The Big East May Be Our Home For A While

[GG]

They also don’t want a team in their conference that dominates like UCONN women. UCONN would have more visibility and be even more attractive to recruits that want more visibility in a stronger conference. They already think we get ALL the recruits. It’s funny how other conferences brag about their strength, but in all the maneuverings around college sports can’t figure out how to include a DYNASTY in their conference. SO…they scream football.

UConn’s dominance in women’s basketball is not going to be a reason we’re excluded from a conference. That’s just not how conference realignment works.

Football drives the bus. Full stop. Conference decisions are based on football performance (far more than basketball), overall athletic investment, attendance, TV viewership, media markets, the value a school adds, and, yes, politics and relationships.

Women’s basketball excellence is part of our brand, but it isn’t a negative. If private equity ever seriously enters the space, it could even come down to a major investor insisting UConn be included because of the total value we bring.

The path forward is pretty straightforward: football has to improve, and basketball has to at least maintain its national relevance. If Geno eventually retires, the program must make a top-tier hire to preserve that brand.

Basketball is who we are, but football is what gives us a real shot at conference inclusion.

 

[Rowdy831]

The lack of money at a lot of schools really put them at a disadvantage especially when UConn is in the league. I don't see a time in the near future where balance happens in the Big East and I could see UConn making another historical at a winning streak. Maybe not enough to beat their record but maybe enough to put them in second or third all time.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

UConn’s dominance in women’s basketball is not going to be a reason we’re excluded from a conference. That’s just not how conference realignment works.

Football drives the bus. Full stop. Conference decisions are based on football performance (far more than basketball), overall athletic investment, attendance, TV viewership, media markets, the value a school adds, and, yes, politics and relationships.

Women’s basketball excellence is part of our brand, but it isn’t a negative. If private equity ever seriously enters the space, it could even come down to a major investor insisting UConn be included because of the total value we bring.

The path forward is pretty straightforward: football has to improve, and basketball has to at least maintain its national relevance. If Geno eventually retires, the program must make a top-tier hire to preserve that brand.

Basketball is who we are, but football is what gives us a real shot at conference inclusion.

Glad someone cares about conferences. Because I don’t.

 

[GG]

Glad someone cares about conferences. Because I don’t.

Every UCONN fan should care. The big east is not sustainable long-term, unfortunately. I think you will see some more conference changes within the next five years. Hopefully we have a safe landing place in a decent conference.

 

[joea]

Football doesn't necessarily have to be good - the B1G did not add Rutgers and Maryland because they are good, the added them because of TV coverage.
If UConn can demonstrate to the ACC that it will deliver higher ratings (and more money) then there is a reason to add. If not, then not. In addition, the objection of certain current members of the ACC would have to be overcome. If the ACC loses members, then things change. Forget about the B1G or SEC that is not happening.
I do not like the idea of the Big 12, would rather muddle on as an independent, and stay in the BE for BBall, which seems to work just fine, thank you very much, and forget about leagues like the MAC.

 

[ucmiami2]

Every UCONN fan should care. The big east is not sustainable long-term, unfortunately. I think you will see some more conference changes within the next five years. Hopefully we have a safe landing place in a decent conference.

The Big East is sustainable because is is decent in MBB which isn't as expensive as MFB to run and no one but Uconn is trying to be a FB school.

But I agree, for Uconn we should all care - getting into a power conference is very important and FB improvement is the important driver of that.

WBB doesn't drive decisions, but ... on the black day when Geno retires, being in a power conference would be a huge advantage as we try to maintain our status as a premier WBB program.

 

[GG]

The Big East is sustainable because is is decent in MBB which isn't as expensive as MFB to run and no one but Uconn is trying to be a FB school.

But I agree, for Uconn we should all care - getting into a power conference is very important and FB improvement is the important driver of that.

WBB doesn't drive decisions, but ... on the black day when Geno retires, being in a power conference would be a huge advantage as we try to maintain our status as a premier WBB program.

My point regarding women’s basketball and realignment was in response to a poster saying conferences will not want us because we dominate. I was simply stating that will not be a factor in preventing us from joining a league.

I agree that if Geno ever retires, which I hope is never, a better league will help us when we search for a new coach.

The Big East is not sustainable long term because of the money gap. We cannot continue to make millions less than other schools. It will eventually show up in recruiting and resources. Look at the level of competition in the BE for both the men and the women. The teams in the Big East cannot afford to invest in their programs the way UCONN does and it shows. The Big East will struggle to get players in the world of NIL when the other conferences have deeper pockets. If the conference, especially on the men’s side, is not competitive the UCONN product will suffer.

I LOVE the Big East and wish it could last forever. If we cannot stay, I hope we end up in the ACC where there are some at least some former BE teams.