UConn Headed To Big 12?? That's The Unofficial Report

[macklin]

If we get an offer from the Big12 or even a watered down ACC, we should take it.
Too much $ out there. And we cant look at the present. The future of college sports is the P3 or 4.
Love the Big East. But, we need to jump on board.

acc is not watered down, it's imploding. Big12 unfortunately the right move

 

[Bald Husky]

If we can get into the Big12, our great coaches, Auriemma, Kavanaugh, Hurley, Mora, etc., may not eventually leave us in the future since we will be in a P4 conference. We also will get better in football, as being in a P4 conference will attract better talent, so if the conference does dissolve at some point, we will be better prepared and be a better overall choice for the leagues that are looking for a good athletic school to invite in.

 

[oldhusky]

This appears to be a very unreliable source.

That could be, but well into three pages of posts is pretty unusual for a scenario that to my knowledge has not been confirmed or supported by reliable sources. I think maybe it takes on a life of it's own partly because many think it could be a logical step for Uconn and the Big 12, but until more news comes out, I think I will consider it more speculation at this point.

 

[jostar1]

yeah ... they could unretire that rivalry trophy.

No one knows where it is.

 

[diggerfoot]

What I have yet to see mentioned, though perhaps I missed it, is that NIL has put the BE conference in a very competitive position because most of the schools can concentrate that money on basketball rather than the huge amount that would be required for football. The report was about men’s bb, but no doubt this also applies to women’s bb as well.

Unlike most BE schools UConn does have football that requires NIL money, though not at the level of P4 schools, since we cannot yet recruit at that level. Still, as long as we have the same quality bb coaches and success in place we will continue to recruit well in basketball with NIL continuing the BE men’s success and improving the BE women’s success over time.

So, the B12 would definitely help football, be a neutral move for basketball over time and be a bad move for the other sports outside football and basketball. This assumes current trends hold, but we know by now that everything could change by next month.

 

[uconnfan68]

What I have yet to see mentioned, though perhaps I missed it, is that NIL has put the BE conference in a very competitive position because most of the schools can concentrate that money on basketball rather than the huge amount that would be required for football. The report was about men’s bb, but no doubt this also applies to women’s bb as well.

Unlike most BE schools UConn does have football that requires NIL money, though not at the level of P4 schools, since we cannot yet recruit at that level. Still, as long as we have the same quality bb coaches and success in place we will continue to recruit well in basketball with NIL continuing the BE men’s success and improving the BE women’s success over time.

So, the B12 would definitely help football, be a neutral move for basketball over time and be a bad move for the other sports outside football and basketball. This assumes current trends hold, but we know by now that everything could change by next month.

MBB would be different (loss of old rivalries, but many new ones to cultivate), but still a plus. WBB would be a big plus. FB would be a huge plus. Baseball/Softball would be huge pluses. Not sure where soccer or field hockey goes. Maybe they stay?

 

[stamfordhusky]

That could be, but well into three pages of posts is pretty unusual for a scenario that to my knowledge has not been confirmed or supported by reliable sources. I think maybe it takes on a life of it's own partly because many think it could be a logical step for Uconn and the Big 12, but until more news comes out, I think I will consider it more speculation at this point.

Speculation, or Clickbait. I think there’s a better chance that UConn will end up in the ACC than the B12, if they move at all in the next couple years.

 

[diggerfoot]

MBB would be different (loss of old rivalries, but many new ones to cultivate), but still a plus. WBB would be a big plus. FB would be a huge plus. Baseball/Softball would be huge pluses. Not sure where soccer or field hockey goes. Maybe they stay?

True about baseball/softball save for the travel, had not thought about that. Over time the plus for wbb should be neutralized, given that BE wbb has greater NIL money available for the sport without football.

 

[Steelerone]

I think that eventually the "Big 12" is going to go the way of the Pac 12. The stronger teams will be absorbed by the SEC or Big 10. Colleges have morphed into the Law of the Jungle where only the strong survive. Eventually the basketball schools such as Uconn can hopefully form a conference of powerhouse teams. That is the only way they can survive. I think the next step for these conferences are to attempt to cut some of the weaker, re football, programs. The only chance for Uconn is to take over recruiting in New England. They would have to start by spending about a hundred million dollars and increase the stadium to a minimum of sixty or seventy thousand. Now the problem is, even if you do that will you be able to put that many people in the seats?

