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Hard to hate them with the amount of mutual respect between the coaches. Ditto Marquette (RIP).
If Pitino weren't a walking corpse St. John's could actually be a rivalry in the making.
Top 50 Rivalries in Men’s College Basketball
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If Pitino weren't a walking corpse St. John's could actually be a rivalry in the making.
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Oh I know you were a UConn fan. Just remembering all the banter from way back.
There used to be some loopy opposing fans, like that Jackson guy from Maryland.
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Rivalries are going the way of the dodo with all this realignment nonsense. Some of them have stopped, or have been dormant for some time.
As far as UConn, Villanova, or St. John's right now. Xavier seemed like it could have been it. The year before UConn joined the BE, I recall a 2OT game and I think 2022-23, there were some close games, but they stink right now.
As far as UConn, Villanova, or St. John's right now. Xavier seemed like it could have been it. The year before UConn joined the BE, I recall a 2OT game and I think 2022-23, there were some close games, but they stink right now.
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There was plenty of hatred toward them at MSG during the BET semis.
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No animosity? I thought there was plenty, especially on the part of the creighton fans. And losing to them this year was especially awful given our struggles with them and the fact that they aren't great this year. I loathe creighton. and I couldn't stand Kalk.
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I feel as if it's Duke. It happens just enough to mean something almost every time. I am sure they would barely agree from their point of view. Watching UConn v. Duke is always nutso for me and a lot of us here.
They would have to acknowledge that Husky blood is as blue as it gets. It is.
Give me 4 years of a home 'n home starting next season. Let it manifest into a football USC v. Notre Dame; basketball version. National game. Must watch TV.
There is no denying the sex appeal here.
They would have to acknowledge that Husky blood is as blue as it gets. It is.
Give me 4 years of a home 'n home starting next season. Let it manifest into a football USC v. Notre Dame; basketball version. National game. Must watch TV.
There is no denying the sex appeal here.
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Last time they played us was 2014 at the Izod center so not sure it’s can be considered a rivalry. Anyone else at the game?
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Remember the time Kalk laughed at and mocked Sanogo in the preseason?
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Our program is unrivaled.
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St John’s has been a nothing burger for 20 years. Maybe if they survive Ricks retirement it becomes something. But even back in the real Big East days, St John’s was below Syracuse, Georgetown , BC then Louisville in the big game list. Wanting to beat a team because they are currently good isn’t the same as a rivalry. If the Jonnies fall to 8-22 next year they will not be a big deal. If we played the Orange it would be even this yearArticle in the Athletic today.
UConn’s only entry is #35 with Syracuse.
Other Big East entries:
PC-URI #47
Seton Hall-Rutgers #42
Villanova-Georgetown #30
Creighton-Nebraska #18 (this high after one season lmao)
Wisconsin-Marquette #15
Big 5 #10
Cincy-Xavier #8
Syracuse-Georgetown #5
Suprised we only show up on this list once and at 35. How is UConn-St. John’s not there if they are going to include Creighton/Nebraska. Also no UConn-Nova or UConn-PC.
Ranking the top 50 rivalries in men’s college basketball, from Duke-Carolina to Wofford-Furman
From feuding neighbors to powerhouses who annually stand in each other's way of championships, college hoops has a rich rivalry landscape.www.nytimes.com
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Our rivals are the other national championship contenders.
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Marat
The Champ Is Here.
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Yep I was there too. Too bad it was basically a one man show as Boatright didnt get any help .
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I think they are just creating rivalries. Seton Hall-Rutgers? I'm sure PC considers UConn a bigger rival than URI. I think cuse was our biggest rival year in and year out in the Big East. There were stretches where UConn had different rivals. SJU during the Rip Hamilton-Ron Artest years. Villanova during the Ray Allen-Kerry Kittles years. Georgetown during Ray Allen-Alan Iverson.
Are there any A-10 programs on the list? Perhaps UMass-Temple.
Are there any A-10 programs on the list? Perhaps UMass-Temple.
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I think the fans and boosters would revolt if, after the stretch they’ve had, they gave it to another program guy with minimal head coaching experience. Maybe down the road, but if they actually move on from Autry in the next year or two, I think McNamara would be a tough sell.
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We no longer have any true rivalries in the Big East - it requires someone that beats you, that you've played for more than a decade and that you truly despise. No team fits that - though St John's could make it soon. PC has a long road to hoe. Don't say Seton Hall - we really consider them a little, poor brother. Creighton isn't there either; we respect them more than hate them. Nova - maybe if Willard gets them back on a higher track. Our most bitter rivals are in the ACC. Kinda crazy.
