Which is more popular UConn Men's Basketball or UConn Women's Basketball?

[auror]

So many awful takes.

Women’s hoop is a really small pie - using a metric like google searches to determine popularity is goofy.

Agreed that Google searches measure what people want to learn more about, not necessarily what they like.

So it can be said that a lot of people are consistently interested in the UConn women to some degree.

But in the ways that measure more active fandom: $, attendance, fan message board posts, etc., the men are more popular (the post count being as close as it was on here surprised me).

Translating the Google searches into more $ and active fandom is the job of the marketing and sales people of the athletic department.

 

[HuskyFich]

"Dominates the national scene" is a huge LOL.

Do you really think that the average basketball fan in a spot like Arkansas or Utah have seen a second of NCAA Women's Basketball?

This literally has nothing to do with watching basketball though or the average fan? It literally has to do with the popularity of the team, which is how well known they are.

When I tell people I went to UConn, the first thing they mention is the women's basketball team. Dominance breeds popularity.

 

[Deepster]

This literally has nothing to do with watching basketball though or the average fan? It literally has to do with the popularity of the team, which is how well known they are.

When I tell people I went to UConn, the first thing they mention is the women's basketball team. Dominance breeds popularity.

We are definitely treading near the "the men's team should take FT shooting lessons from the girls" territory.

Are you one of those old creeps that knits them stuff or bakes them cookies?

 

[UconnFanDC]

It's 100% the women's team. When I'm in another state and have on a Uconn hat or hoodie, folks automatically start a convo about the womens team.. They know about the means team but even non sports folk know about the women team at Uconn.

I purposely wear Uconn gear when I am traveling to competitive states.

 

[UConnDad]

"We're going to have to set up a senior citizens home and a day-care center most of the their fans are over 60 and under 10." - Jim Calhoun

Can’t argue with this as it’s what I’ve witnessed too. This quote must be very old though because JC is 78. I didn’t see age in the original question. I’ve been to some women’s lopsided games and the fans are still cheering wildly.

 

[Guapo]

This is an unbelievably dumb thread.

Side note: a lot of people very obviously insecure in their masculinity. I’m not surprised by who.

 

[UConnDad]

UConn grandpa I opened my eyes and I see you in a nursing home with your lady huskies sweatshirt on. God bless you.

I greatly appreciate my lady huskies. Really can’t see why you juveniles don’t like that. If you really think I’m that old you should be showing some respect. Apparently my kids upbringing was superior to yours.

 

[HuskyFich]

We are definitely treading near the "the men's team should take FT shooting lessons from the girls" territory.

Are you one of those old creeps that knits them stuff or bakes them cookies?

Bro, your takes are wild.

 

[CL82]

using a metric like google searches to determine popularity is goofy.

Fair. Feel free to edit the title if it really bothers you.

 

[RichZ]

It’s WBB.

Just look at the most viewed videos on @Storrs South’s YouTube channel - he’s been consistently posting both MBB and WBB highlights the last few years. WBB accounts for 97 of his 100 most viewed videos and MBB only 2.

Maybe it's three old foggies and 2 similarly aged biddies that just keep running them over and over.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

In state when they are good the men’s team has a bigger following.
Nationally the UConn women have a larger cult like following. Since they haven’t won in awhile those followings fade quicklly. At its peak the men had some national clout but 2014 is eons ago to the fickle fan.?

 

[CL82]

In state when they are good the men’s team has a bigger following.
Nationally the UConn women have a larger cult like following. Since they haven’t won in awhile those followings fade quicklly. At its peak the men had some national clout but 2014 is eons ago to the fickle fan.?

This is actually supported by the data in the link I posted.

 

[Huskybass]

It's 100% the women's team. When I'm in another state and have on a Uconn hat or hoodie, folks automatically start a convo about the womens team.. They know about the means team but even non sports folk know about the women team at Uconn.

I purposely wear Uconn gear when I am traveling to competitive states.

Your anecdotal experience mirrors mine, and I suspect many of us. If you wear UConn gear and you run into folks from wherever they will invariably bring up the women's basketball team or they'll just say something about the basketball team and I'll say something like "Hurley is a great coach and he's really turning the program around" and they'll steer it back to the women's team because that's what they meant originally. The average American who's not necessarily a basketball fan knows the UConn Women because they were/are a phenomenon much like Lance Armstrong. A household name so to speak.

 

[David 76]

Didn't know UConn's MBB fans egos were so fragile. When shone where the women are more popular, you insult the people who make it popular.

The question wasn't who has the "cooler" fans or the fans with the highest testosterone level. The women are very popular. People from other states that don't even follow basketball, know about the Women's team.

And that doesn't have to burn your butts because it takes nothing away from the men's team

As far as a few fans saying dumb things, ever meet a Sox fan?

