Providence offer

[Caronimo]

Lets be honest, we are upset about losing the Cuse and Pitt rivalries... Not PC. Take care and good luck.

 

[Husky25]

Commissioner Oresco has stated that the split was amicible and OOC games will probably be played between teams in the conferences. UMass and BC were not party to amicible splits.

I think what some fans have a problem with is by making this offer, Cooley (and a few fans) is posturing the C7 as the superior end of the Old Big East and he's counting Providence among that superiority.

In reality:
1) The majority of the superior faction of the old Big East is going to the ACC.
2) Any measure of superiority going to the New Big East begins and ends with Gtown, and potentially Marquette.

Providence is like the little kick dog that hops back and forth over the Bulldog in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. (**in a hi-pitched, Speed induced voice**) "We're best friends, right Spike? Aren't we Spike? We'll go everywhere together, Spike, 'cause we're the bestest of friends!!!!"

 

[Fishy]

I suspect that UConn and PC will play a reciprocal series - perhaps not immediately due to the logistics of conference change, etc., but certainly sooner rather than later.

There's no reason not to.

 

[upstater]

UConn's fanbase wants what is best for the school. Either the conference commissioner or the AD decided that exposure is best for the school. Maybe both. I can't say I disagree with them, but that's the road they've taken.

 

[Yonick]

Isn't it about time for this thread to be locked. UConn will announce it's schedule sometime in August. If UConn feels it's in it's their best interests to play Providence they will.
Every Big time school schedules 7-8 cupcakes in Nov/Dec. The big schools either go to an island tourney, or coaches vs cancer route, plus 2-3 more OOC games made for TV.
UConn definately will schedule 7-8 cupcakes. Hopefully they won't be at the XL center. With UMD, Texas, BC, Indiana, & Washington for our presently scheduled TV OOC games and, say, 16 conference games this season it leaves 1 or 2 games remaining. I'm sure, at some point, PC will be included. But, when, and how often will be decided for reasons as to what benefits are there to UConn, by playing PC???
I know, for sure, that St. John's is the biggest benefit for UConn to play. Followed by Villanova & Georgetown. As far as Syracuse & Pitt, they both are more beneficial to UConn because of their national TV value. When any of the above can't be scheduled then PC gets the call.
Let's face it, to date PC is not a TV darling. When was the last time they were on CBS? How often are they on ESPN? (amongst the fewest of the former BE schools) UConn will do what's best for UConn. If PC folk want to say we are chickening out, than let them. Childish behavior might work for them. Responsible business decesions will hopefully work for UConn.
Let's lock this thread and wish our neighbors, to the east, a happy summer.

 

[upstater]

UConn definately will schedule 7-8 cupcakes. Hopefully they won't be at the XL center. With UMD, Texas, BC, Indiana, & Washington for our presently scheduled TV OOC games and, say, 16 conference games this season it leaves 1 or 2 games remaining. I'm sure, at some point, PC will be included. But, when, and how often will be decided for reasons as to what benefits are there to UConn, by playing PC???

UConn though is going to need 2 home games if it wants to be on CBS twice. UMd, BC, Indiana are scheduled for ESPN. Washington is away. Is Texas home? If so, that's the only game that would fit on CBS network. So, besides playing UMd, BC, Indiana, Texas and Washington, UConn is going to need to schedule two more games against top OOC competition.

 

[Husky25]

Yeah, because Boneyarders are the decision makers when it comes to Husky Hoops.

People go to see the UConn/Providence games here because its on the schedule. It really does not produce noticable additional revenue. It's a rivalry because of proximity (as the crow flies. Route 6 is a bear and should be avoided if possible.) and very little else. It came to a head with the "I ducked up. How many times do I have to say it?" press conference, but it does not include many other characteristics of a traditional rivalry. Yes, Providence has upset UConn in the recent pastregular seasons, but the two teams rarely meet in the post season and those upsets typically have little bearing on the ultimate result of UConn's season.

Providence needs to earn a little number before it's name on the score ticker more consistently before Husky fans consider UConn/Prov. a rivalry. As you say, it really is that simple....

