Uconn dominance re BigEast - a little perspective.

[ucmiami2]

I was about to post this in the Creighton Game thread before I realized it would be considered a digression, so ... new thread.

People complain about Uconn dominance over their conference mates, and it certainly is not an ideal look. But what is lost in translation is that Uconn has dominated WCBB for most of 3 decades. In those 30 years they have been to 23 FF, won 12 championships, and the other 7 years they made the E8 4 times and S16 the other 3.

The first 5 years of this stretch 1994-1999 they were in a weakish BE and went 87-3 for a 96.7%.

From 1999-2013 the original big east was one of the strongest, if not the strongest conference in the country (1999-2004 the conference had a string of 5 titles) and for 7 of those years Uconn was undefeated in league play. Another 2 years they had a single blemish. and during their 2004-2006 span in the wilderness they lost 2 and 3 games and 2011-2013 ND had their number and they lost another 2 and 3 games. Overall, the regular season was 210-14 or 93.8%. During that same period, they won 92% of their games overall including the conference and NCAA games that of necessity included 7 losses in their last game when they weren't winning 7 championships. Without that last 50% w/l game in the 14 NCAAs their record was 93.2. That conference was consistently getting 6-8 teams into the NCAAs and besides Uconn's 11 trips to the FF in the 14 years, there were 8 other teams represented including ND 4 times, Rutgers 2, and Louisville 2.

Uconn dominated a P6 conference, like they have a mid-major type conference. Just as they have dominated the other P6/P5/P4.

Uconn's all time record against the former P5 (these numbers include games before Uconn was good, and some from pre-Geno.):
ACC - .796 (78-20) (Duke 14-3, ND 10-3, NC 8-5 )
Big12 - .870 (40-6) (Baylor 6-4, OK 13-0, TX 10-1)
BigTen - .814 (48-11) (PnSt 9-3, Ohio 6-1, MD 4-1, Iowa 6-4)
Pac - .745 (38-13) (Stan 12-7, UCLA 7-1 Cal 6-1)
SEC - .747 (62-21) (TN 16-9, SC 9-4, LSU 8-1)

And in those OOC games Uconn was most often playing the 'Uconn' of that conference, if not it was at least a 'contender' and not a bottom dweller - the () represent the most frequent opponents.

Pat Summitt dominated the SEC for2 decades and had a stretch of 22 years 1997-2008 when she went 231-24, 90.6% (including 11 years 1997-2008 when she went 116-15, 93.4%) with all 8 of her championships.
Dawn Staley is dominating the SEC for the last 12 years at 176-16, 91.7 (2013-2025) with her three NCs
Kim Mulkey dominated the Big12 for her last 11 years at 204-9, 95.8% with 2 NCs (She is challenging Dawn with a 55-13, 80.9% now)
Tara VanDerveer dominated the Pac for her 37 years there including a decade (2004-2014) going 136-10, 95.7%

So Uconn's dominance of the BE is not something that is 'unusual' in WCBB, and Uconn has a winning record against all of the above listed dominant coaches during their 'dominant' stretches. Were they more challenged in the Old BE - obviously, but they still dominated, and would continue to dominate in any current P4

 

[visitingcock]

Yes, I would call the Big East P-5 Conference of WCBB - but only because of UConn's membership.

I have this formulating thought of the top 6, 7 or 8 conferences being designated at D-1 and the rest being designated as D-1A based . upon (one) passion for WBB (attendance) and (two) on-court success for a five year period - with elevation/relegation every five years.

Without UConn, would the Big East this decade might save the conference as a D-1? I don't know.

 

[ERWUC65]

Yes, I would call the Big East P-5 Conference of WCBB - but only because of UConn's membership.

I have this formulating thought of the top 6, 7 or 8 conferences being designated at D-1 and the rest being designated as D-1A based . upon (one) passion for WBB (attendance) and (two) on-court success for a five year period - with elevation/relegation every five years.

Without UConn, would the Big East this decade might save the conference as a D-1? I don't know.

I think the answer here is an obvious NO.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

The kicker in the original post is in the last line about it being competitive "more challenged" in the oBE.

Yes, Stanford for many years was dominant, Baylor for a time, South Carolina and before them Tennessee in their conferences.

Some mid-majors have had similar dominance, at least for periods, including South Dakota State, Green Bay and La Tech / ODU in their conferences.

While it is what it is, the reality is none of the fellow Big East members for UConn appear likely to raise their program to play consistently somewhat competitive games, even if UConn wins. Another way of looking at it is that when these other teams were dominating in the power 5 / 6 conferences in the day, they were playing at least some games against teams that were lock-ins for the NCAA's and in some cases Final Four candidates. Georgia, Auburn in the day, even Ole Miss under Van were highly completive teams. The BE had - variously - Notre Dame, Rutgers, Louisville and more playing at a high level. These conferences had 5 or more members NCAA bound.

Even the PAC, while no one really challenged Stanford, had teams consistently challenging for the Big Dance, including ASU, UCLA, even Arizona many years ago (Rutgers played them in the tourney), etc.

It is just an observation that the bulk of the BE teams are just incapable of competing with UConn and there are rarely more than 1 or 2 teams that are NCAA candidates. It is, as I said above, just an observation. I think it is a challenge for UConn, and a limiting factor for the future, but for now UConn is doing more than fine, so it isn't anything to worry much about.

 

[visitingcock]

The kicker in the original post is in the last line about it being competitive "more challenged" in the oBE.

Yes, Stanford for many years was dominant, Baylor for a time, South Carolina and before them Tennessee in their conferences.

Some mid-majors have had similar dominance, at least for periods, including South Dakota State, Green Bay and La Tech / ODU in their conferences.

While it is what it is, the reality is none of the fellow Big East members for UConn appear likely to raise their program to play consistently somewhat competitive games, even if UConn wins. Another way of looking at it is that when these other teams were dominating in the power 5 / 6 conferences in the day, they were playing at least some games against teams that were lock-ins for the NCAA's and in some cases Final Four candidates. Georgia, Auburn in the day, even Ole Miss under Van were highly completive teams. The BE had - variously - Notre Dame, Rutgers, Louisville and more playing at a high level. These conferences had 5 or more members NCAA bound.

Even the PAC, while no one really challenged Stanford, had teams consistently challenging for the Big Dance, including ASU, UCLA, even Arizona many years ago (Rutgers played them in the tourney), etc.

It is just an observation that the bulk of the BE teams are just incapable of competing with UConn and there are rarely more than 1 or 2 teams that are NCAA candidates. It is, as I said above, just an observation. I think it is a challenge for UConn, and a limiting factor for the future, but for now UConn is doing more than fine, so it isn't anything to worry much about.

LaTech is an exception in they were not merely a dominant mid major. They were dominant PERIOD. But, that dominance and continuing national relevance did not last after their championship level coach(es) departed. They held their own against teams from the bigger conferences until money and facilities finally overwhelmed them.

Now, NIL is the latest separator of Big vs the Rest