Seth Greenberg on UConn & the Big East

[TheRealKBuks]

I respectfully disagree with all of this. I'm not going to give up on Uconn athletics as a whole so we can go to a glorified Yankee conference scenario with a bunch of small time schools.

Honest question then, if you consider the NBE to be a glorified Yankee conference... what are we in now?

 

[shizzle787]

We have to shut down football to go into the Big East. FCS or Independent isn't an option. I'm not necessarily against it (and I'm 10000x more a football fan than basketball), but it means we will never, ever, have a chance at the P5. I do believe the P5 will break off and start their own thing so it could be the true death to UConn athletics.

We will have to can football. A year ago I was in the wait until 2025 camp, but now I think it is becoming more obvious we ain't getting in the P5 and I don't believe your scenario will happen for one reason: football's demise. As someone who knows economics as yourself, a split makes sense to basically monopolize the best brands but that only happens if football stays as popular as ever and doesn't get killed. I honestly believe it's in big trouble.

 

[Waquoit]

Honest question then, if you consider the NBE to be a glorified Yankee conference... what are we in now?

A glorified Metro Conference.

 

[John]

Honest question then, if you consider the NBE to be a glorified Yankee conference... what are we in now?

A conference that gives us a platform to excel at ALL sports, especially the one that matters the most in today's college sports landscape.

 

[AdamaNation]

A glorified Metro Conference.

I would say conference USA but sure.

 

[Bobol]

Because the new Big East is such a powerhouse. Teams like Nova and......

Let me answe “Prince’s” question:

“Teams like Nova and.......... ?”

Answer: The other 6 teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season which he apparently does not know.

7 of 10 teams is the highest percent of any conference’s teams invited to last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Given the fact that the NBE today sports a record 67 wins and 16 losses in out of conference competition then it is likely that more than a majority of its teams will earn invites this season.

Capiche?

 

[TheRealKBuks]

A conference that gives us a platform to excel at ALL sports, especially the one that matters the most in today's college sports landscape.

The reality is we wont succeed in this conference. UConn's brand is a northeast basketball POWERHOUSE, but we are stuck in a southern football conference. The reality is we are like oil and water. The AAC is a great conference for most of the teams in it, but its a death sentence for us.

 

[superjohn]

A conference that gives us a platform to excel at ALL sports, especially the one that matters the most in today's college sports landscape.

You do realize the Big East is clearly a better basketball conference than the AAC, right?

 

[shizzle787]

You do realize the Big East is clearly a better basketball conference than the AAC, right?

He does; he's just trying to convince himself it isn't true.

 

[John]

You do realize the Big East is clearly a better basketball conference than the AAC, right?

Right now? Maybe. But we've seen first hand how fluid this can be (hello, OBE in early 90s until Uconn saved them).

 

[John]

He does; he's just trying to convince himself it isn't true.

the NBE isn't all-sports so it's a non-starter if the basketball is good or not. Uconn can't even handle the supposedly awful AAC anyway, right? I have high hopes for Uconn athletics, I don't want to go small time, and the NBE is just that.

 

[SouthBayHusky]

If Uconn was nationally relevant and ranked like we use to be, the AAC would not be far behind (if not equal) with the NBE, with the addition of top ranked Wichita, Cincinnati, SMU, and with top 40-ish Temple, Houston and UCF. That would be 4-5 ranked teams and a league capable a consistent 4-6 bids, with the occasional 6 or more when Houston, Temple or UCF is hot; even Tulsa has made the tournament in the AAC couple years ago and thus capable.

In short, there’s a big difference in the quality of the league today than 3-4 years ago. At this point, if we want any viable shot at a P5 invite when the next round of expansion rolls around, we have to wait this out. But in the meantime, this is a much improved basketball conference, which I would argue is not that far off today from the New Big East and improving each year. Additionally, we had like 3 nationally ranked football teams (and others not far off) this year, and last year the AAC put more players into the NFL than even the Big-12.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

I would not lose sleep if Uconn canned football all together. I'm sure I'm not the only one. My only connection with Uconn is the basketball program that I became a fan of in the late 80's. I did not attend the university.

 

[John]

I would not lose sleep if Uconn canned football all together. I'm sure I'm not the only one. My only connection with Uconn is the basketball program that I became a fan of in the late 80's. I did not attend the university.

can football then we are forever small time.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Let me answe “Prince’s” question:

“Teams like Nova and..... ?”

Answer: The other 6 teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season which he apparently does not know.

7 of 10 teams is the highest percent of any conference’s teams invited to last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Given the fact that the NBE today sports a record 67 wins and 16 losses in out of conference competition then it is likely that more than a majority of its teams will earn invites this season.

Capiche?

Hampton qualifies for the Tourney every other year. Does that make them a big deal? We win titles, getting in isn't a major mark most years. But sure, let's sink the entire athletic department so we can hope to be team 8 to get into the tourney from the NBE.

Look, the AAC is hurting us, but if you think the NBE is the answer, there isn't much to discuss.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

can football then we are forever small time.

You Don't get it. PC, Xavier, and Butler are bigtime because they make the round of 64. They never come close to winning it, but hey 7 teams from the NBE must mean something.......

So let's trash the millions we have invested in football so we can charge head first into playing Marquette and Georgetown on FS-1 once a month.

 

[John]

You Don't get it. PC, Xavier, and Butler are bigtime because they make the round of 64. They never come close to winning it, but hey 7 teams from the NBE must mean something..

So let's trash the millions we have invested in football so we can charge head first into playing Marquette and Georgetown on FS-1 once a month.

