UCONN POLL

[GoldenWarrior11]

Do they fit institutionally? No.
Do they fit location-wise? Yes.
Do they fit basketball-wise? Yes.
Do they fit athletic program-wise? No (football is clearly their priority as of today).
Would they increase the perception/potential revenue of the Big East? Yes.
Would they leave if invited by the ACC/B1G? Absolutely.

The interesting question that I would be interested in hearing answered by the Big East Presidents would be "If you knew UConn would leave within five years, but would continue to be a top-basketball program in the country during that time, do you still offer them an invitation into the Big East?

In some ways, UConn is a perfect fit for the Big East. In other ways, they are very much a wrong fit. The question becomes do you overlook the negatives in order to highlight the positives (and eventual monetary rewards)? I would be very leery of inviting a member with known intentions of pursuing another conference long-term, despite the advantages of having such a strong athletic program under your banner. If they are the only ones added, thus going to 11 schools, little harm can be done to the league long-term if they did eventually leave. Adding a UMass/VCU/SLU/Dayton to pair with them becomes a problem if they leave, as then suddenly you will need to add yet another team in order to balance things out (assuming you would stay at at-least 12).

[Wizard of Westroads]

They want to play football. Case closed.

[gosports1]

Boneyard gem:

"I don't know about other on this board but if UConn ever got back into the BE in all sports but football I will have written my last donation check to the athletic department and bought my last ticket to ANY UConn sporting event! I will in no way shape or form support a athletic department that chose to go back to a conference made up of schools who A) leeched off of UConn basketball success for YEARS and B) Caused the BE to eventually break apart by doing A and trying to dictate to the schools that played football about how conference business was done."

wow this person is a bit delusional

[Devil's Advocate]

We're fine as is. Embarrassing how much discussion there is of uconn on this board. They tried pretty hard to shop themselves when the original conference broke up. Let them deal with it.

[novahoops11]

Boneyard gem:

"I don't know about other on this board but if UConn ever got back into the BE in all sports but football I will have written my last donation check to the athletic department and bought my last ticket to ANY UConn sporting event! I will in no way shape or form support a athletic department that chose to go back to a conference made up of schools who A) leeched off of UConn basketball success for YEARS and B) Caused the BE to eventually break apart by doing A and trying to dictate to the schools that played football about how conference business was done."

wow this person is a bit delusional

He apparently doesn't remember the Dom Perno years. Speaking of leeches, UConn's Big East invite was an entirely undeserved gift. UConn was a dead weight on the Big East for ten long years.

[cu blujs]

No, no, no. - Caveat: If our conference ever lets them in, make them buy-in and/or take a half share for five years - and put a big fat exit fee to be divided by the schools when they leave.

[stever20]

what is so funny about it- if UConn does become available- they are a 100% lock. Fox would pretty much demand it- and could grease the wheels to make it happen- like pay UConn to go Indy in football.

[ivet]

Can't believe people are voting yes to this. UConn is treating the Big East like a stepping stone to bigger things. You guys are ok with this? This conference should be a destination spot for schools, players, and coaches.

[billyjack]

Boneyard gem:

"I don't know about other on this board but if UConn ever got back into the BE in all sports but football I will have written my last donation check to the athletic department and bought my last ticket to ANY UConn sporting event! I will in no way shape or form support a athletic department that chose to go back to a conference made up of schools who A) leeched off of UConn basketball success for YEARS and B) Caused the BE to eventually break apart by doing A and trying to dictate to the schools that played football about how conference business was done."

wow this person is a bit delusional

He apparently doesn't remember the Dom Perno years. Speaking of leeches, UConn's Big East invite was an entirely undeserved gift. UConn was a dead weight on the Big East for ten long years.

Very true. It's the equivalent of say Northwestern in 2017 going on a ridiculous 20-year run with 4 national championships, and then having Northwestern fans talk shit to fans of Indiana and Michigan State.

[billyjack]

what is so funny about it- if UConn does become available- they are a 100% lock. Fox would pretty much demand it- and could grease the wheels to make it happen- like pay UConn to go Indy in football.

Fox and the Big East are partners, and would make any decision together based on how sensible it is. No demands or arm-twisting are necessary like you're implying.

Having said that, a scenario where Fox pays UConn to go indy in football with BE hoops might make sense for everyone. It would screw ESPN while further boosting our ratings. I'm not sure UConn has big enough cojones nor are they daring enough to pull something like indy football off though.

And having said that, looking back, the 10 of us showed some serious, huge, big time brass stones to take the leap to FS1 and break away from the football schools. Amirite?