To AD Dave: The New Big East Is Not the Old Big East

[Viet Vet]

Once we were shutout from the ACC our options were limited. Joining the Big East (old BE, new BE.....doesn't matter) will, in time, be viewed as a great move. Football will survive as an independent, with scheduling flexibility, drivable road trips for fans, and opportunities for profitable "buy" games. Basketball (M&W) will garner huge dividends from increased national TV exposure and regional rivalries. Only baseball's league competition will be diminished by comparison to the AAC, but the fabulous new facility will enhance the prospect of bringing in high-level non-league opponents.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Spidey sense is saying there is hate coming from various conference member boards. Never once went to any of the aac boatds except Cincy on occasion. At least there is a return of some passion. Hopefully this move will enhance all.

 

[The Funster]

I could give two craps about the OBE. It was great while it lasted, people conspired to ruin a great thing and it is firmly in the past.

 

[Bobol]

Old men talk about the past.
Young men speak about the future.
Leys talk about UConn athletics in 2020 and beyond.

 

[freescooter]

I think we will do quite well in the new Big East. It isn’t anywhere near as tough as the original Big East. Providence is is now considered a top team. Enough said.

 

[freescooter]

One other point about the Big East is it’s tv coverage, or rather non-coverage. The 2018 and 2019 league title games were worse than all the P5 leagues by a lot. About half the Big 12 for example. But also worse than the Mountain West, Atlantic 10 and, wait for it, American Athletic Conference. I think more people were at the game than watched on tv. For all the chest thumping it has been pretty much a dud in terms of ratings. Absolutely zero national cache which is another reason why it is not a power conference at the same level as the true P5s.

 

[Zissou]

One other point about the Big East is it’s tv coverage, or rather non-coverage. The 2018 and 2019 league title games were worse than all the P5 leagues by a lot. About half the Big 12 for example. But also worse than the Mountain West, Atlantic 10 and, wait for it, American Athletic Conference. I think more people were at the game than watched on tv. For all the chest thumping it has been pretty much a dud in terms of ratings. Absolutely zero national cache which is another reason why it is not a power conference at the same level as the true P5s.

ESPN has more viewers for anything.

The positive of being in upstart Fox and FS1 is their commitment to broadcast every game nationally on TV. No streaming.

 

[Adios]

I think we will do quite well in the new Big East. It isn’t anywhere near as tough as the original Big East. Providence is is now considered a top team. Enough said.

Problem is Providence has more history in the postseason than a good percentage of AAC schools. Having a public blue blood school like UConn with a rabid national following should change the profile of the conference a bit.

 

[freescooter]

ESPN has more viewers for anything.

The positive of being in upstart Fox and FS1 is their commitment to broadcast every game nationally on TV. No streaming.

LOL. Every game on a network nobody watches. Heck, there have been some regular season games where there were more people at the local Hugh school game than watching “the #2 or 3 conference in the country.” Nothing says national presence like having lower viewership than the A10. All parties are hoping that the addition of UConn brings some desperately need interest.

as I’ve said, this will indeed help return UConn to so level of national prominence. Since as the legacy league you don’t have to be that good to get NCAA bids, we should be back in the post season pretty regularly regardless of how good we are. And at least we.have a shot at getting to the round of 32 like a top Big East team.

 

[Zissou]

LOL. Every game on a network nobody watches. Heck, there have been some regular season games where there were more people at the local Hugh school game than watching “the #2 or 3 conference in the country.” Nothing says national presence like having lower viewership than the A10. All parties are hoping that the addition of UConn brings some desperately need interest.

as I’ve said, this will indeed help return UConn to so level of national prominence. Since as the legacy league you don’t have to be that good to get NCAA bids, we should be back in the post season pretty regularly regardless of how good we are. And at least we.have a shot at getting to the round of 32 like a top Big East team.

By your logic you should have had even better chances being in the AAC.

Embrace the move! Enjoy the access to every conference game. If you succeed you will naturally earn more games on network Fox.

As a fan you have a lot to worry about. The Big East being a top conference shouldn't be on that list.