 

[Husky25]

That is what I'm saying as well. The admisitration has not decided yet, I don't think, on all of the OOC games. So getting riled up about about message board opinions on who is considered a rival for UConn seems a little like barking up the wrong tree.

I cannot imagine that Providence won't be in UConn's OOC future, but Cooley's challenge probably is not considered appropriate facilitation.

 

[The Funster]

There's no reason we shouldn't play a reciprocal series with PC, IMO. As Fishy said, it may not be feasible immediately but having PC on the schedule most years would be a good thing. I think it's more of a rivalry than UMess and it draws better than Umess. Too bad Cooley won't be around to get much of a benefit from such a series as he's likely to implode in a year or two as PC coaches are prone to do.

 

[WestHartHusk]

There's no reason we shouldn't play a reciprocal series with PC, IMO. As Fishy said, it may not be feasible immediately but having PC on the schedule most years would be a good thing. I think it's more of a rivalry than UMess and it draws better than Umess. Too bad Cooley won't be around to get much of a benefit from such a series as he's likely to implode in a year or two as PC coaches are prone to do.

Well, not to repeat Upstater's posts, but there is a huge reason not to: $ and exposure. $ wise we are not going to schedule a home and home with PC when we can get a comparable team 1-0 allowing us to keep gates and be able to bargain away our road games to more attractive competition from a TV / fan point of view. And second, which dovetails with the first point, we need to use our 1-1 series to schedule UP for TV, for interest and for RPI.

A third consideration for scheduling should be recruiting and media media markets so based on our team composition historically: NYC, Boston, Philly, D.C., Chicago (maybe a series with Northwestern or something to get on BTN), or West Coast to make the most out of KO's ties (how about a series w/ UCLA or even SDSU). Providence just isn't going to have a spot in the schedule. I don't know why they are so up in arms about it, its not personal but cutting the tie is necessary now, maybe not in the future but now. If I had to rank the teams from the C7 that I would like to see us keep playing it would be, in order: G'Town, St. John's, Villanova, Marquette (good teams, we recruit a bit out there - I think Nolan came from WI, as did Caron Butler) DePaul (Chicago is the only reason), PC, Seton Hall.

 

[upstater]

Well, not to repeat Upstater's posts, but there is a huge reason not to: $ and exposure. $ wise we are not going to schedule a home and home with PC when we can get a comparable team 1-0 allowing us to keep gates and be able to bargain away our road games to more attractive competition from a TV / fan point of view. And second, which dovetails with the first point, we need to use our 1-1 series to schedule UP for TV, for interest and for RPI.

A third consideration for scheduling should be recruiting and media media markets so based on our team composition historically: NYC, Boston, Philly, D.C., Chicago (maybe a series with Northwestern or something to get on BTN), or West Coast to make the most out of KO's ties (how about a series w/ UCLA or even SDSU). Providence just isn't going to have a spot in the schedule. I don't know why they are so up in arms about it, its not personal but cutting the tie is necessary now, maybe not in the future but now. If I had to rank the teams from the C7 that I would like to see us keep playing it would be, in order: G'Town, St. John's, Villanova, Marquette (good teams, we recruit a bit out there - I think Nolan came from WI, as did Caron Butler) DePaul (Chicago is the only reason), PC, Seton Hall.

These are all great considerations that would be good reasons NOT to schedule PC. As a PSU football fan for many years, this sounds like the Pitt 10-year plan redux to me. Paterno offered a home-and-home, was rebuffed. They wanted annual. But Pitt was not a big enough opponent for PSU to guarantee yearly, not when it played Nebraska and Alabama and USC and such teams OOC.

Again, all my supposition rests on the idea that CBS will want UConn for 2 of the conferences 6 OOC home games. If that's not true, and UConn only gets one, then UConn can schedule home-and-homes against anyone.

 

[Husky68]

There's no reason we shouldn't play a reciprocal series with PC, IMO. As Fishy said, it may not be feasible immediately but having PC on the schedule most years would be a good thing. I think it's more of a rivalry than UMess and it draws better than Umess. Too bad Cooley won't be around to get much of a benefit from such a series as he's likely to implode in a year or two as PC coaches are prone to do.