 

[JMick]

I think that eventually the "Big 12" is going to go the way of the Pac 12. The stronger teams will be absorbed by the SEC or Big 10. Colleges have morphed into the Law of the Jungle where only the strong survive. Eventually the basketball schools such as Uconn can hopefully form a conference of powerhouse teams. That is the only way they can survive. I think the next step for these conferences are to attempt to cut some of the weaker, re football, programs. The only chance for Uconn is to take over recruiting in New England. They would have to start by spending about a hundred million dollars and increase the stadium to a minimum of sixty or seventy thousand. Now the problem is, even if you do that will you be able to put that many people in the seats?

Big stadiums are a thing of the past. A middle of the road 45,000 person on campus or campus adjacent stadium would send a bigger message that we are serious about football.

UConn football is a chicken or the egg scenario right now. It's no coincidence our best years were in a "power" conference. They need to get better to be taken seriously but to be better they need to be taken seriously (aka play in a real league).

NIL and transfers are how the program needs to be built right now. Any donations to the program should go to NIL and we should break any NCAA rules that get in the way of recruiting better players.

 

[alphasigko]

I'm real torn about this.

Damn I hope not

 

[Sole]

If we can get into the Big12, our great coaches, Auriemma, Kavanaugh, Hurley, Mora, etc., may not eventually leave us in the future since we will be in a P4 conference. We also will get better in football, as being in a P4 conference will attract better talent, so if the conference does dissolve at some point, we will be better prepared and be a better overall choice for the leagues that are looking for a good athletic school to invite in.

Going to the big 12 will be a very bad move for our men’s basketball

 

[Stinger92860]

Because I do not work at UConn and them having 200 million dollars and no competitive athletic programs doesn't do anything for me. Great Uconn has 200 million dollars but the basketball programs are essentially killed. Yay?

Assclown alert

 

[CL82]

Going to the big 12 will be a very bad move for our men’s basketball

Why?

 

[uconnbill]

Note [edits] to your quote above.

The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Irving, Texas. It consists of 16 full-member universities in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

This would be a disaster for every other UConn sports program forced to play in the Big 12. UConn just came out of the desert (AAC) ... why go back?

You just don't see the big picture.

 

[uconnbill]

No I am not operating under that assumption at all. Realignment has nothing to do with how well regarded the UConn brand is and never has. That seems to be the incorrect assumption YOU are making.

No one cares about UConns brand and people aren't going to save UConn because they deserve to be saved. In fact a lot of people will gleefully watch the university sink and that is what I am predicting will happen if they go to the Big 12. It's the reason they ended up in the AAC in the first place instead of the ACC. If you want history to repeat itself, go to the Big 12.

And P5s will inf act leave the NCAA because they are the middle man, collecting money that they could be dividing amongst themselves.

That is an opinion and not based on facts but feelings. The Big 12 would keep other sports alive or did you miss how much is spent on sports now.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

That is an opinion and not based on facts but feelings. The Big 12 would keep other sports alive or did you miss how much is spent on sports now.

The big 12 will not be around long enough to keep other sports alive.

 

[SouthBayHusky]

The big 12 will not be around long enough to keep other sports alive.

The big 12 is the most stable conference behind the SEC and B1G. If you do any research, it’s the ACC that will soon be writing the same obituary the PAC 10 wrote

 

[jostar1]

For those replying to posts---This thread originated on the Women's Basketball Board.

 

[REB1094]

Congrats in advance to whichever ACC schools we’re being used as bait for!

 

[Zerostatic]

Surprised by some of the comments in this thread. If UConn got into the Big 12 I would be jumping for joy. The Big 12 is stable, has quality football and excellent basketball. With further expansion, they are set up nicely for an east and west coast conference which would alleviate the travel issue that these mega conferences have. I would probably take my family out for a celebratory dinner near Storrs if this happened and then get ice cream at the Dairy Barn.

 

[noeynox]

Why?

Another Big East truther. UConn's success is tied to the shared history of fellow Big East founders Seton Hall and Georgetown.

 

[CL82]

Another Big East truther. UConn's success is tied to the shared history of fellow Big East founders Seton Hall and Georgetown.

Yep. Sometimes, I like to have people walk through things themselves. When they are forced to try to support statements like that, they realize the folly in them.

 

[uconnyankee]

Going to the big 12 will be a very bad move for our men’s basketball

Yes because playing Kansas, Arizona, Baylor, along with Houston, Cincy, and even Iowa State would blow.
Much prefer Butler, Xavier, and Creighton. And DePaul. You know, the school’s synonymous with Big East Glory.

 

[Sole]

Why?

