UConn Eye Test Case for the B12

[nelsonmuntz]

In the event (which I think is very slim) that the ACC wanted to go to a hybrid model and the Big East schools, who rejected the hybrid approach when they left to form the current Big East are suddenly willing to entertain it... I don't see a wholesale merger. The ACC has the money and the power... they can be selective; they're not chasing Butler/DePaul (they have Notre Dame covering Indy & Chicago). Providence is stuck between BC & UConn & may be left out, while St. John's and Villanova would probably make the cut.

That would be stupid and self destructive for all involved. No one is doing that.

UConn’s strength is that there is only one UConn. There are no other expansion options for the ACC, except maybe Boise. There are certainly no expansion candidates that 1) bring a basketball brand name, 2) have a credible football program, 3) bring a valuable market. Every year this reality becomes more pronounced.

The ACC is not going to add a handful of basketball only programs and these programs wouldn’t leave the Big East. The biggest and most obvious reason is that the ACC can’t afford to buy them, nor are the Big East schools in a desperate situation financially. A full merger gives both sides security and brings the Big East basketball agreement with the schools to pay for it.

It may be too late to matter. With House, there are likely several ACC schools that are fine running out the current contract and gradually downgrading athletics. There is little incentive for these schools to do anything big to change their trajectory.

 

[Hoophound]

That would be stupid and self destructive for all involved. No one is doing that.

UConn’s strength is that there is only one UConn. There are no other expansion options for the ACC, except maybe Boise. There are certainly no expansion candidates that 1) bring a basketball brand name, 2) have a credible football program, 3) bring a valuable market. Every year this reality becomes more pronounced.

The ACC is not going to add a handful of basketball only programs and these programs wouldn’t leave the Big East. The biggest and most obvious reason is that the ACC can’t afford to buy them, nor are the Big East schools in a desperate situation financially. A full merger gives both sides security and brings the Big East basketball agreement with the schools to pay for it.

It may be too late to matter. With House, there are likely several ACC schools that are fine running out the current contract and gradually downgrading athletics. There is little incentive for these schools to do anything big to change their trajectory.

The Big East better step up on the court and make sure people want to watch or the next contract is going to suck. I’m not sure the Big East can make it past 2030 being referred to as a “major”. I’m not even sure it will make it another year or two with that designation in mainstream media.

It is looking more and more like some sort of old Big East/ACC is going to be forced to merge in the early 2030’s.

UConn
Cuse
BC
Duke
Wake
Temple
USF
UL

Nova
SJU
Georgetown
Providence
Seton Hall

Maybe: NC St, VTech, Pitt——even one of Miami or FSU is possible. It doesn’t look to me like there will be more than 40 spots in the Power Conferences based what’s been going on. Otherwise, the B12 is going to have to be massive in member numbers.

 

[uconnfan68]

People get hung up on New Haven Hartford being the 33rd, or thereabouts, biggest media market in the country, but that excludes all of Fairfield County, which a part of the New York City DMA.

To me the more relevant demographic number is that there are 24 million people within 125 miles of a Storrs, Connecticut. Few other universities can match that.

The problem with that is that many top rated schools reside in that area. We don't get the entire region's allegiance.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The problem with that is that many top rated schools reside in that area. We don't get the entire region's allegiance.

There are a lot of Ivy/Little Ivy undergrads that are also UConn basketball fans.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The Big East better step up on the court and make sure people want to watch or the next contract is going to suck. I’m not sure the Big East can make it past 2030 being referred to as a “major”. I’m not even sure it will make it another year or two with that designation in mainstream media.

It is looking more and more like some sort of old Big East/ACC is going to be forced to merge in the early 2030’s.

UConn
Cuse
BC
Duke
Wake
Temple
USF
UL

Nova
SJU
Georgetown
Providence
Seton Hall

Maybe: NC St, VTech, Pitt——even one of Miami or FSU is possible. It doesn’t look to me like there will be more than 40 spots in the Power Conferences based what’s been going on. Otherwise, the B12 is going to have to be massive in member numbers.

Sure. Or maybe the P2 start cutting loose conference mates who are hangers on.

Or maybe college sports figured out that if it slashes the sports to just rural schools in poor southern states and legacy universities in shrinking midwestern states that the sport will reach a tipping point and collapse.

There are a lot of ifs.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

The Big East better step up on the court and make sure people want to watch or the next contract is going to suck. I’m not sure the Big East can make it past 2030 being referred to as a “major”. I’m not even sure it will make it another year or two with that designation in mainstream media.

It is looking more and more like some sort of old Big East/ACC is going to be forced to merge in the early 2030’s.

UConn
Cuse
BC
Duke
Wake
Temple
USF
UL

Nova
SJU
Georgetown
Providence
Seton Hall

Maybe: NC St, VTech, Pitt——even one of Miami or FSU is possible. It doesn’t look to me like there will be more than 40 spots in the Power Conferences based what’s been going on. Otherwise, the B12 is going to have to be massive in member numbers.

It could play out that way/something like that. I think the top ACC brands that do leave (whether it's just 2 or up to 6 or even 8) will do so a year or two before 2030 because the conferences that do the poaching (SEC/Big10 and maybe the Big12) will bring in the new schools a season or two before they start their TV negotiations so as to have more leverage as opposed to until their contracts expire. We'll definitely know more over the next 2 years.

 

[Hoophound]

It could play out that way/something like that. I think the top ACC brands that do leave (whether it's just 2 or up to 6 or even 8) will do so a year or two before 2030 because the conferences that do the poaching (SEC/Big10 and maybe the Big12) will bring in the new schools a season or two before they start their TV negotiations so as to have more leverage as opposed to until their contracts expire. We'll definitely know more over the next 2 years.

Interesting. I was thinking they’d just run “what if?” scenarios.

 

[CL82]

The problem with that is that many top rated schools reside in that area. We don't get the entire region's allegiance.

Whom are you thinking about? The really are only minimal FBS schools with in those 125 miles. BC and UMass come to mind and neither of them really claim any significant allegiance.