Pitt having no incentive to throw us a life preserver until it becomes obvious we're #16, and they're forced to capitulate to the rest of the conference.

 

[Pudge]

I thought UConn had one of the best recruiting classes ever this year? It is not the conference that is having a bad effect on recruiting, it is the people doing the recruiting. If recruiting is bad in the AAC, why is it that SMU, Cinci, Temple, Tulsa, seems to recruit and develop players and kick UConn's butt most of the time? I think this line of thinking here is erroneous. I hope this talk of Big East is just that, talk. It would be a very bad move. UConn has lost elite status in basketball because it has been fielding mediocre teams, at best. (I know you are all going to say we won the AAC tourney last year, we have four championships), etc. but look at the here and now and not the past. In my opinion UConn basketball is on a downward spiral. How many of us now expect the games to be losses, with the only question being how much will they lose by? They will be near the bottom of the Big East, the same way that they are near the bottom of the AAC. And for you KO lovers, next year will be a defining year for him, like it or not.

Silly

Use your eyes.

Larrier is outstanding. He is a 6-8 Wing who is athletic, with dynamic moves and shooting touch. Gilbert in 2 games proved that he can get past virtually anyone in CBB with quickness and drive the ball to the hoop; he also looked to be an excellent defender. Add Vance who has gotten far better over the course of 22 games ... he is a stud skilled 6-9 Forward and can actually defend a wide variety of players. Vital is a gamer; proved to be a solid 3 point shooter and plays better as the game gets tight. Durham needs further development; but his talent is quite evident. And we haven't seen Diarra.

Adams is progressing quite well; needs to be more consistent. He will be here 4 years. Enoch? I still think we will see good basketball out of a great physical specimen. He is still young.

MAL, Pulley, Carlton? All solid.

So ... I don't know what you are talking about. Your SMU, Tulsa, Temple ... and even Cincy don't have 11 like that. We have injuries. Thus, you feel you can piss all over the kids. You are just WRONG on your recruiting notion and purely have not watched kids or recruiting for 20 years like some of us. We should be happy with the recruiting. The real criticism of Ollie and our play does not begin there.

 

[hardcorehusky]

At Uconn, football may drive the bus, so to speak, like anywhere else, but men's and women's basketball pay for the gas in Storrs.

The women's program is break even at best. They have a smaller gate and higher expenses due to coaches salaries. Yes, they are on tv more, but the dollars except for the SNY package are minimal at best.

Basketball is not the gas. I wish it was, but it is all about football.

 

[shizzle787]

Yeah I see the logic. IMO if the reasoning is that it provides a clear #16 if/when ND joins as a full member, well, they don't need a clear #16.

We're probably most valuable to the ACC, and with us doing very well in NYC, we've gotta be more valuable than Temple. BUT....if you get ND, you're getting one of the most valuable programs in the country. I dont' think the ACC needs to do anything right now until ND decides (or has their fate decided, which looks unlikely). Adding UConn would be icing, but if we aren't available, and they have ND, then Temple, Cinci, USF or UCF would be completely acceptable. So again, it comes down to Cuse/BCU, and potentially Pitt having no incentive to throw us a life preserver until it becomes obvious we're #16, and they're forced to capitulate to the rest of the conference.

ND is never leaving independence, and football will be dead around most of the country in 10-15 years. We are never getting into the ACC.