Top 50 Rivalries in Men’s College Basketball

[John]

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.

in those early Big East days we still had one foot in the Yankee Conference rooting-wise as we transitioned. I remember those days well.

 

[Donyell 360]

I know this is a basketball list but no discussion of rivalries is complete without the infamous "Civil Conflict" between UConn and South Florida football. 😝

 

[PAHusky]

UConn is a bit like Penn State football in that they have heated matchups with certain programs for awhile but, especially since conference realignment, no real rival (PSU has the vestiges of one w/ Pitt but that's waning) (before I get jumped for the comparison that's the only similarity I'd point out re: programs).

On one hand you miss out a bit on focusing scorn on one team in particular. On the other hand, I think it really opens things up for true haters as there are so many teams to dislike for so many reasons that you don't really ever have to worry about finding inner peace.

 

[Palatine]

In the very best sense, we have no rival.

 

[Kolumbo]

UConn is a bit like Penn State football in that they have heated matchups with certain programs for awhile but, especially since conference realignment, no real rival (PSU has the vestiges of one w/ Pitt but that's waning) (before I get jumped for the comparison that's the only similarity I'd point out re: programs).

On one hand you miss out a bit on focusing scorn on one team in particular. On the other hand, I think it really opens things up for true haters as there are so many teams to dislike for so many reasons that you don't really ever have to worry about finding inner peace.

To your point, the ACC has UNC-Duke every year with a rotating wild card or two. The rest of the conference is meh. The 16 team Big East was brutal and was much more competitive top to bottom. Sot it wasn't just one rival, it was always a few programs battling for the top. That made Big East Basketball awesome.

 

[SubbaBub]

Prior to 1990, none of the Big East programs considered us rivals. From 1994-1996 is was Gtown, Nova, and Cuse. GTown and Nova went south quickly after that and were replaced by Pitt. BC became a rival solely due to CR, they were never a rival on the court.

From 1999-2004 is was Duke, they know it, we know it.

From 2006-2011, Jay Wright brought Nova back, Jamie Dixon, had Pitt at its peak, add West Virginia and Louisville taking over the rival space from the original C7.

Post the C7 exit, Cincy was as close to a rival, but let's be honest after 2014 we stunk up the AAC.

After Hurley made his get us now statement, we've been the class of the new Big East and our only rivals have multiple championships.

If Wright were still at Nova, this would be the call but they need a rebuild that lasts more than a season.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I know this is a basketball list but no discussion of rivalries is complete without the infamous "Civil Conflict" between UConn and South Florida football. 😝

UCF.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

In the very best sense, we have no rival.

We're unrivaled?