Would UConn Basketball survive the move to the ACC

[Hondo 77]

The ACC is becoming a trash conference and will be a shadow of itself as the top tier departs.

It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.

 

[Hondo 77]

The ACC is where BE schools go to die.

 

[metsfan2323]

The ACC is where BE schools go to die.

Miami is doing very well for themselves, coaching, coaching, coaching.

BTW the ACC was 14-5 in the tournament last year. Two teams in the final four.

 

[Kolumbo]

We all saw the excitement at MSG today. Thousands of fans from CT and RI flock to MSG to see BET Basketball. No other conference tournament comes close. Forget all the other BS, CR, all that sheet. This is what it's about.

Now look at cuse. The thing with cuse is it's a large private school and has a following in upstate NY like a large public. It doesn't really have the national following that some other privates have. Meanwhile their team has to go play a conference tournament game down in freaking greensboro or something. Are you kidding me? No more March drives into NYC to see the greatest tournament. That's just awful. The crowd for a cuse vs SJU game in MSG compared to cuse vs wake at greensboro. No wonder those programs are dead.

 

[History Geek]

We all saw the excitement at MSG today. Thousands of fans from CT and RI flock to MSG to see BET Basketball. No other conference tournament comes close. Forget all the other BS, CR, all that sheet. This is what it's about.

Now look at cuse. The thing with cuse is it's a large private school and has a following in upstate NY like a large public. It doesn't really have the national following that some other privates have. Meanwhile their team has to go play a conference tournament game down in freaking greensboro or something. Are you kidding me? No more March drives into NYC to see the greatest tournament. That's just awful. The crowd for a cuse vs SJU game in MSG compared to cuse vs wake at greensboro. No wonder those programs are dead.

The ACC has been splitting their tournament between Brooklyn and Greensboro. I would assume they would at least continue that if the northern contingent became even stronger with a UConn addition. We would start taking over Barclay's every other year instead of MSG.

 

[John]

We all saw the excitement at MSG today. Thousands of fans from CT and RI flock to MSG to see BET Basketball. No other conference tournament comes close. Forget all the other BS, CR, all that sheet. This is what it's about.

Now look at cuse. The thing with cuse is it's a large private school and has a following in upstate NY like a large public. It doesn't really have the national following that some other privates have. Meanwhile their team has to go play a conference tournament game down in freaking greensboro or something. Are you kidding me? No more March drives into NYC to see the greatest tournament. That's just awful. The crowd for a cuse vs SJU game in MSG compared to cuse vs wake at greensboro. No wonder those programs are dead.

turn the telescope around.

 

[coachcap]

About the OP: TO PARAPHRAS E, "It's a UCONN world, and everyone else just rents space."

 

[Ldandy]

If we're talking current ACC, there is no reason that they couldn't be near the top of basketball and be at least as good or better than programs like BC or Cuse in football. In a future reconfigured ACC, after the top brands move to The SEC and B1G, there is no doubt that UConn could be at the top of the basketball side and be competitive on the football side as long as the league is stable.

So, to answer the question, yes to either scenario. That said competitive or not means nothing in the grand scheme of things. The only thing that matters is whether you are additive to the overall contract to pay for your inclusion, or if you are necessary add to save the conference from disbanding. My guess is that UConn gets into a post raided ACC a few years before the end of the current GOR. Same thing that got Cincy and BYU into The Big 12.

This could be tested if The Big 12 makes UConn a ND type deal for basketball/Olympics and offers 5 football games yearly to help with the current independent scheduling issues.

 

[Kolumbo]

If we're talking current ACC, there is no reason that they couldn't be near the top of basketball and be at least as good or better than programs like BC or Cuse in football. In a future reconfigured ACC, after the top brands move to The SEC and B1G, there is no doubt that UConn could be at the top of the basketball side and be competitive on the football side as long as the league is stable.

So, to answer the question, yes to either scenario. That said competitive or not means nothing in the grand scheme of things. The only thing that matters is whether you are additive to the overall contract to pay for your inclusion, or if you are necessary add to save the conference from disbanding. My guess is that UConn gets into a post raided ACC a few years before the end of the current GOR. Same thing that got Cincy and BYU into The Big 12.

This could be tested if The Big 12 makes UConn a ND type deal for basketball/Olympics and offers 5 football games yearly to help with the current independent scheduling issues.

