UConn St John's rivalry

[Tyler2Rings]

We had a lot of great games between UConn and Syracuse

I would think I'm not the only early 30s UConn fan who still loathes the Cuse. As a NY pro sports guy the only team that comes close to my desire to beat them is the Cowboys

 

[UconnU]

I would think I'm not the only early 30s UConn fan who still loathes the Cuse. As a NY pro sports guy the only team that comes close to my desire to beat them is the Cowboys

I feel bad. It’s not just the state of the basketball program, it’s the state of the city. Place is a ghost town, last time I was there it reminded me of Gary Indiana where the infrastructure is all still there but there are no people. Modern day Syracuse makes Hartford seem vibrant.

 

[nomar]

Sure but by that standard the NY Giants are rivals with everyone in the NFC East. The Yankees have fought it out with the Rays just as much as they've fought it out with the Red Sox since the Rays have been a team. I'm sure the Rays consider the Yankees a rival but the Yankees already have a rival and it's the Red Sox.

I agree a rivalry has to be mutual.

The Giants, Cowboys, Eagles and Commanders are all rivals of one another. It's probably the best case of that in professional or college sports. For me, personally, I hate the Cowboys the most and the Commanders the least, but they're all rivalries. The teams have been playing each other 2x a year for decades and have passed the torch around the division.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I feel bad. It’s not just the state of the basketball program, it’s the state of the city. Place is a ghost town, last time I was there it reminded me of Gary Indiana where the infrastructure is all still there but there are no people. Modern day Syracuse makes Hartford seem vibrant.

The city will be fine. When the West goes dry and the South gets too hot people will be flocking to upstate NY and the rest of the rust belt.

I hope the BB program has a turnaround as well so we can play a competitive game with them but I'm not as optimistic

 

[RuffRuff]

This should be a great rivalry as long Pitino is standing. There is no reason to overthink a rivalry or devalue the opposition (insecure bs).

This is a great one right now. Tons of juice, NYC, battle of MSG, contrasting style and systems. Two alphas. Enjoy it while it lasts as great rivalry is true sports entertainment. Both teams should be regularly top ten for next few years.

 

[upstater]

Putting aside how much credit should be given to him, SJU went 28-9 and 25-8 in his first two seasons (1998-99 and 1999-2000). And they beat us to win the BET in 2000. I remember watching the championship game at Park Avenue Country Club (huge sports bar with gigantic screens) and that place was POPPIN'. New York's a big city and there's only one real CBB team, so SJU has a lot of fair weather fans.

They tailed off after that, and got sanctioned. And then he flamed out at FAU. But there's a reason we called Jarvis "Satan" here, and it wasn't just because he was unlikeable.

The rivalry back then also had some pre-St. John's history as UConn played AT Boston U. in a game and had to travel to Boston during a bad snow storm. The bus got stuck on he highway. Jarvis was called to cancel the game but refused to do it, so I'm sure that infuriated Calhoun. Boston U. actually won the game and it was in Calhoun's first year.

 

[nomar]

The rivalry back then also had some pre-St. John's history as UConn played AT Boston U. in a game and had to travel to Boston during a bad snow storm. The bus got stuck on he highway. Jarvis was called to cancel the game but refused to do it, so I'm sure that infuriated Calhoun. Boston U. actually won the game and it was in Calhoun's first year.

Right, there was some bad blood between the coaches although this article from 1994 suggests they'd gotten over it

Sports of The Times; Once Again, Calhoun Has Little Edge (Published 1994)

www.nytimes.com

 

[Son of Robert]

Where is Malik Sealy when you need him, we were surely rivals then. Wait, don't answer that, it's not a happy ending. One of the better wings to play in the BIG EAST for sure.

 

[Waquoit]

I remember when Matt Brust played for at least 6 seasons.

 

[USNavyDog]

Position	UConn	St John's	Advantage
PG	Silas Demary Jr	Ian Jackson	UConn
SG	Solo Ball	Oziyah Sellers	UConn
SF	Jaylin Stewart	Joson Sanon	St John's
PF	Alex Karaban	Bryce Hopkins	UConn
C	Tarris Reed Jr	Zuby Ejiofor	St John's
Bench
G	Malachi Smith	Dylan Darling	UConn
G	Braylon Mullins	Lefteris Liotopoulos	UConn
F	Jayden Ross	Sadiku Ibine Ayo	Even
F	Jacob Furphy	Dillon Mitchell	St John's
C	Eric Reibe	Ruben Prey	UConn

These are definitely 2 of the top 5 teams in the country, but I think UConn has the advantage and matches up pretty well. Maybe a slight advantage to St John's for the starting 5 even though I have it as 3-2 UConn because the gap between Sanon and Stewart is larger than any of the gaps at the other 4 spots. I think our bench is where the advantage comes from, I'm not sold on most of the guys St John's has coming off the bench

Question. How about Tarris Reed Jr. is even with Zuby Ejiofor? Reed is no slouch and can potentially be a 1st round pick next year....sizewise he is equal to Ejiofor at 6'10" 265 lbs. Talent-wise....he's good....and he will continue to improve offensively and defensively next year.

 

[patrick]

Sure but by that standard the NY Giants are rivals with everyone in the NFC East. The Yankees have fought it out with the Rays just as much as they've fought it out with the Red Sox since the Rays have been a team. I'm sure the Rays consider the Yankees a rival but the Yankees already have a rival and it's the Red Sox.

