UConn Flirting with Big East?

[triaddukefan]

This was actually a discussion on Triangle Sports Radio this afternoon. One Host suggested UConn move to the Big East and drop Football to the FCS division. Then they started talking about possible Big East targets.... UW-Milwaukee, Gonzaga, Utah State, WashU-Stl, Harvard Of course they were being facetious.

 

[TitleTown]

Really? The December 2015 Maggie Dixon classic at MSG vs MD had almost 7,000 fans. The Regionals at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT sold out each of the last two times UConn was there: attendance 9,000+. Last year’s regional at the TUC in Albany, NY had 11,000+ fans in attendance.

Frankly, I have little doubt that a revived BE Tournament at MSG with #1 UConn, St Johns, et al would generate great interest and attendance.

A Big East women's basketball conference championship at MSG would be lucky to average 6,000 people. Adding UConn and changing the venue to MSG does not matter when the Big East tournament last year averaged a mere 2,100 fans.

 

[oldude]

A Big East women's basketball conference championship at MSG would be lucky to average 6,000 people. Adding UConn and changing the venue to MSG does not matter when the Big East tournament last year averaged a mere 2,100 fans.

This has little to do with the BE. The AAC has even less geographic relevance or interest than the BE, and every year 8,000+ fans show up to watch the tournament at the Mohegan Sun. This is all about UConn’s ability to draw fans. The greater NYC area has a significant number of UConn fans who would show up in droves to watch the Huskies play at MSG.

 

[tomcat]

It's an intriguing concept. I don't believe a word of it.

 

[TitleTown]

This has little to do with the BE. The AAC has even less geographic relevance or interest than the BE, and every year 8,000+ fans show up to watch the tournament at the Mohegan Sun. This is all about UConn’s ability to draw fans. The greater NYC area has a significant number of UConn fans who would show up in droves to watch the Huskies play at MSG.

No they don't! The AAC tournament drew under 5,000 people last year while being at a casino/resort located in state, MSG is out of state and a heck of a lot less convenient to get to!

 

[hussybulldog]

Pure rubbish！ A public institution joining a Catholic league？

 

[DefenseBB]

UConn did drop football...they just didn't tell any of the guys who show up every Saturday to lose...

 

[BroadwayVa]

I would love for UConn to downgrade football and head back to the BE. St Johns & Depaul are competitive teams. Seton Hall is on the upswing. There are natural geographic rivals and MSG would showcase the league championships every year. If it were to happen, somewhere Dave Gavitt will be smiling.

I'm not sure how the AAC or the BE is seen outside of their viewing areas. Would moving to the BE be a boost for recruiting? If the image of the AAC is as it appears in the BY--who would want to play in that atmosphere?
I don't like football for the long term damage it does to youth. So I can easily say drop Football.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Pure rubbish！ A public institution joining a Catholic league？

Don't worry if Uconn joins the BE the Pope won't direct ALL of Geno's decisions. Why is joining the BE now different from when Uconn played in that conference??

 

[BroadwayVa]

Stay in the AAC. BE turned their back on UCONN once and the heck with them.

Don't say never. Think, Geno is now playing the never ever evil empire because it is in Uconn's best interest. If the BE is in Uconn's best interest it is fool hardy to hold a grudge, as Geno knew. Dollars, dollars, dollars fill more Treasurys than emotions.

 

[CL82]

A Big East women's basketball conference championship at MSG would be lucky to average 6,000 people. Adding UConn and changing the venue to MSG does not matter when the Big East tournament last year averaged a mere 2,100 fans.

Didn't the original Big East move the tourney out of MSG for the women.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Too much money invested in football to turn back now. Just gotta find a young and up and coming Offensive minded Head Coach. Edsel aint the answer.

What about Corvair or Studebaker? Are they still coaching?

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Don't worry if Uconn joins the BE the Pope won't direct ALL of Geno's decisions. Why is joining the BE now different from when Uconn played in that conference??

The conference has changed since then; UCONN would be the only large, public university in the league.

 

[oldude]

No they don't! The AAC tournament drew under 5,000 people last year while being at a casino/resort located in state, MSG is out of state and a heck of a lot less convenient to get to!

I have no idea where you’re getting your information from, but UConn’s website indicates the Huskies averaged over 7000+ for each of the 3 games played in the conference tournament at the Mohegan Sun last season.

As for MSG’s location, it’s a lot closer to the most populated part of CT (Fairfield CO), where I grew up than the Mohegan Sun, Hartford or Storrs. As I also pointed out, there are a lot of UConn fans in the metropolitan NYC area.

Finally, if it’s all about convenience, how do you explain 11,000+, mostly UConn fans in Albany, NY last March?