If you mean home and home then don't agree. If Massey ratings at end of year are sort of accurate and reflection of probable future rankings have Bucknell 52, Stony Brook 68, Umess 69, Prov 71, Harvard 72. If any of those are potential home games only would take them. If home and home to medium level teams then Vill 44 or St Johns 87 would be choice over Prov. Would do most top 30 schools home and home and probably lot of top 50.
In general see benefit of top C-7 teams or teams in places want to play (MSG, Cal., etc.). Don't need New England OOC games unless for home only.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Providence needs to earn a little number before it's name on the score ticker more consistently before Husky fans consider UConn/Prov. a rivalry. As you say, it really is that simple....

I consider them a rival. Not like with Syracuse (which considers Georgetown its main rival), but hell they are the closest major program and we have played them every year since 1975. It's the easiest travel game for many of our alumni and our students. We used to pack their field for soccer every year...loved listening to the away game UConn chants on the WHUS broadcasts. They will soon be a Hockey East conference rival as well.

There is a mixed bag on here who think PC is unworthy to darken our doorstep. That's a load of crap. We come off as arrogant jerks for thinking it...and given how we've been treated by the likes of FSU, Miami and BC, you'd think we'd have more class. Given our current situation, if we can parlay our hoops team into some football scheduling, that must be priority 1. It was never mentioned, but the fact that Tennesssee is on the football schedule not long after a hoops home and home doesn't strike me as a coincidence. But football aside, assuming that a major conference team is a "national game" is hogwash. Texas is, yes. TCU? VT? Washington State? Dozens of others? No. PC would definitely be a bigger game.

 

[upstater]

I consider them a rival. Not like with Syracuse (which considers Georgetown its main rival), but hell they are the closest major program and we have played them every year since 1975. It's the easiest travel game for many of our alumni and our students. We used to pack their field for soccer every year...loved listening to the away game UConn chants on the WHUS broadcasts. They will soon be a Hockey East conference rival as well.

There is a mixed bag on here who think PC is unworthy to darken our doorstep. That's a load of crap. We come off as arrogant jerks for thinking it...and given how we've been treated by the likes of FSU, Miami and BC, you'd think we'd have more class. Given our current situation, if we can parlay our hoops team into some football scheduling, that must be priority 1. It was never mentioned, but the fact that Tennesssee is on the football schedule not long after a hoops home and home doesn't strike me as a coincidence. But football aside, assuming that a major conference team is a "national game" is hogwash. Texas is, yes. TCU? VT? Washington State? Dozens of others? No. PC would definitely be a bigger game.

Come on, really? You think we're arguing a game against TCU would be better than a game against, say, Georgetown because of the conference? Really?

Put yourself in CBS's shoes and then try to be realistic.

 

[The Funster]

I think PC would make a good road game because we could help fill the house and that helps us win and it might be nice to have a psuedo-road game to help boost our RPI if we're in a weak conference. I'd rather go to Hartford to play PC than Cupcake St. in December, as well. SJU would be a better option because it gets us into the City but would they be interetsed in a yearly series of alternating venues?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Come on, really? You think we're arguing a game against TCU would be better than a game against, say, Georgetown because of the conference? Really?

Put yourself in CBS's shoes and then try to be realistic.

I think we tend to view PC as worse than they are. I think PC fans understandably probably see themselves as better than they are. Georgetown and Marquette are clearly well ahead. Villanova was better...let's see if they continue to slide. St. Johns is about the same as PC, but less appealing for location in my view. Seton Hall is definitely worse. But as far as I'm concerned, PC has a better program than USF, UCF, SMU, ECU, Tulane and Tulsa and maybe the same as Houston.

 

[tzznandrew]

A decline...I guess. They've had some a rough year or two. Providence last made the NCAAs in 2004. Villanova missed the tournament from 2000-2004. Starting in 2005, they only missed in 2012. They had an E8 in 2006 and a FF in 2009.

Their seeds, in from 2005 to present:

5
1
9
12
3
2
9
--
9

The last three years (and end of the year they were a 2 seed), they haven't been great, but they've been good, and I suspect they will continue to be so.