The X factor that they seem to overlook is that UCONN has a long history of making the best of opportunities. It joined the original Big East, hired new coaches, and became basketball powerhouses. It elevated its football program, hired a new coach, joined the Big East, and started going to bowl games. Upgraded its Hockey program, hired a new coach, joined Hockey East, and started beating top programs.

UCONN is like the freaking playbook on how to succeed, how many more case studies to they need! Too many people making decisions don't see the potential of a program that finds success even without the bankroll. They can get UCONN on the cheap and the value is sure to come later.

 

[Ldandy]

The X factor that they seem to overlook is that UCONN has a long history of making the best of opportunities. It joined the original Big East, hired new coaches, and became basketball powerhouses. It elevated its football program, hired a new coach, joined the Big East, and started going to bowl games. Upgraded its Hockey program, hired a new coach, joined Hockey East, and started beating top programs.

UCONN is like the freaking playbook on how to succeed, how many more case studies to they need! Too many people making decisions don't see the potential of a program that finds success even without the bankroll. They can get UCONN on the cheap and the value is sure to come later.

You’re thinking about this like a fan, because obviously you are one. The reality is that your ability to win is almost immaterial. Do you add money to the pot or are you just another mouth to feed? The ACC has got plenty of those already.

 

[Kolumbo]

You’re thinking about this like a fan, because obviously you are one. The reality is that your ability to win is almost immaterial. Do you add money to the pot or are you just another mouth to feed? The ACC has got plenty of those already.

The ability to win is immaterial? What else is there? Louisville, SU, BCU. Are they adding money to the pot by sucking? Explain this to me like I'm a 2 year old.

 

[Rufus]

The ability to win is immaterial? What else is there? Louisville, SU, BCU. Are they adding money to the pot by sucking? Explain this to me like I'm a 2 year old.

He is saying they are part of the teams that are just more mouths to feed. They don’t add to the pot.

 

[Sole]

No. What I'm actually comparing is UConn residing in one southern centric conference vs another southern centric conference.

ACC is always going to gravitate around Tobacco Road first. That's the spiritual heart of that conference. Its always going to be UNC/Duke as elite basketball programs of that conference and then everyone else. Recruits and the general population know this is the case. When you think ACC you think Duke/UNC not Syracuse, Pitt, ND, or BC. Its just a fact

Here in the Big East we have our own gravitational force centered around the New York City metropolitan area (even if there's 5 midwestern schools) which helps in branding and recruiting. Where the Elite teams are UConn/Villanova.

Why exile our program to compete in a league it does not belong and where it isn't going to be at the top tier? especially when its competing at a high level right now - both in MBB/WBB - despite the apparent resources differences? Are we going to continue the game of just making moves for money without realizing the downsides? Uconn is thriving right now. Don't up something that is working.

Football is finally showing signs of life. If they want to play higher level teams then go ahead and form alliances/partnerships with schools to get better games. But don't let that be the driver because we will never be a Michigan or an Alabama. We were late to the party and have to live with that.

This is a good post… makes you think instead of chasing money…stay in a conference that you like…this conference is so much fun to be in…I guess the argument is… that we won’t be able to pay our coaches if we don’t go in a high paying conference… but the big east has some of the best coaches in the country now

 

[John]

This is a good post… makes you think instead of chasing money…stay in a conference that you like…this conference is so much fun to be in…I guess the argument is… that we won’t be able to pay our coaches if we don’t go in a high paying conference… but the big east has some of the best coaches in the country now

College athletics is now a financial arms race, and staying in the Big East has us racing in a potato sack.

 

[Waquoit]

We need a place for FB. Going indy was the right move at the time. Now we need a chair before the music stops.

 

[Sole]

I think the chairs are taken now..

 

[Travelman6]

Wish they had moved now (Yes, a dream, I know) while Duke and UNC are more prone to down years (UNC this year where the NIT didn't even take them and in 2019-20 = under .500), Duke in 2020-21 (and a few years ago 13-11), could have come right in and run things right away. Who is the biggest obstacle? Virginia? A resurgent Pitt? I reckon UConn would run Virginia ragged many games with that depth and in a conference where 14-6 (x2) and 12-8 put you squarely on the bubble, UConn would be top 3 no issue. This years UConn team would nab 15 wins in the ACC, minimum (again, yes, I know, dreaming).

