UConn blue blood status

[HailUConn]

When it comes to the talks of whether a school is blue blood, the past narratives have mainly been, can the program sustain success (final 4 or winning NC of course) thru coaching changes over an extended period of time.

Now ponder this: if our Huskies continues this upward trajectory under the helm of Hurley and it’s not too far fetched that we would soon win the chip. When that happens, despite being in the purgatory of conference realignment, UConn has accomplished winning national champs not only with different coaches (JC, KO, Dan Hurley), but also in different conferences (BE, AAC, NBE)!!! We would be the bluest of blue bloods.

Chills!

 

[BlueMAB]

 

[willie99]

We're not blue blood, we're never going to be blue blood, I don't want to be blue blood, that's a media coined expression for programs that were best a long time ago. And I can't disrespect the media more than I do

WE'RE BLUE COLLAR

I don't want their overhyped one and done players

 

[Chin Diesel]

A few neat things if UConn wins a 'chip in the 2020's.

They would have won championships in the 90's, 00's, 10's and 20's. Not sure how many schools have won championships in four decades or four consecutive decades. Short answer is not many since not many have won 4 or more titles.

Hurley, or whomever the next coach to win a championship at UConn is, will be the third different coach to win a championship at UConn. No one trick pony Husky coach.


For me, you have to respect history of the game but I put a heavy bias on the mid-60's going forward. I don't fully discount the years prior then but I give higher weighting to the most recent 55-60 years.

UCLA is the outlier because they had the most incredible streak and two of the greatest college basketball players of all-time but over the past 45 years hasn't been consistently great or even really good.

I think you break out Kentucky, UCLA and UNC as the top layer.

Duke, Indiana and Kansas are next layer. Sure Kansas has four championships like UConn but they have 16 FF appearances total.

UConn is almost a tier by itself. Four championships but only 5 final fours. Incredibly efficient. And UConn spotted almost all these teams 40 years of history before they became relevant nationally. UConn has 59 wins in the NCAAT which puts it outside the top 10 all-time for wins.

Bottom line for me is UConn is easily in the Top 10 of college basketball programs of all-time, and is one of the top 5 programs of the past 30 years, and I can live with that.

 

[Scot-e]

I agree with willie99- except I’d take 1 one and done every couple of years. We might already be back to that point.

 

[Stinger92860]

They would have won championships in the 90's, 00's, 10's and 20's. Not sure how many schools have won championships in four decades or four consecutive decades. Short answer is not many since not many have won 4 or more titles.

This would be very cool. Over the next 2-3 years we may have a shot. A lot parity, or so it seems, this year. Don’t want to peak now, but in March/April.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

When it comes to the talks of whether a school is blue blood, the past narratives have mainly been, can the program sustain success (final 4 or winning NC of course) thru coaching changes over an extended period of time.

Now ponder this: if our Huskies continues this upward trajectory under the helm of Hurley and it’s not too far fetched that we would soon win the chip. When that happens, despite being in the purgatory of conference realignment, UConn has accomplished winning national champs not only with different coaches (JC, KO, Dan Hurley), but also in different conferences (BE, AAC, NBE)!!! We would be the bluest of blue bloods.

Chills!

Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina have won under three different coaches. UConn, Louisville, Michigan State, UCLA, North Carolina State, Indiana and Villanova have won under two different coaches.

Winning a championship under a third coach would be pretty cool. UConn has a long way to go though.

 

[UCONNOLOGIST]

BLUE BLOODS....Mighty Mighty UCONN, Puke, Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky.----
NAVY BLUE BLOODS......Mich st, Indiana, Ucla, L'ville, 'Nova
BABY BLUE BLOODS......'Cuse, Memphis, Arizona, Ohio St, Mich, Baylor, Gonzaga, Florida, Purdue, Georgetown
CLEAR BLOODS....... Texas, maquette, St.johns, Creighton, Houston, Oklahoma, Kansas St.,Pitt, Wake Forest, Tennessee.
RESPECTABLE LANDING SPOTS........ Auburn, Wisconsin, 'Bama, UNLV, Georgia Tech, Seton Hall, Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame, North Carolina st. Oklahoma St., Mizzou, Arkansas, LSU.

 

[navery12]

I don't want their overhyped one and done players

Get on board fast because there's a non-zero chance we have one this year, and we have another one coming in next season with Castle

 

[Jaydumo20]

I think we can be blue bloods. I just don't think we have the history, time wise, of the UNC's, and Kansas' of the world. Our real success began in the late 80's and was solidified in '99. We are closest to Duke of all the blue bloods. Another championship and a few more straight years of top 25 and we'll be good.

Things change

Remember: Navy and Rutgers were the blue bloods of college football

 

[Waquoit]

Now that we are back, the Blue Blood label comes with. Embrace it.

 

[Frank06830]

IMHO. Not keen about talking chips so early and also one bad night in the tournament and you are out….However,
as our friend Bill Walton enthusiastically proclaimed during PK ” there is not one team that has won 4 chips in the last 23 years…not Duke, not North Carolina, not Kentucky. It’s UCONN”. We are blue blood

 

[ctchamps]

IMHO. Not keen about talking chips so early and also one bad night in the tournament and you are out….However,
as our friend Bill Walton enthusiastically proclaimed during PK ” there is not one team that has won 4 chips in the last 23 years…not Duke, not North Carolina, not Kentucky. It’s UCONN”. We are blue blood

I respect the opinion of anyone who has a lot of knowledge about Douglas Fir Trees!

 

[MTBingNinja]

I agree with willie99- except I’d take 1 one and done every couple of years. We might already be back to that point.