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I'm not sure how the AAC or the BE is seen outside of their viewing areas. Would moving to the BE be a boost for recruiting? If the image of the AAC is as it appears in the BY--who would want to play in that atmosphere?
I don't like football for the long term damage it does to youth. So I can easily say drop Football.

For as long as Geno is your coach "it just doesn't matter". Once he leaves (via retirement), I see very little difference between the BE and AAC in terms of WBB.

The money is better if you have big time football. Fact of life, we don't have to like it. From where I see it, life is better for UConn only when you get into a P5 conference. Otherwise, I repeat myself, "it just doesn't matter".

 

[TitleTown]

I have no idea where you’re getting your information from, but UConn’s website indicates the Huskies averaged over 7000+ for each of the 3 games played in the conference tournament at the Mohegan Sun last season.

As for MSG’s location, it’s a lot closer to the most populated part of CT (Fairfield CO), where I grew up than the Mohegan Sun, Hartford or Storrs. As I also pointed out, there are a lot of UConn fans in the metropolitan NYC area.

Finally, if it’s all about convenience, how do you explain 11,000+, mostly UConn fans in Albany, NY last March.

The numbers I posted were the average attendance/game of the conference tournament for all teams. The Big East is not going to move a tournament so UConn can draw an "ok" crowd for a few games. You have to look at the attendance for all teams and all games of the tournament.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/2019/Attendance.pdf

 

[TitleTown]

Didn't the original Big East move the tourney out of MSG for the women.

Yes, even with perennial Top 5 powers like UConn, Notre Dame, and Louisville the Big East women's tournament did not draw well enough to be held in MSG. It was held in Hartford for a number of years and drew around 8,500 per game.

 

[BroadwayVa]

For as long as Geno is your coach "it just doesn't matter". Once he leaves (via retirement), I see very little difference between the BE and AAC in terms of WBB.

The money is better if you have big-time football. Fact of life, we don't have to like it. From where I see it, life is better for UConn only when you get into a P5 conference. Otherwise, I repeat myself, "it just doesn't matter".

Uconn hasn't had a competitive FB program in how many years. Do Uconn students and Fans even want a football program? If the funding is coming from the Connecticut Legislative coffers I doubt that money will arrive.

 

[BroadwayVa]

The conference has changed since then; UCONN would be the only large, public university in the league.

Ignorant me! I see no difference in Uconn playing BE then to now--forget the makeup of the league; unless there is some religious or moral reason to do so.
I'm not pushing an argument--a discussion yes. What is the basis of not allowing or having Uconn as part of that league. Was Uconn more Catholic then? I don't get it.
I thought the USA had gotten by the: you can't be one of us because you are different. Hasn't it?

 

[oldude]

Ignorant me! I see no difference in Uconn playing BE then to now--forget the makeup of the league; unless there is some religious or moral reason to do so.
I'm not pushing an argument--a discussion yes. What is the basis of not allowing or having Uconn as part of that league. Was Uconn more Catholic then? I don't get it.
I thought the USA had gotten by the: you can't be one of us because you are different. Hasn't it?

If it makes any difference, Geno’s a Catholic.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Too much money invested in football to turn back now. Just gotta find a young and up and coming Offensive minded Head Coach. Edsel aint the answer.

Yet Edsall is by far the best coach they have ever had. They will be lucky to ever have a coach do what Edsall did his first time around.

 

[BroadwayVa]

If it makes any difference, Geno’s a Catholic.

The world knew that. @oldude . I'm sorry I missed your point unless you were stating the obvious. I doubt the Pope as infallible as he may be would
get between Uconn an HIS teams (facetious). It is quite obvious God is on ND's side--look at last spring, I can't understand November however.
Still, and honestly, I still don't understand why Uconn would not be asked other than the fact it has no football team.

 

[tomcat]

Don't worry if Uconn joins the BE the Pope won't direct ALL of Geno's decisions. Why is joining the BE now different from when Uconn played in that conference??

Well, the Big East back then was a conference made up of a bunch of colleges, some of which were Catholic. Now it is a league made up entirely of Catholic colleges. A pretty big difference, methinks.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Ignorant me! I see no difference in Uconn playing BE then to now--forget the makeup of the league; unless there is some religious or moral reason to do so.
I'm not pushing an argument--a discussion yes. What is the basis of not allowing or having Uconn as part of that league. Was Uconn more Catholic then? I don't get it.
I thought the USA had gotten by the: you can't be one of us because you are different. Hasn't it?

The old Big East had a lot of public universities or at least secular private universities. Face it, football is where athletics departments make their money, and the BE doesn't have football. If that is the choice, you're just as well off in the AAC.

 

[j66kicker]

Well, the Big East back then was a conference made up of a bunch of colleges, some of which were Catholic. Now it is a league made up entirely of Catholic colleges. A pretty big difference, methinks.

Butler is the only non-Catholic Big East school. So they DO allow non-Catholic schools in the conference.