 

[Husky25]

Four national titles, that's a game changer. We'd still land our kids

I thought this too back when the Catholic 7 left the conference and the Big East (later, AAC) was forced to invite a bunch of Midwest and Southern schools. I thought the AAC would remain a major basketball conference simply because of UConn. In the contrary. Major programs (i.e. Men's & women's basketball and football) recieved back up commits and secondary choices.

Opponents matter. Travel time matters. Not only to fans but to 18 year old kids. This became more than evident when UConn accepted the full invitation to the New Big East, and went Independent in football. Coach Hurley seems to be a really talented recruiter, but operating in the Big East gave/gives him the material needed to land his recruits. Entering freshmen are more talented, polished, and ready to play on day one. On a game-to-game basis, arenas are closer to capacity and secondary market tickets are more expensive, if not more scarce.

UConn would probably be okay in the ACC, but they may not. UConn's former Big East rivals might be flush with cash, but they are not thriving on the courts or field. Syracuse, particularly without Beoheim, and BC are not the recruiting tools they once were and neither Coach K, nor Roy Williams are walking through the door.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I thought this too back when the Catholic 7 left the conference and the Big East (later, AAC) was forced to invite a bunch of Midwest and Southern schools. I thought the AAC would remain a major basketball conference simply because of UConn. In the contrary. Major programs (i.e. Men's & women's basketball and football) recieved back up commits and secondary choices.

Opponents matter. Travel time matters. Not only to fans but to 18 year old kids. This became more than evident when UConn accepted the full invitation to the New Big East, and went Independent in football. Coach Hurley seems to be a really talented recruiter, but operating in the Big East gave/gives him the material needed to land his recruits. Entering freshmen are more talented, polished, and ready to play on day one. On a game-to-game basis, arenas are closer to capacity and secondary market tickets are more expensive, if not more scarce.

UConn would probably be okay in the ACC, but they may not. UConn's former Big East rivals might be flush with cash, but they are not thriving on the courts or field. Syracuse, particularly without Beoheim, and BC are not the recruiting tools they once were and neither Coach K, nor Roy Williams are walking through the door.

I still believe that if our then coach held up his end of the bargain we would have succeeded in the AAC.

I also believe that it would have been a nearly impossible place to succeed in restoring our program.

 

[Ports21]

Miami is doing very well for themselves, coaching, coaching, coaching.

BTW the ACC was 14-5 in the tournament last year. Two teams in the final four.

Laranagga is excellent, but he doesn't have too many years left.

Football is in shambles.

 

[billybud]

Laranagga is excellent, but he doesn't have too many years left.

Football is in shambles.

The Canes had a good recruiting year...their 2023 class is ranked #7 by 247...but coaches are a hot mess...we'll see if it turns around in two years or so.

 

[Ports21]

The Canes had a good recruiting year...their 2023 class is ranked #7 by 247...but coaches are a hot mess...we'll see if it turns around in two years or so.

It's groundhog day. This happens every 3-4 years for them

 

[uconnfan68]

We would run the conference

We thought that about the AAC.

 

[Husky25]

I still believe that if our then coach held up his end of the bargain we would have succeeded in the AAC.

I also believe that it would have been a nearly impossible place to succeed in restoring our program.

For better or for worse (depending on the parties), both points are moot.

 

[Waquoit]

I still believe that if our then coach held up his end of the bargain we would have succeeded in the AAC.

Why would you still think that? The fanbase that goes to games stopped going to AAC games. We were never going anywhere while trapped in that hell. We literally got the last helicopter out.

 

[John]

Why would you still think that? The fanbase that goes to games stopped going to AAC games. We were never going anywhere while trapped in that hell. We literally got the last helicopter out.

They stopped going to the games because we were losers.

 

[XStorrsion]

This was a great take, there's no way we'd be competitive with anyone outside of the Big East.. especially not the teams at the top of the ACC. Would be no contest against a team like Miami.

 

[businesslawyer]

The only relevant question is whether the traditional ACC basketball powers would survive our joining the ACC. Not the other way around.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Given what the Big 12 is doing trying to take a big chunk of the ACC, I think a partial merger of the Big East with the ACC is possible. It would potentially enable the ACC to re-open their TV contract, and lockup basketball for the ACC.

I would be in favor of it as long as Providence was one of the schools cut loose. That program is a drag on the conference.

 

[Waquoit]

It should be a no brainer for them. Especially, if one adds a value to aspects that aren't counted. For instance, Cuse and BCU's hoop programs would be juiced up overnight. And what other leagues has 3 bluebloods?