Why is the Big East terrible for UConn and where should UConn go instead?

[nelsonmuntz]

You're smarter than this, even though you work very hard to make it appear otherwise.

I'll use Houston as Exhibit A. Once Phi Slamma Jamma moved on they spent three decades accomplishing absolutely nothing. They started building again once they joined the AAC (even made a final four as a member), got invited to the B-12 and have been one of the five or six best programs in the country post-covid.

My question is in the present tense. If being in the AAC is such a good option, why aren't its current schools doing better?

As I point out several times in this thread, the AAC is and was a SOUTHERN mid major. It was a terrible conference for UConn. Pre House/NIL/Transfer Portal, UConn had absolutely no competitive advantage for recruiting the South in football. We were literally the end of the trough on talent from the better high school recruiting regions in the south, but we also couldn't really recruit the northeast effectively either because we had so few games scheduled against northern opponents since we were locked into a schedule with East Carolina and Tulsa. Back then access to better recruiting regions was life and death in football. Edsall 2.0 was a terrible coach for a mid major football program because even before the Transfer Portal, we were going to have to depend on transfers. It does make my point how bad the AAC was for UConn when I have to point out that we had the wrong coach for a mid major.

For basketball, prior to House/NIL/Transfer Portal, being a mid major outpost program far away from the rest of the league was a death sentence, and it kind of was within the major programs too. The Big East was eating our lunch in recruiting in the northeast, and we were losing transfers to major programs. Enoch, Durham, Akinjo and Matthews and Ashton-Langford all went to major programs, and Jackson went to New Mexico, a top mid-major. It was difficult to recruit against majors with our schedule because of the low opponent quality and heavy travel. Even then, if Gilbert doesn't hurt his shoulder, we might have been able to hang on competitively. Self-reporting violations to get out of a coach’s contract didn’t do us any favors either. Hurley didn’t have his first big recruiting class until after the Big East move was announced, and as I have said before, it is a virtual certainty that Hurley knew UConn was joining the Big East when he chose UConn over Pitt.

Houston was a former conference mate of much of the Big 12, and was a better fit in the AAC. UCF and Cincinnati were also better fits in a southern mid major, so their problems were not as bad as our problems. Even then, they were not exactly crushing it in the AAC. UCF had a couple of good football seasons in 2017 and 2018, but was sliding back to mediocrity when it was added to the Big 12, and basketball was and remained pretty bad until this year. Cincinnati football got hot at the right time. Cincinnati hoops was mired in mediocrity. Houston football was not great, and basketball was leaning heavily on transfers and had the benefit of a future HOF coach who they never would have gotten if not for one of the worst “Show Cause” penalties ever imposed on a coach.

The point I have made and will continue to make is that UConn would have been a better expansion option if it had been in the Big East since 2013. When the Big 12 announcement was made in September 2021, UConn was coming off a horrendous run in football with one bowl in 11 years, and had not shown any of the benefits of being in the Big East for basketball yet. UConn had just made its first NCAA tournament since 2016. BYU was always going to be the first addition for the Big 12, and Cincinnati and Houston were basically the Big 12 taking the best football and basketball program available that year because it needed to move fast. The fact that UConn was passed over for Houston, UCF and Cincinnati shows just how much damage the AAC had done to our athletic program.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Didn’t 3 schools get pulled into Big 12? And didn’t a member of AAC just make the playoffs?

It’s not a league I’d be happy with now, but the AAC could have been decent had UConn thrived instead of flopped across the board.
UConn, Cincy, Houston, SMU, UCF and Memphis could have been a very strong G5

Are you flexing on Tulane?

The few bright spots any AAC program had during our purgatory were accidents of someone needing to win and being the least weak program in the top mid-major conference, and even that success was fleeting. Houston would have had no chance of maintaining its basketball success if it had not joined the Big 12. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF all have losing records in football since joining the Big 12. That is who we lost to when the Big 12 made its last expansion.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My question is in the present tense. If being in the AAC is such a good option, why aren't its current schools doing better?

In the present tense you are the only one on this board who claims the AAC is can option.

As I posted on the men's basketball forum, for your sake I hope your boneyard persona is an act.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

In the present tense you are the only one on this board who claims the AAC is can option.

As I posted on the men's basketball forum, for your sake I hope your boneyard persona is an act.

We are on page 6 of a thread with multiple posters, including yourself, defending the AAC.

 

[John]

We are on page 6 of a thread with multiple posters, including yourself, defending the AAC.

How's Seton Hall's football team looking for this year?

 

[uchusky32]

How's Seton Hall's football team looking for this year?

Undefeated.