 

[WestHartHusk]

I think we tend to view PC as worse than they are. I think PC fans understandably probably see themselves as better than they are. Georgetown and Marquette are clearly well ahead. Villanova was better...let's see if they continue to slide. St. Johns is about the same as PC, but less appealing for location in my view. Seton Hall is definitely worse. But as far as I'm concerned, PC has a better program than USF, UCF, SMU, ECU, Tulane and Tulsa and maybe the same as Houston.

At this point the distinction is irrelevant because those teams are conference games we have no control over. We need to use our free slots to schedule national competition, and that isn't PC. I don't see how this is arrogant, it is just reality.

 

[Husky25]

I consider them a rival. Not like with Syracuse (which considers Georgetown its main rival), but hell they are the closest major program and we have played them every year since 1975. It's the easiest travel game for many of our alumni and our students. We used to pack their field for soccer every year...loved listening to the away game UConn chants on the WHUS broadcasts. They will soon be a Hockey East conference rival as well.

There is a mixed bag on here who think PC is unworthy to darken our doorstep. That's a load of crap. We come off as arrogant jerks for thinking it...and given how we've been treated by the likes of FSU, Miami and BC, you'd think we'd have more class. Given our current situation, if we can parlay our hoops team into some football scheduling, that must be priority 1. It was never mentioned, but the fact that Tennesssee is on the football schedule not long after a hoops home and home doesn't strike me as a coincidence. But football aside, assuming that a major conference team is a "national game" is hogwash. Texas is, yes. TCU? VT? Washington State? Dozens of others? No. PC would definitely be a bigger game.

Proximity alone does not a rivalry make. The series with Providence has no recent defining moment in my opinion. There's no grudge and rare is the highly regarded recruit who is "stolen" (Gomes was not highly regarded, nor was he stolen. He was passed over. Ledo may never play, plus he's in their backyard...literally). Every now and then, Providence courts a nice little team and they pull off a win vs. UConn, but That's about it.

On the court, a rivalry needs close games at important points of the season (i.e. post-season). It needs the occasional upset so as to affect the better team's chances of seasonal success, not bumps in the road. The title of better team needs to alternate between the two sides. None of this has happened. Games against Providence were obligations, they don't move the needle for a vast majority of UConn fans.

I agree with your point on football and that is why I think Providence should be a last resort in the short term. In this conference they don't offer anything for football and that was UConn requires. Hockey does not enter into the this conversation yet Providence is clearly the better team, but it is not a revenue generator. Plus Hockey East does not have any other common members with the Big East or C2bNL.

 

[ddminct]

I hope no ex-PC player has tapes on Warde like Murdock had on Rutgers.

 

[uconndogs]

PC's a nice little regional game. Good basketball program that never really wins anything, but a good regional game to play. I think of them as a top 100 program most years.

FWIW we will overtake them in hockey in less than 5 years.

 

[upstater]

I think we tend to view PC as worse than they are. I think PC fans understandably probably see themselves as better than they are. Georgetown and Marquette are clearly well ahead. Villanova was better...let's see if they continue to slide. St. Johns is about the same as PC, but less appealing for location in my view. Seton Hall is definitely worse. But as far as I'm concerned, PC has a better program than USF, UCF, SMU, ECU, Tulane and Tulsa and maybe the same as Houston.

I'd rather play PC than all the conference teams listed, but UConn fans need to become a bit more familiar with who we're playing. Houston is actually the worst of the lot. Tulsa has gone to several sweet 16s and a Final 8 in the last 15-20 years. UCF has a much higher RPI than Houston and some success (including a win over UConn). E. Carolina was actually one of the stronger CUSA teams because it's in a hoops hotbed). The point though is this: no one was assuming a game against TCU would be a national game. Just to give an example of games CBS might want to show:

UConn v. (B1G): Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland
(SEC) Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri. (LSU, Georgia and Arkansas are questionable).
(ACC) Every team except for maybe Virginia Tech and Clemson
(B12) Texas, Oklahoma St., Oklahoma, Kansas (not sure about Kansas St.)
(P12) Washington, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Arizona
Others: Gonzaga, Butler, Georgetown, Villanova, Marquette, maybe St. John's (they showed Duke-SJ).

I can't see teams outside of those listed on network television.