Let’s start with Hurley..he grew up in NJ..played basketball in the big east… it’s well known he loves the big east..his family is from NJ and Conn and can go to a lot of away games in the big east..UConn and the big east have a shared history.. and UConn is the king of the big east.. if a recruit wants to play in the northeast the chances are UConn will get that recruit… the big east tournament in MSG is best tournament in college basketball and UConn fills MSG with fans.. it’s a special time for UConn..the big 12 tournament is Kansas.. we have no history with the teams in the big12 and the conference is a southwestern conference..our players and coaches would be flying cross country most away games.. recruiting will take a dive..we loss our advantage of being northeastern school in a northeastern conference to northeast school recruiting in a southwest conference

 

[Durks07]

... it’s the ACC that will soon be writing the same obituary the PAC 10 wrote

 

[huskidork]

some here overestimate the value of some of these programs it feels, I strongly doubt there will be a moment where the SEC and the Big 10 eat up what's left of the Big 12

IMO the most valuable teams left in conference realignment goes something like this

1. ND
2. UNC
3. FSU
4. Clem


5. KU
6. UVA
8. Duke


the Big 12 schools are valuable enough to be in a power conference, but not valuable enough to join the SEC or Big 10.

 

[CL82]

Let’s start with Hurley..he grew up in NJ..played basketball in the big east… it’s well known he loves the big east..his family is from NJ and Conn and can go to a lot of away games in the big east..UConn and the big east have a shared history.. and UConn is the king of the big east.. if a recruit wants to play in the northeast the chances are UConn will get that recruit… the big east tournament in MSG is best tournament in college basketball and UConn fills MSG with fans.. it’s a special time for UConn..the big 12 tournament is Kansas.. we have no history with the teams in the big12 and the conference is a southwestern conference..our players and coaches would be flying cross country most away games.. recruiting will take a dive..we loss our advantage of being northeastern school in a northeastern conference to northeast school recruiting in a southwest conference

So let me take those on one at a time.

The notion that Bob and Christine Hurley wouldn't be able to attend away games because they're not drivable from New Jersey doesn't seem like much of a detriment to me. Multimillionaire Dan Hurley can certainly buy them plane tickets, or for that matter, get them a charter. (Of course, he probably can get them on board the team charter if he chooses as well.)

The notion that UConn and the big east have shared History might be better stated that Connecticut fans have memories of the old
Big East. With the exception of Georgetown, who no longer is the program that we remember, most of the teams left in the big east worthy "bad" games that people didn't care about. Certainly, Connecticut has no meaningful history with Depaul, Creighton, Xavier, etc. I guess nova could be the exception, but with the departure of Jay Wright, I'm not sure how competitive they will be.

If "a recruit wants to play in the Northeast" They will still be playing in the northeast if Connecticut changes conferences. Changing conferences mean that we're going to load up the moving trucks and move out of Storrs. Connecticut right now is a destination school for top players. The reason for that has nothing to do with regionalism. The notion that that is somehow hinged to being a part of a conference that really started in 2013, is flawed.

Regarding the notion that flying out to the midwest would somehow be a death knell for our program overlooks the point that we are currently doing just that for games to Depaul, Creighton, Marquette, Xavier, etc. Do those games not count because the conference name includes the word "east?"

Now, you and I can't agree that playing in Madison Square Garden is a terrific venue, particularly for Connecticut fans. Seeing the big tournament in MSG is a phenomenal event, now that we're back in particular. I'll miss it but I would fully expect Connecticut to schedule games in various tournaments at MSG and all likelihood have at least one Big 12 game there, perhaps as an early season tournament challenge. Yormark is not an idiot and he is well aware of the value of the New York market. Where the big 12 to offer us, I think it is very likely that he would try to exploit and leverage our presence in that market.

The more important point that I think you may be missing is that getting paid 4.5 million in media distributions, which is scheduled to go up to 6.5 million in the new deal is not sustainable. Essentially, our conference media rights distributions almost pay for our head coaches salary, never mind the entire coaching staff salary. Salaries across-the-board for all sports are only going to increase. In addition to that, we also have the NIL settlement payments. Right now, the legislature has decided that state of Connecticut taxpayers can put that bill. As those numbers increase something has to give. What that something might be is the decision to continue playing high major sports. Right now, we are on the outside looking in at teams with the finances and higher media presence that makes them the quote "power" schools. Though Dan Hurley and staff has done a phenomenal job making us competitive. It's hard to see how we'll be able to put the bill as cost continue to escalate. That seems to be the thing that people who oppose a potential move forget about while they focus on memories of a big East conference that no longer exists.