 

[Jetskies]

Yup. We'll wait for ACC departures. That'll be triggered by upcoming TV renewals for the Big10 and SEC in 2030 (teams get brought on board before the expiry of the current contract) and the expanded CFP (probably in 2027 or worst case 2028). So all lining up for 2028 ACC departures. One would imagine we'd get the invite to join the ACC remnants in that same timeframe.

acc remnants + big east merged = the home UConn didn't actually want in 2026, but will have to take around 2031.

I say it looks something like the old big east again, + new midwestern Big East catholics.
a ~9-team football conference or so, from which we'd add USF for sure, and maybe another few programs (tulane? memphis?) and form a conference that lies somewhere between the P3 and G6. Not horrible, even if it's not a P3.

UConn
Pitt (maybe not, i could see them getting taken by P2 or XII for West Virginia's sake)
Cuse
WF
SMU (unless they buy their way again into the P2 party)
Duke
BC
Cal (if they can't find a way into the P2)
Stanford (if they can't find a way into the P2)
*USF
*Memphis
*Tulane


+ Big East catholics

 

[Jetskies]

quick outsider perspective (I was not a fan in 2013 but casually checked in w UConn football)

If UConn had been as serious about football in 2013 as we were in 2024, 2025... we'd have made it into a P4 in the last 3 years.
My hope is that though we're very very late to the party, we are on our way.

 

[ZooCougar]

quick outsider perspective (I was not a fan in 2013 but casually checked in w UConn football)

If UConn had been as serious about football in 2013 as we were in 2024, 2025... we'd have made it into a P4 in the last 3 years.
My hope is that though we're very very late to the party, we are on our way.

We’re over 30 years late to the party.

 

[Kolumbo]

acc remnants + big east merged = the home UConn didn't actually want in 2026, but will have to take around 2031.

I say it looks something like the old big east again, + new midwestern Big East catholics.
a ~9-team football conference or so, from which we'd add USF for sure, and maybe another few programs (tulane? memphis?) and form a conference that lies somewhere between the P3 and G6. Not horrible, even if it's not a P3.

UConn
Pitt (maybe not, i could see them getting taken by P2)
Cuse
WF
SMU (unless they buy their way again into the P2 party)
Duke
BC
Cal (if they can't find a way into the P2)
Stanford (if they can't find a way into the P2)
*USF
*Memphis
*Tulane


+ Big East catholics

You had me for a while but if UConn, USF and Memphis are the only large publics, forgetaboutit.

UConn, USF, Pitt, NC State, VPI . . Louisville . . Memphis
Duke, Syracuse, Wake, Tulane, bcu (at 25% share)

If the ACC gets raided I see the pecking order:
P2
Big 12
ACC
G7

 

[Jetskies]

You had me for a while but if UConn, USF and Memphis are the only large publics, forgetaboutit.

UConn, USF, Pitt, NC State, VPI . . Louisville . . Memphis
Duke, Syracuse, Wake, Tulane, bcu (at 25% share)

If the ACC gets raided I see the pecking order:
P2
Big 12
ACC
G7

- I can't see VT/LVille/NCState not getting picked up by at LEAST the Big XII. Honestly even Pitt seems too well matched with WVU as a XII eastern partner, to not be picked up. I purposely left only the weakest ACC brands behind, those 3 are not weak. Strong football cultures, too strong to leave behind.

- i pretty much agree with your pecking order - it seems like you reject the idea of a "P3". Do you believe XII and ACC are at a similar level in this post-raid scenario? I know you have XII higher, but I still think if XII manages to hold on to their brands, a "P3" still exists, even if B1G and SEC are undisputed kings. So, in this scenario I think ACC would be a full level below XII. Better than the lousy G6 conferences, but certainly not able to call themselves a true power conference, anymore.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

How's Seton Hall's football team looking for this year?

If you are right, then UConn is a few years away from getting left behind forever. But rather than just enjoy the seasons as they come, especially one like this year, you want to complain about Seton Hall in every thread.

 

[KryHavok]

If you are right, then UConn is a few years away from getting left behind forever.

What if we've already been forever left behind? It's surely a defeatist/pessimistic way of thinking, but we are faced with the stark reality that both a nearby "natural fit" conference clearly doesn't want us and a further-away "workable fit" conference seemingly doesn't want us. We've gone bowling 3 of the past 4 years (with a 1-2 record), had back-to-back 9 win football seasons, and our mens and womens basketball teams have won 3 total nattys over the same period, yet there are no major biters for the tasty bait, likely because we're fishing in the Dead Sea.

