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Message: [QUOTE="BBallF, post: 3452892, member: 10435"] There are several intangibles that are extremely positive with the move. First, there are natural, regional and historic rivalries there with Seton Hall, Nova, St. Johns, and Providence. Second, the mens teams are head and shoulders better than the AAC mens teams and have had two NCAA champions in the last 4 years. Just look at the top 25 this year. The league, both for men and women just got stronger, better and more exciting with UCONN joining and the UCONN men will get better quickly. Third, whereas no woman will go to UCONN just to play in the Big East, plenty of women will want to play in the Big East for other teams because they will be playing against UCONN. This is different than the AAC because the Big East is primarily a basketball conference. Fourth, both coaching staffs have great ties to the area. We know about Geno and Philly but CD played in New Jersey for Rutgers and was actually a candidate for the head coaching job there at one time. Danny Hurley was the High School Player of the Year in New Jersey while playing at St. Anthony for his father and his first head coaching job was for St. Benedicts Prep in Newark. Next year, for the men, these rivalries will resume with a ferocity right away and it will create even more fan interest in and attention to the League. The women will follow suit, it is just unclear how long it will take the league to have a steep rise in the talent level but you can bet there are assistant coaches out there right now talking about why you want to play in the Big East because you will be playing against UCONN. I was at the Seton Hall game this year. It was at the campus facility, known as Walsh, but it was rocking and appeared to be very well attended judging by the 20 minutes it took for me to get out of the parking garage. I have season tickets to the Seton Hall women ( so I could see UCONN) and I have never seen that before. There are also benefits such as increased media attention and less long travel. The AAC was never a good fit. All in all, I think it is a Home Run and can't wait. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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