 

[Deepster]

Didn't know UConn's MBB fans egos were so fragile. When shone where the women are more popular, you insult the people who make it popular.

The question wasn't who has the "cooler" fans or the fans with the highest testosterone level. The women are very popular. People from other states that don't even follow basketball, know about the Women's team.

And that doesn't have to burn your butts because it takes nothing away from the men's team

As far as a few fans saying dumb things, ever meet a Sox fan?

Yup. David is another creep.

 

[David 76]

I'll give you a good rate on therapy.

 

[Adios]

As they did in 2004 when both won as well.

I'm guessing the Breanna Stewart 4 natties in a row did more for national notoriety. The new super frosh Paige Bueckers has said she's shooting for four in a row as well. She just might do it. She's super talented with a game that is reminiscent of Taurasi (maybe with a little Bird thrown in there.)

Still doomed though.

People were still on 56k modems in 2004. Searches grew with high speed internet becoming widespread.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Can we see some sort of demographic breakout of that graph?

For instance, can we take out fans over 70 and female fans under 12?

Coming from the guy who just had a dozen posts talking about his favorite spots to drink during the George HW Bush administration

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

So many awful takes.

Women’s hoop is a really small pie - using a metric like google searches to determine popularity is goofy.

I have a buddy who Googles Katie Lou Samuelson a lot. Has very little to do with basketball

 

[UCTitleTown]

The UConn Women because a huge number of girls, regardless of geography, want to play for UConn. UConn literally has the pick of the litter. UConn is an inspiration to girls in this country. The UConn Men are one of many good programs and far behind some in popularity. That can't be said about the UConn Women.

 

[Chief00]

One interesting question: Why does it appear more female students attend the men’s games? The male students also seem to favor attending the men’s games.
Chief has some theories but wants to hear others give there opinion first.

 

[David 76]

Oh God help us.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

It’s difficult to define popular.

I think more people follow men’s college basketball, therefore the men are more followed in the state of CT.

But what Geno has done with his program has gained a level of notoriety around the country that makes a lot of people fans of the team, even if they have no ties to CT. The program has been a huge role model for young girls around the country, and world even. Just look at Kobe and his family, no ties to CT but huge fans of the program.

Id say the women are more popular globally, but not as many people actually follow the team as the men’s team? I’m not sure if that makes sense

 

[Jaybo]

After leaving Connecticut and living in Missouri and Kentucky I’d say the woman are the better known. But even that seems to have faded some over the last 5 years or so.

 

[Deepster]

Coming from the guy who just had a dozen posts talking about his favorite spots to drink during the George HW Bush administration

Right. And I’m still 25 years younger than the average Lady Husky’s fan.

 

[Vuce]

It’s difficult to define popular.

I think more people follow men’s college basketball, therefore the men are more followed in the state of CT.

But what Geno has done with his program has gained a level of notoriety around the country that makes a lot of people fans of the team, even if they have no ties to CT. The program has been a huge role model for young girls around the country, and world even. Just look at Kobe and his family, no ties to CT but huge fans of the program.

Id say the women are more popular globally, but not as many people actually follow the team as the men’s team? I’m not sure if that makes sense

Good take here. Depends on what you mean about popular. If it means just knowing or being aware of a program then it’s the UConn women. They had an HBO series about them a couple years ago. So, forget whether they are more popular than the UConn men, by that standard they are probably more popular than any men’s program out there. But as far as rabid fans willing to plunk down serious money to get a chance to see them in person, it’s the UConn men. Look at the seat donations. The per seat donation for the women is $0. For the men it is $800, $400, $100 and $50 per seat per year depending on where you are sitting. I talked to my ticket rep about how we have the MOST SUCCESSFUL women’s program of all time but no charge for seats while men’s fans are shelling out tons. She mentioned the amount of elderly folks on fixed incomes that go to the women’s games. I questioned why the elderly on fixed incomes that attend the men’s games have to pay. After a while she said something along the lines of “well, honestly, based on our data the men’s team is just much more popular and we know there is a demand for those tickets”.

 

[David 76]

Right. And I’m still 25 years younger than the average Lady Husky’s fan.

But old enough to call them the "Lady Huskies" Which they aren't

 

[ucp990411]

What about the students? My daughter graduated in 2016 and it was no contest which was more popular on campus.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm talking more about the cotton head fans who thinks "the men should take shooting lessons from the girls".

It couldn't have hurt having more of the men able to make a lay-up with their off-hand over the years. That's de rigueur for the women.

 

[Waquoit]

"We're going to have to set up a senior citizens home and a day-care center most of the their fans are over 60 and under 10." - Jim Calhoun

It's too bad JC couldn't have been classier towards the women's success. Neither he nor the school benefitted from his churlishness.