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They should come back. Them and the other schools that sold their souls and aside from one lucky orange run have become nonexistent on the national stage. I’m talking to you too West Virginia. I know football drives the bus but hey stink at that too
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Ironically, I think UConn's rivalry with Cincinnati eclipses most of its original Big East rivalries in terms of sustained relevance and dislike. Obviously you had the mutual feelings of misery once both were relegated to the AAC, but even in the years leading up to the split, they played a lot of intense, physical games that came down to the final possessions. Cronin being one of the biggest and arguably least likable personalities in the sport helped a lot.
And if it seemed like the Cincy rivalry replaced the Pitt rivalry, it's because I'm pretty sure it was Cronin's explicit goal to build a carbon copy of Dixon's program. He started recruiting a lot of the same rough and rugged NYC kids and coached his teams accordingly. Seriously, go look at how many NYC area kids he brought in in that era - Rashad Bishop, Lance Stephenson, Sean Kilpatrick, Shaq Thomas just to name a few.
His rosters were Big East personified, and that continued for a few years even after the Big East left them behind. For my money, that rivalry from ~2010-17 is right up there with the best stretches in any other rivalry we've had.
And if it seemed like the Cincy rivalry replaced the Pitt rivalry, it's because I'm pretty sure it was Cronin's explicit goal to build a carbon copy of Dixon's program. He started recruiting a lot of the same rough and rugged NYC kids and coached his teams accordingly. Seriously, go look at how many NYC area kids he brought in in that era - Rashad Bishop, Lance Stephenson, Sean Kilpatrick, Shaq Thomas just to name a few.
His rosters were Big East personified, and that continued for a few years even after the Big East left them behind. For my money, that rivalry from ~2010-17 is right up there with the best stretches in any other rivalry we've had.
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I see what you did
And somewhat agree with you
But must add one extra
To refine your post,
I'd say the biggest rivals are history's blue bloods
During post season
Yes, you root for the Huskies
But who do you root against?
storrsroars
Exiled in Pittsburgh
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Let's remember that we would've sold our soul to join the ACC back then.
Back when Lyke was AD, she made it a priority to bring competitive in non-revenue sports, whi,ch she accomplished while remaining competitive in football. Her downfall was running a large deficit while also trying to build a new Olympic sports facility without having secured necessary outside funding. She was also the AD who hired Capel.
While Capel was a second choice to Hurley, generally he was being hailed as a solid hire, especially in light of the Stallings fiasco. Shortly before she was fired, Lyke gave Capel a six-year extension with significant buyouts. Up until now, the cost of those buyouts made dumping Capel a non-starter. At the end of this year, the buyout is down to $12 million, still a ton of money, but a significant drop from where it's been. There is serious conversation on spending that money to get rid of him, despite the fact that he has a good recruiting class coming in next year.
There's still a fan base here who will turn out if the product is worth seeing. And it's not that big a reach to see them back in the NCAAs fairly quickly. But if Pitt blows this next hire, they could be looking at a DePaul-length stay in basketball Siberia.
One thing I remember Mark Cuban saying about running an NBA team is that if you find the right coach a team can have a chance in getting turned around. The desk anchor responded by say "that's not too bad". And then Cuban responded by saying, "that is harder than you think". What he says applies to college basketball and other sports, too. Just look at Villanova Basketball or UConn Football.
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The issue is when the league was strong early, with Syracuse, Georgetown, and St. John's at the top we were nowhere. Our rivals were the other bottom feeders.Article in the Athletic today.
UConn’s only entry is #35 with Syracuse.
Other Big East entries:
PC-URI #47
Seton Hall-Rutgers #42
Villanova-Georgetown #30
Creighton-Nebraska #18 (this high after one season lmao)
Wisconsin-Marquette #15
Big 5 #10
Cincy-Xavier #8
Syracuse-Georgetown #5
Suprised we only show up on this list once and at 35. How is UConn-St. John’s not there if they are going to include Creighton/Nebraska. Also no UConn-Nova or UConn-PC.
Ranking the top 50 rivalries in men’s college basketball, from Duke-Carolina to Wofford-Furman
From feuding neighbors to powerhouses who annually stand in each other's way of championships, college hoops has a rich rivalry landscape.
Then, suddenly, we became the league's standard bearer and it went from lop-sided one way to the other way for two decades and then the league fell apart.
To have real rivals you need several teams fighting it out for the top every year, like us and St. John's this year and maybe Villanova in the mix and it has to be great teams every year with hard fought and sometimes bitter losses in the mix. It's going to take a few more years.
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The term 'rivalry' conjures up deep emotional ties and I'd imagine none of the teams folks have listed would list us as their biggest rival.
We were too late to the championship party in the OBE to matter to the early domineers. Being a non-Catholic didn't help.
The only true 'biggest' rival we've had is UMass from the YC days. Yes, I remember and it was filthy fun.
We were too late to the championship party in the OBE to matter to the early domineers. Being a non-Catholic didn't help.
The only true 'biggest' rival we've had is UMass from the YC days. Yes, I remember and it was filthy fun.