 

[freescooter]

But the AAC isn’t a Legacy League. It didn’t get the benefit of the doubt like the Big a East does. The Big East and Indiana seem to always get the benefit of the doubt in selections AND in seedings. So as I said UConn doesn’t need to be very good to get bids as an AAC team does. It just needs to be decent and get a legacy bid.

 

[Zissou]

But the AAC isn’t a Legacy League. It didn’t get the benefit of the doubt like the Big a East does. The Big East and Indiana seem to always get the benefit of the doubt in selections AND in seedings. So as I said UConn doesn’t need to be very good to get bids as an AAC team does. It just needs to be decent and get a legacy bid.

Head to head out of conference wins are a lot more important than Legacy.

 

[Big East Fa]

Many of those league title games listed were on CBS. The default network for NCAA hoops. Also gets a great lead in from the Big Ten semi finals for the MWC title game. Fox is still finding it's footing for hoops viewers. Helps now having the Big Ten on FS1.

 

[Waquoit]

The positive of being in upstart Fox and FS1 is their commitment to broadcast every game nationally on TV. No streaming.

He's ignoring that point because he can't refute it.

 

[Ha Who]

 

[Zissou]

The comments on that Twitter thread are gold.

A wise man once said "The positive of being in upstart Fox and FS1 is their commitment to broadcast every game nationally on TV. No streaming"

 

[VCE]

freescooter is about as delusional as the old Big East Homer poster from years ago on csnbbs. When did you guys legalize weed in CT?

 

[npignatjr]

Problem is Providence has more history in the postseason than a good percentage of AAC schools. Having a public blue blood school like UConn with a rabid national following should change the profile of the conference a bit.

Having a large public school playing in basically HS gyms against small private schools a good thing? Taking UConn games out the AAC WCBB games had higher attendance. And as a CT taxpayer a $17million dollar buyout on top of the $10+ million athletic department loss in 2019 is a bit much.
History like Houston, Cincinnati, Memphis?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Having a large public school playing in basically HS gyms against small private schools a good thing? Taking UConn depaulgames out the AAC WCBB games had higher attendance. And as a CT taxpayer a $17million dollar buyout on top of the $10+ million athletic department loss in 2019 is a bit much.
History like Houston, Cincinnati, Memphis?

What decade are you living in?

 

[LoyalFanCT]

What decade are you living in?

The key may be to have UConn Men's BB get back to elite status while in the New Big East. Also, have Edsall or his replacement get the FB team back to a winning record, if not better, as an Independent. Then lets bolt for ACC or other P5 ASAP.

 

[npignatjr]

What decade are you living in?

This one. Name a false statement?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

This one. Name a false statement?

Nick you are making it sound like they will be playing in Alumni, Walsh or McDonough, geez. And its not the league of coaches and ESPN anymore. The only public flagship in either conference makes for an odd duck.

 

[npignatjr]

Nick you are making it sound like they will be playing in Alumni, Walsh or McDonough, geez. And its not the league of coaches and ESPN anymore. The only public flagship in either conference makes for an odd duck.

Where will they play the BE games, on campus gyms. The AAC public schools, large mostly building programs in most sports. The UConn football program should downsize to play FCS type schools. The move to the NBE is done. $17million!

 

[Kolumbo]

Nick you are making it sound like they will be playing in Alumni, Walsh or McDonough, geez. And its not the league of coaches and ESPN anymore. The only public flagship in either conference makes for an odd duck.

I know you are using the term "flagship" but I don't think that is a meaningful distinction. I think there are only 4 flagship fbs programs in the G5:
UConn, UMass, New Mexico, Wyoming

There are plenty of large public research universities in D1 which have more in common with UConn than the Big East:
Cincy, Temple, UCF, USF, Houston, are all overall more similar to UConn than the Big East schools. The location of the AAC definitely made us an odd duck. In terms of basketball, I don't think it matters as much, although outside of Duke and Villanova, most champions are large public.

 

[UConnRock]

Where will they play the BE games, on campus gyms. The AAC public schools, large mostly building programs in most sports. The UConn football program should downsize to play FCS type schools. The move to the NBE is done. $17million!

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