Our main rivalries with teams like Syracuse and BC are gone. Rivalries with once great teams like Georgetown and St. John's don't exist, either given the decline of the relevancy of those teams. Sure, there are regional games with teams like Seton Hall, and Providence that were yawn inducing in the old big east, but it's hard to use that as a justification for the notion that moving conferences would somehow hurt Connecticut. If we moved, things would no doubt be different, but the pros seem to outweigh the cons by a very wide margin.

 

[AllHusky]

So let me take those on one at a time.

The notion that Bob and Christine Hurley wouldn't be able to attend away games because they're not drivable from New Jersey doesn't seem like much of a detriment to me. Multimillionaire Dan Hurley can certainly buy them plane tickets, or for that matter, get them a charter. (Of course, he probably can get them on board the team charter if he chooses as well.)

The notion that UConn and the big east have shared History might be better stated that Connecticut fans have memories of the old
Big East. With the exception of Georgetown, who no longer is the program that we remember, most of the teams left in the big east worthy "bad" games that people didn't care about. Certainly, Connecticut has no meaningful history with Depaul, Creighton, Xavier, etc. I guess nova could be the exception, but with the departure of Jay Wright, I'm not sure how competitive they will be.

If "a recruit wants to play in the Northeast" They will still be playing in the northeast if Connecticut changes conferences. Changing conferences mean that we're going to load up the moving trucks and move out of Storrs. Connecticut right now is a destination school for top players. The reason for that has nothing to do with regionalism. The notion that that is somehow hinged to being a part of a conference that really started in 2013, is flawed.

Regarding the notion that flying out to the midwest would somehow be a death knell for our program overlooks the point that we are currently doing just that for games to Depaul, Creighton, Marquette, Xavier, etc. Do those games not count because the conference name includes the word "east?"

Now, you and I can't agree that playing in Madison Square Garden is a terrific venue, particularly for Connecticut fans. Seeing the big tournament in MSG is a phenomenal event, now that we're back in particular. I'll miss it but I would fully expect Connecticut to schedule games in various tournaments at MSG and all likelihood have at least one Big 12 game there, perhaps as an early season tournament challenge. Yormark is not an idiot and he is well aware of the value of the New York market. Where the big 12 to offer us, I think it is very likely that he would try to exploit and leverage our presence in that market.

The more important point that I think you may be missing is that getting paid 4.5 million in media distributions, which is scheduled to go up to 6.5 million in the new deal is not sustainable. Essentially, our conference media rights distributions almost pay for our head coaches salary, never mind the entire coaching staff salary. Salaries across-the-board for all sports are only going to increase. In addition to that, we also have the NIL settlement payments. Right now, the legislature has decided that state of Connecticut taxpayers can put that bill. As those numbers increase something has to give. What that something might be is the decision to continue playing high major sports. Right now, we are on the outside looking in at teams with the finances and higher media presence that makes them the quote "power" schools. Though Dan Hurley and staff has done a phenomenal job making us competitive. It's hard to see how we'll be able to put the bill as cost continue to escalate. That seems to be the thing that people who oppose a potential move forget about while they focus on memories of a big East conference that no longer exists.

Our main rivalries with teams like Syracuse and BC are gone. Rivalries with once great teams like Georgetown and St. John's don't exist, either given the decline of the relevancy of those teams. Sure, there are regional games with teams like Seton Hall, and Providence that were yawn inducing in the old big east, but it's hard to use that as a justification for the notion that moving conferences would somehow hurt Connecticut. If we moved, things would no doubt be different, but the pros seem to outweigh the cons by a very wide margin.

CL82, didn’t you know Luna’s last name is Tic? Not worth all the thought that went into your post. All UConn fans get a kick out of the trek to MSG for BE tourney, but also most realize we are in a death spiral if something doesn’t break for us soon. Zanetto will get a statue in front of Gampel if he is right, but sadly, looks like hogwash. In the meantime, buy tix, donate to collectives, and enjoy the ride!

 

[John]

Let’s start with Hurley..he grew up in NJ..played basketball in the big east… it’s well known he loves the big east..his family is from NJ and Conn and can go to a lot of away games in the big east..UConn and the big east have a shared history.. and UConn is the king of the big east.. if a recruit wants to play in the northeast the chances are UConn will get that recruit… the big east tournament in MSG is best tournament in college basketball and UConn fills MSG with fans.. it’s a special time for UConn..the big 12 tournament is Kansas.. we have no history with the teams in the big12 and the conference is a southwestern conference..our players and coaches would be flying cross country most away games.. recruiting will take a dive..we loss our advantage of being northeastern school in a northeastern conference to northeast school recruiting in a southwest conference

I definitively think it's smart to sacrifice the entire athletic department for half a week in New York City.