Was thinking of this recently, have to grab 5 Star / 1 & Done Players when you can. Why turn down supreme talent? A good coach has to balance those caliber of players into their program when they can. Now when it comes to UConn, Hurley can decline on a 5 Star Player who doesn’t meet the character requirements that fit into his scheme and culture of the program.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

1 - It is far too early to count this season as a championship (as Frank pointed out). Nothing good can come from this.

2 - I personally believe the championships we have won felt sweeter because the alleged elite continually tried to claim we didn't belong at their level of perceived status.

 

[Stinger92860]

Was thinking of this recently, have to grab 5 Star / 1 & Done Players when you can. Why turn down supreme talent?

Which 5 stars or 1/done have we rejected?

 

[jibsey]

1 - It is far too early to count this season as a championship (as Frank pointed out). Nothing good can come from this.

2 - I personally believe the championships we have won felt sweeter because the alleged elite continually tried to claim we didn't belong at their level of perceived status.

Couldn’t agree more. Lots of posters here have hung the banner in their minds already. To be fair, Kemba and Bazz’s teams had bad streaks and some flaws which garnered no respect from media even through the tourney. UCONN getting props but a loss or 2 will bring back the doubters, but all tests have been passed so far.

 

[willie99]

Get on board fast because there's a non-zero chance we have one this year, and we have another one coming in next season with Castle

How many players on our roster were considered one and done when they were being recruited? That's a rhetorical question BTW

We've had 1 one and done player in our history, and we won nothing with him

UK has one and done galore, always disappointing seasons

I stand by my statement

WE'RE BLUE BLOOD, that's reality, and that's OK too

 

[80shusky]

Why does anyone care about this?

 

[navery12]

How many players on our roster were considered one and done when they were being recruited? That's a rhetorical question BTW

We've had 1 one and done player in our history, and we won nothing with him

UK has one and done galore, always disappointing seasons

I stand by my statement

WE'RE BLUE BLOOD, that's reality, and that's OK too

Castle was considered one and done when we recruited him

 

[ctchamps]

Why does anyone care about this?

Vicarious pride.

 

[Fishy]

Why does anyone care about this?

I’ve no idea.

 

[HailUConn]

We're not blue blood, we're never going to be blue blood, I don't want to be blue blood, that's a media coined expression for programs that were best a long time ago. And I can't disrespect the media more than I do

WE'RE BLUE COLLAR

I don't want their overhyped one and done players

Say all you want, the general perception and public image matter, recruiting if nothing else. But I’m vain.

 

[willie99]

Castle was considered one and done when we recruited him

he's ranked 20th, great for us, nowhere near one and done lock status

doesn't Hurley talk about kids who want to stick around and work? he talks about "family"

he's not Squid

 

[willie99]

Say all you want, the general perception and public image matter, recruiting if nothing else. But I’m vain.

winning matters, not some media coined expression my friend

we win, we land recruits, especially if Hurley gets them to the NBA

the experts can look past us every year for all I care

 

[businesslawyer]

When it comes to the talks of whether a school is blue blood, the past narratives have mainly been, can the program sustain success (final 4 or winning NC of course) thru coaching changes over an extended period of time.

Now ponder this: if our Huskies continues this upward trajectory under the helm of Hurley and it’s not too far fetched that we would soon win the chip. When that happens, despite being in the purgatory of conference realignment, UConn has accomplished winning national champs not only with different coaches (JC, KO, Dan Hurley), but also in different conferences (BE, AAC, NBE)!!! We would be the bluest of blue bloods.

Chills!

Would moderators please file away this post when it's time to talk about the next hanging.

 

[aburks41]

I don’t really care about the blue blood thing. The core 4 (Duke, UNC, UK, KU) will never let anyone into their stupid imaginary club no matter how many titles you have because you weren’t winning in the 1940’s lmao. We own Duke and UK. They’re terrified of seeing #1 ranked UConn. We will continue to make their lives miserable in March. That, to me, is better than their precious blue blood club.

 

[navery12]

he's ranked 20th, great for us, nowhere near one and done lock status

doesn't Hurley talk about kids who want to stick around and work? he talks about "family"

he's not Squid

Stephon Castle and the staff have all been very open about the plan being one and done for him.

I'm not saying we're ever going to have a Kentucky like team filled with them, but if we keep playing like this we'll absolutely be in the position to bring in 1 or 2 every once in a while

 

[Sphinx]

Why does anyone care about this?

Deciding what to care about in college basketball (or sports, generally) is like peeling the classic onion. By the time you peel away everything there is no reason to care about, there is nothing left. You are holding a handful of air.

 

[tzznandrew]

They would have won championships in the 90's, 00's, 10's and 20's. Not sure how many schools have won championships in four decades or four consecutive decades. Short answer is not many since not many have won 4 or more titles.

That is a cool little thing. Only a few schools have an active streak (i.e. won in the 2000s and 2010s.)

4 straight decades (& streak is alive)
North Carolina: 1982, 1993, 2005 (2009), 2017. They came very close to making it five decades in a row.

3 straight decades (& streak is alive)
Duke: 1991 (1992), 2001, 2010 (2015)
UConn: 1999, 2006, 2011 (2014)

Other Notable Programs

Kentucky only had a streak of two once (1940s and 1950s). There's been at least a decade between sets of title runs outside of that (of course they did the 1996, 1998). They get to if you give them the Helms title (lol)

UCLA was 1960s and 1970s as a back to back decade, but one stray 1995 ( ) title is all the rest.

Indiana did have 1940s and 1950s, and then 1970s and 1980s.

Kansas has never won titles in connected decades. Not even if you count Helms.