 

[Ha Who]

What if we've already been forever left behind? It's surely a defeatist/pessimistic way of thinking, but we are faced with the stark reality that both a nearby "natural fit" conference clearly doesn't want us and a further-away "workable fit" conference seemingly doesn't want us. We've gone bowling 3 of the past 4 years (with a 1-2 record), had back-to-back 9 win football seasons, and our mens and womens basketball teams have won 3 total nattys over the same period, yet there are no major biters for the tasty bait, likely because we're fishing in the Dead Sea.

Key Characteristics and Signs of Acceptance

• Acknowledging Reality: Recognizing the loss as permanent and no longer in denial.
• Integrating the Loss: Finding a way to move forward while still incorporating the loss into life.
• Emotional Stabilization: The intense, overwhelming emotions of earlier stages subside, allowing for a mix of sadness,, calm, and hope.
• Resuming Daily Activities: Re-engaging with life, pursuing hobbies, or making future plans.
• Reframing Memories: Remembering the deceased with fondness rather than unbearable pain.

How to Cope with the Acceptance Stage

• Embrace the New Reality: Actively work to build a new life while still honoring the past.
• Seek Continued Support: Continue to talk about the loss or reach out to friends, family, or support groups.
• Self-Care: Focus on physical and mental health, as grief can still impact energy levels and mood.

Duration and Misconceptions

• Duration: This stage is not an endpoint; it can last for months or years, with some people never fully reaching it.
• Not "Okay": Acceptance does not mean the person is "fine" or has forgotten the loss; it means they have accepted it as a reality.
• Not Linear: Grief is not a linear process, and individuals may cycle back to previous stages, especially during anniversaries or triggers

 

[ZooCougar]

What if we've already been forever left behind? It's surely a defeatist/pessimistic way of thinking, but we are faced with the stark reality that both a nearby "natural fit" conference clearly doesn't want us and a further-away "workable fit" conference seemingly doesn't want us. We've gone bowling 3 of the past 4 years (with a 1-2 record), had back-to-back 9 win football seasons, and our mens and womens basketball teams have won 3 total nattys over the same period, yet there are no major biters for the tasty bait, likely because we're fishing in the Dead Sea.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Yeah, there really isn't any reason to be concerned about the overall quality of the Big East outside of UConn and only a few complainers on this board think the Big East isn't still a top conference.........

UConn's seeding in NCAA Tournament could be hurt by weak Big East schedule

"St John's is the only Big East team besides UConn currently ranked, there are no other Big East teams in the top 30 of the NET, and more than half of the conference is ranked outside of the top 75. Consequently, UConn has had just one Q1 opportunity so far in league play -- last month's game at Seton Hall.

The Huskies defeated the Pirates 69-64.

UConn is projected to have just four more games vs. Q1 opponents before next month's Big East Tournament"

 

[FightOnCT]

What if we've already been forever left behind? It's surely a defeatist/pessimistic way of thinking, but we are faced with the stark reality that both a nearby "natural fit" conference clearly doesn't want us and a further-away "workable fit" conference seemingly doesn't want us. We've gone bowling 3 of the past 4 years (with a 1-2 record), had back-to-back 9 win football seasons, and our mens and womens basketball teams have won 3 total nattys over the same period, yet there are no major biters for the tasty bait, likely because we're fishing in the Dead Sea.

This is why threads like this don’t need to exist. Not calling you out specifically, I myself don’t think our current model is sustainable at all, but in the year 2026 with a rejuvenated football program and the best basketball programs in the country, we should be focusing more on that than being constantly reminded of our dreaded conference situation.

 

[John]

This is why threads like this don’t need to exist. Not calling you out specifically, I myself don’t think our current model is sustainable at all, but in the year 2026 with a rejuvenated football program and the best basketball programs in the country, we should be focusing more on that than being constantly reminded of our dreaded conference situation.

you can thank Nelson and his impulsive urges to talk about the AAC for this thread.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Yeah, there really isn't any reason to be concerned about the overall quality of the Big East outside of UConn and only a few complainers on this board think the Big East isn't still a top conference.........

UConn's seeding in NCAA Tournament could be hurt by weak Big East schedule

"St John's is the only Big East team besides UConn currently ranked, there are no other Big East teams in the top 30 of the NET, and more than half of the conference is ranked outside of the top 75. Consequently, UConn has had just one Q1 opportunity so far in league play -- last month's game at Seton Hall.

The Huskies defeated the Pirates 69-64.

