Re: Big East Conference Realignment v2018
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:42 am
Boneyard has some pretty good discussions right now.
http://holylandofhoops.com/forum/
UConn athletic director David Benedict refuted an internet report on Wednesday that said UConn administrators had contacted the conference about rejoining.
"There is no truth to the rumors and reports that UConn has had discussions with the Big East Conference for possible membership," Benedict said in a statement. "UConn is having great success as a member of the American Athletic Conference and will continue to do so in the future."
"UConn has won multiple national championships as a member of the American Athletic Conference and has enjoyed postseason success in many sports as a member of the league."
"We are committed to the long-term success of the American Athletic Conference, and believe the conference is committed to being competitive at the highest level."
The internet report, by Jon Rothstein on fanragsports.com, cited sources saying the conference would take UConn back in all sports but football. There have been suggestions for a while now that UConn might seeks to rejoin the Big East. Last year the Big 12 considered expansion, with UConn one of the candidates, but the league decided not to add teams. The fanragsports report did not cite a solution for football.
Benedict addressed other issues, such as the department’s financial challenges going forward. He reaffirmed school’s commitment to the American Athletic Conference, and the status of men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie, who is signed through 2021.
There has been speculation about joining the new Big East in sports other than football, and finding a new home for the football program, but Benedict reiterated his commitment to the AAC.
“We’ve got to focus on winning and competing for conference championships in the conference we’re in,” he said. “This isn’t to suggest people shouldn’t long for the days of the old Big East. I get that, and how important rivalries are. When you start talking about the rivalries we had, it’s very understandable that our fan base would long for those days. But let’s not take anything away from the remarkable amount of success [the AAC] has had in a very short period of time. The basketball is also making strides. It’s not to say we have the same type of rivalries we had in the Big East, but you can’t deny that things have improved on an annual basis in this conference. But I totally get where our fan base is coming from.”
GoldenWarrior11 wrote:Boneyard has some pretty good discussions right now.
DanofXav76 wrote:Bill Marsh wrote:Jet915 wrote:Pretty in depth UCONN to Big East article.
http://adimeback.com/firing-kevin-ollie-will-not-fix-uconns-biggest-problem/
To punctuate the author’s argument, chew on the following:
1. Average attendance at UConn home basketball games is off by 20% in UConn’s first 5 years in the AAC from its last 5 years in the old Big East:
2014-18 - 9,505
2009-13 - 11,840
2. But it’s worse than it appears by just looking at the averages. UConn attendance experienced a post-national championship bump in 2015 (10,687), its second year in the AAC. Attendance has declined every year since to the current low of 7,787, a drop of almost 30% since 2014-15.
3. UConn’s worst attendance in its last 5 oBE seasons was its last season in the old conference, 2013 (10,728). UConn was on probation that year and was ineligible for postseason play in the BET as well as in the NCAA tournament. They started that season with an interim coach in his first year as a head coach and a team whose roster was decimated by defections with 2 players transferring to other schools - both starters on their NC team - and 2 other starters leaving prematurely for the NBA. That year’s attendance was still better than any AAC season - even its post-NC season in 2014-15.
4. This year’s home attendance is the lowest at UConn since 1986-87, Jim Calhoun’s first season, 31 years ago.
Bill, You have as good a handle on UCONN athletics as any on this board. I'm thinking a couple of years ago you felt, for a number of reasons, they were very committed to Div 1 football. Is that still the case?
EMT wrote:[
Are there examples of coaches returning that were successful? Joe Mullaney 2.0 at PC was a shit show.
kayako wrote:EMT wrote:[
Are there examples of coaches returning that were successful? Joe Mullaney 2.0 at PC was a shit show.
Bobby Petrino? Completely different situation @ Louisville, though.
Bill Marsh wrote:BTW, for all the reasons that UConn is increasingly unattractive to the P5, would the Big East really want them anyway?
ArmyVet wrote:Bill Marsh wrote:BTW, for all the reasons that UConn is increasingly unattractive to the P5, would the Big East really want them anyway?
This. I still don't understand why some Big East fans hold UCONN in such high regard and would be willing to cave on what they've accomplished without them.
Bill Marsh wrote:ArmyVet wrote:Bill Marsh wrote:BTW, for all the reasons that UConn is increasingly unattractive to the P5, would the Big East really want them anyway?
This. I still don't understand why some Big East fans hold UCONN in such high regard and would be willing to cave on what they've accomplished without them.
The only reason I can see to add them is if Fox insists. They seemed to be the ones who were pushing for 12 back at the beginning. If they insisted, I’d want them to sweeten the pot for everyone, not just add money for a newcomer or two.
ArmyVet wrote:Bill Marsh wrote:BTW, for all the reasons that UConn is increasingly unattractive to the P5, would the Big East really want them anyway?
This. I still don't understand why some Big East fans hold UCONN in such high regard and would be willing to cave on what they've accomplished without them.