I think you're both right!

 

[Hoophound]

Depending on Hopkins' recovery, his matchup with Karaban could certainly be even or in Hopkins' favor. I remember Hopkins destroying Alex back in the day. Yes, I realize Karaban has greatly improved.

Reibe and Prey could be even. Hoping Reibe is ready, but he's still a fresh. Prey showed potential this year, and he'll have an off season of Pitino drills...

Yes. Also, Furphy may be much better than anticipated if one is to believe the chatter around him. It wouldn’t be the first time a foreigner exceeded expectations by miles.

 

[The Viking]

Uconn vs St Johns is absolutely a big rivalry now. St johns is very good and they are feeling their oats and Pitino is gonna maul the portal every year to make sure tbey stay near the top.
Throw in us being top 10, MSG, and the coaches not liking each other, two original BE teams and its got all the ingredients

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I feel bad. It’s not just the state of the basketball program, it’s the state of the city. Place is a ghost town, last time I was there it reminded me of Gary Indiana where the infrastructure is all still there but there are no people. Modern day Syracuse makes Hartford seem vibrant.

everyone hangs out indoors at the Destiny USA mall. The actual Downtown of Syracuse is dead

 

[HooperScooper]

Uconn vs St Johns is absolutely a big rivalry now. St johns is very good and they are feeling their oats and Pitino is gonna maul the portal every year to make sure tbey stay near the top.
Throw in us being top 10, MSG, and the coaches not liking each other, two original BE teams and its got all the ingredients

Will the guy in the red jacket be there?

 

[St Johns]

Position	UConn	St John's	Advantage
PG	Silas Demary Jr	Ian Jackson	UConn
SG	Solo Ball	Oziyah Sellers	UConn
SF	Jaylin Stewart	Joson Sanon	St John's
PF	Alex Karaban	Bryce Hopkins	UConn
C	Tarris Reed Jr	Zuby Ejiofor	St John's
Bench
G	Malachi Smith	Dylan Darling	UConn
G	Braylon Mullins	Lefteris Liotopoulos	UConn
F	Jayden Ross	Sadiku Ibine Ayo	Even
F	Jacob Furphy	Dillon Mitchell	St John's
C	Eric Reibe	Ruben Prey	UConn

These are definitely 2 of the top 5 teams in the country, but I think UConn has the advantage and matches up pretty well. Maybe a slight advantage to St John's for the starting 5 even though I have it as 3-2 UConn because the gap between Sanon and Stewart is larger than any of the gaps at the other 4 spots. I think our bench is where the advantage comes from, I'm not sold on most of the guys St John's has coming off the bench

Homer much?

We’re gonna crush you. We have the way more talented roster, the better coach and our team will actually play defense.

 

[Deepster]

Homer much?

We’re gonna crush you. We have the way more talented roster, the better coach and our team will actually play defense.

Aren’t you the same guy that sold me your weekend Big East tourney tickets every Thursday for the last 20 years?

 

[CTBasketball]

Hottest regular season ticket at MSG since Ewing v Mullins.

$200+ to get into the door an hour before tip for our MSG Bout last year.

I pounded 4 Guinnesses, bought the tix with friends, then wanted to throw up the remainder of the day.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Hottest regular season ticket at MSG since Ewing v Mullins.

@gwhuskyfan are you setting up another group ticket order. Thanks for doing that this season!

 

[navery12]

Homer much?

We’re gonna crush you. We have the way more talented roster, the better coach and our team will actually play defense.

Yup, I'm the homer, the guy who said it's really close and both are top 5 teams. Not you who can't acknowledge UConn has a good roster and coach

 

[Kitaman]

SJ is trying to take our arena, I hope our young players realize that this can't happen.

It's worth fighting for.

 

[jibsey]

Homer much?

We’re gonna crush you. We have the way more talented roster, the better coach and our team will actually play defense.

Like you played in the Round of 32 losing to a #10 seed?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Aren’t you the same guy that sold me your weekend Big East tourney tickets every Thursday for the last 20 years?

I'm think he's the guy who over the past quarter century said:

"Jarvis has been a better coach than Calhoun since they were both in Boston"

"Jarvis sucked, but Norm Roberts is the best recruiter there is. We'll rule the Big East for the next decade."

"We made a mistake with Roberts but Hewitt nearly won a national title at Georgia Tech. At St John's he'll win a few of them."

"We never should have hired Hewitt but Steve Lavin is young, smart, he can recruit. We will be back on top in a year or two."

"Lavin wasn't cut out for this and we knew it from the start but Chris Mullin understands the program and will connect with top recruits. We will be the best team in the conference for as long as he wants to coach."

"Loved Chris as a player but he really never should have been a coach. Anderson's a veteran who wins. Now we are set for many title runs."

"I don't know why we thought Anderson could do anything but now we have Pitino. He will be playing chess whole everyone else is playing checkers. He will never lose a game against a lower ranked team the way other coaches do."

 

[upstater]

Homer much?

We’re gonna crush you. We have the way more talented roster, the better coach and our team will actually play defense.

I want to know, what does it feel like playing in the second weekend? Every time this question pops to my mind, I go looking for a St. John's fan to give me the answer.

 

[bendm]

Homer much?

We’re gonna crush you. We have the way more talented roster, the better coach and our team will actually play defense.

This guy has been waiting since 2017 to talk trash