UConn is projected to have just four more games vs. Q1 opponents before next month's Big East Tournament"

Let me try this again:

You have no insight on this topic that everyone else doesn't have. We all get that the Big East is the 5th best conference this year. You and the others do not need to repeat it every 10 posts in every thread on the basketball board. I actually started a whole thread measuring the conferences relative to each other, and came up with the Big East at #5. Since you do not seem to understand English, let me try some other languages:

Spanish: La Big East es la quinta mejor conferencia del baloncesto universitario.

French: La Big East est la cinquième meilleure conférence du basket universitaire.

Italian: La Big East è la quinta migliore conference del basket universitario.

Dutch: De Big East is de vijfde beste conference in het universiteitsbasketbal.

German: Die Big East ist die fünftbeste Conference im College-Basketball.

Japanese: ビッグ・イーストは大学バスケットボールで5番目に優れたカンファレンスです。

Did I miss any?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Chinese: 大东联盟是大学篮球中排名第五的联盟。

Polish: ig East jest piątą najlepszą konferencją w koszykówce akademickiej.

Russian: Big East — пятая лучшая конференция в студенческом баскетболе.

Arabic: يُعَدّ مؤتمر بيغ إيست خامس أفضل مؤتمر في كرة السلة الجامعية.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Hey, someone just learned Google translate.

If you want to make believe that the current Big East is some men's basketball juggernaut, go ahead, nobody is stopping you.

Some on this board have no issues with discussing reality, it is a significant part of what these gives boards like this one traffic and keeps them going.

You can scroll past posts that you don't like, you can put people on ignore or you can provide some constructive, thoughtful opinion. Acting like some supreme enforcement agent for the "We have to tell everyone the Big East is still the Big East of prior eras" narrative is a waste of your time.

Do better.

 

[freescooter]

Yeah, there really isn't any reason to be concerned about the overall quality of the Big East outside of UConn and only a few complainers on this board think the Big East isn't still a top conference.........

UConn's seeding in NCAA Tournament could be hurt by weak Big East schedule

"St John's is the only Big East team besides UConn currently ranked, there are no other Big East teams in the top 30 of the NET, and more than half of the conference is ranked outside of the top 75. Consequently, UConn has had just one Q1 opportunity so far in league play -- last month's game at Seton Hall.

The Huskies defeated the Pirates 69-64.

UConn is projected to have just four more games vs. Q1 opponents before next month's Big East Tournament"

And those of you who don’t think this is a problem might want to touch base with Benedict. Last night in his regular radio spot on Dibble he specifically called out the lack of quality in the league as why UConn went from #2 to #3. His comment was something to the effect that the league is not doing what we need them to do and that he has been in communication with the commissioner to lobby for UConn on both the men’s and women’s side. (I don’t think he said lobby but it was what he meant) Then he said other leagues are working against us using the weal schedule to influence seeding, particularly on the women’s side so his solution is they should invite us to join their league and we’d play a tougher schedule.

So it sounds to me like Benedict wants to go to the AAC, right Nelson?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

And those of you who don’t think this is a problem might want to touch base with Benedict. Last night in his regular radio spot on Dibble he specifically called out the lack of quality in the league as why UConn went from #2 to #3. His comment was something to the effect that the league is not doing what we need them to do and that he has been in communication with the commissioner to lobby for UConn on both the men’s and women’s side. (I don’t think he said lobby but it was what he meant) Then he said other leagues are working against us using the weal schedule to influence seeding, particularly on the women’s side so his solution is they should invite us to join their league and we’d play a tougher schedule.

So it sounds to me like Benedict wants to go to the AAC, right Nelson?

Wait!!! Are you saying that we should join the Big 10?!?!?! Did you take a break from curing cancer and inventing a machine to travel through time to figure this out? You must be some kind of super-genius to figure that out. So when do we join?

Fun fact: The ACC reject conference you fantasize about would be worse than the Big East for hoops.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Hey, someone just learned Google translate.

If you want to make believe that the current Big East is some men's basketball juggernaut, go ahead, nobody is stopping you.

Some on this board have no issues with discussing reality, it is a significant part of what these gives boards like this one traffic and keeps them going.

You can scroll past posts that you don't like, you can put people on ignore or you can provide some constructive, thoughtful opinion. Acting like some supreme enforcement agent for the "We have to tell everyone the Big East is still the Big East of prior eras" narrative is a waste of your time.

Do better.

Apparently you have not figured out how Google Translate works.

 

[John]

Wait!!! Are you saying that we should join the Big 10?!?!?! Did you take a break from curing cancer and inventing a machine to travel through time to figure this out? You must be some kind of super-genius to figure that out. So when do we join?

Fun fact: The ACC reject conference you fantasize about would be worse than the Big East for hoops.

Newsflash: We run an all-sports athletic department.................