The mid/late 80s, even without UConn being "there" yet, was so freaking cool. I was only like 5 or 6 but I remember watching Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson and Louie. and those ridiculous GTown teams, Pearl Washington and later DC at Cuse. Dudes like Michael Adams and Dana Barros and the 87 PC team. Nova's run and at eight years old watching "Jerome Lane sending it in."
I know a lot of people dislike "Requiem..." because it doesn't really focus on UConn much, but man, the Big East was so freaking cool at that point.