You're misreading my post, we're arguing the same thing.

 

[superjohn]

You Don't get it. PC, Xavier, and Butler are bigtime because they make the round of 64. They never come close to winning it, but hey 7 teams from the NBE must mean something..

So let's trash the millions we have invested in football so we can charge head first into playing Marquette and Georgetown on FS-1 once a month.

You don't even know what you're responding to. Also, Butler was in 2 straight National Title games, Xavier has basically made the sweet 16 or elite 8 every other year. Your examples absolutely suck.

 

[Ts5034]

Just watched the replay of the game. I cant believe how much it was mentioned by Greenberg and Vitale that the AAC is a drag on our recruiting. They said the AAC isnt really a bad league with Wichita St, Cincy, Temple, but UConn just doesnt fit with them. This is what fans have been saying since day 1 of being in this league.

 

[StunningSteve]

Just watched the replay of the game. I cant believe how much it was mentioned by Greenberg and Vitale that the AAC is a drag on our recruiting. They said the AAC isnt really a bad league with Wichita St, Cincy, Temple, but UConn just doesnt fit with them. This is what fans have been saying since day 1 of being in this league.

If the AAC is a drag then why is Patrick Ewing having such a hard time getting elite recruits to come to Georgetown?

Why is the New AAC program, Wichita State, beating out Butler for Morris Udeze and Chance Moore?

BigEastCoastBias did a write up on Wichita scooping up all of Butlers recruits: Chance Moore signs NLI with Wichita State

(Butler basketball finally got a commit from Markeese Hastings... a guy who was being offered by Horizon League programs...)

Don't get me started on St Johns, who lost Sid Wilson to UCONN... lol. What fun that recruitment was...



It's amazing that some of you guys are looking for a 'magic bullet' and somehow believe that the Catholic league is some kind of haven. Fricken Xavier is losing recruits to Rhode Island.

Greenberg and Vitale are dolts. They are hyping a narrative that they are trying to make come true. Unfortunately for a lot of teams in this new version of the Big East, recruiting is not going so hot.

 

[Allbite]

LOL. My point is proven and it's a death knell. If you care to do any further research in that link, you will find that the AAC NEVER finishes higher than 7th in RPI, even including the year we had Louisville. The Big East has finished no worse than 4th any year of its 10-team NBE existence. The New Big East is a categorically BETTER basketball conference on the court, in public perception, in brand, and in the eyes of the NCAA committee. If the NBE is small time, WTF is the AAC? Tiny time. Look, I get why people are crapping the bed about the NBE: football and its probable death as a UConn sport if we move to the Big East. But here is the reality: unless Texas and Oklahoma move to the Pac-12, we have NO shot at the Big 10. We have a 0% chance of joining the ACC, and at this point I don't think it would make sense to join a weakened Big 12 if Texas, Oklahoma, and possibly Kansas are all gone.
Football as a sport is about to go into its death throws: CTE is going to seriously injure it in the next decade, and let me clarify, I watched all of our football games this year. I have always rooted for UConn football, but that ship has sailed. I enjoyed major CFB at UConn while it lasted but we are now effectively in CFB apartheid and we ain't the white people. We play 1-aa football in the AAC for what it's worth. In review, most people don't even know what conference we are in. It's time for a change. It's time for the Big East.[/QUOTE

What has happened to UConn has had nothing to do with their performance on the field or floor. The Big East in football was destroyed because of BC's sellout, money, and resulting fake politics, and UConn was slated to lose the game of conference musical chairs. Edsall left and Ollie struggles, but those factors run a distant 2nd to UConn no longer being in a major conference. We did not do this to ourselves, and until we emerge as a top tier program in football and basketball in the AAC, we should not be looking to "move up." If a major conference wants us between now and then, fine. But until that day, let's not be hypocrites and show a little unity with the AAC the way no one would to save the Big East. As long as the scumbags-that-be have given us the finger, let's just keep giving it right back to them by owning our own identity and not letting them force us into a desperation move. We wanted IA football way back when. Let's keep it that way.

 

[Jaybo]

The AAC hasn't been uconns problem.its been uconns excuse.coaching in uconns top two men's sports has been the problem.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

You don't even know what you're responding to. Also, Butler was in 2 straight National Title games, Xavier has basically made the sweet 16 or elite 8 every other year. Your examples absolutely suck.

Butler did make it to two consecutive title games but their conference affiliation (they were then in a conference that would be viewed as more than a step below today's AAC) played no role.

Xavier over the past decade has pretty much reached their high water mark. Would you be happy if that were the best we could aspire to?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The P5 strategy has failed. I don't see any realistic path to P5 membership. All we are doing now is damaging our brand and blowing millions of dollars.

UConn is in a southern mid-major conference. We are 350 miles from our nearest conference opponent, and most of the league is over 1,000 miles away. We do not fit in this league. Southern recruits aren't going to come north just so they can play Southern opponents in a mid-major league, and northern recruits have lots of options to play close to home in geographically relevant conferences.

The Big East is kicking our butt in recruiting. It is just ignorant to argue otherwise. We are one more mediocre coach from being Houston post-Guy Lewis, a former powerhouse that got left behind by conference realignment once the legendary coach retired. At that point, even the AAC will not want us.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

How stupid can some of you be?

Eventually the P5 is going to break off and form their own basketball tournament. It's only a matter of time.

Until then, play football and hope someday we break into a real league.

If/when the P5 officially breaks away, drop football and then join the Big East. The end result is still the same. Second tier status permanently.

At least where we are now gives us long shot at being in a real league.