Proximity, shared history, meaningful games - all play into a rivalry. CR has left many teams without fully developed rivals.
Looking a few years into the future, I'm guessing UConn's rivals should be:
1. Providence. Prov is a better program than you remember and the proximity will make them natural rivals.
2. Nova. Battling for Big East prominence. 2 Blue Blood programs in conference.
3. Cuse. The former top rival, but that fades a bit over time being OOC.
4. UMass. After the giggles, there should be an effort to develop this into a regional rivalry with annual football games and hoops.
5. BC. Same as UMass.
6. Cincy. Keep scheduling them in both sports and keep a rivalry
7. St Johns. Samson Johnson has been below its potential for too long. If they can compete near the top of the conference, the NYC/MSG makes for a natural conference rival.
8. SH. They would love to have more rivals, but they are not quite worthy.
Nova is also without a true natural rival. Here is Nova's list
1. Georgetown. Forever tied to 1985 and a long standing conference rival. They need to be better for this to stir more emotion.
2. UConn. Not today, but I am going to project forward the importance of UConn to the Big East and Hurley's track to build the program. Battling for Big East prominence. 2 Blue Blood programs in conference.
3. UNC! We are not probably near the top of their list, but we have built so much history with them. UNC-Nova games are special.
4. Kansas! sames.
5. Cuse. Nova-Cuse has great history. It never had the level of hatred as Cuse-GTown or Cuse-UConn, but still a good history. This will likely continue to fade.
6. St Johns. meh.
7. Temple. Our most competent Big 5 rival.
8. St Joes (PA). They hate us the most. Historical rivalry that has faded with their mediocrity.
9. The Hall. More of an annoyance than a rival.