Welcome Back, UConn Fans!

[GumbyDamnit!]

Scared? LMFAO are you shitting me.
Why bail them out when they tried to f us and leave not once but twice, but now we'll bail them out of that garbage conference, resurrect their basketball program, and then try to bail a 3rd time (history usually repeats itself), but when they try for the 3rd, I hope they succeed and the ACC take them. They'll say hahaha thank you idiots for saving our bball program, but f ya now, we're out of here. Hell, I'll even be laughing when they clown this conf. This is just the dumbest move ever.
Everyone is acting like ohhhh UConn is the B.E. savior, what a load of BS this is.

I personally say a big FU to UConn, yeah everyone and I won't be apologizing either.

RMEN. First, we kicked them to the curb not the other way around. Of course they tried to get into another conference. The BE as a FB conference was imploding. L'ville, Cuse, Pitt all had eyes on going elsewhere because they feared they'd be left dancing with no chairs left when the music stopped. So their worst fears ended up happening. They were relegated to a conference that helped neither FB or BB programs. I don't blame them. Everyone was in crisis mode at the time. Nova at one point was also looking at upgrading to full FBS football, solely in an effort to not be left behind in what many believed was a monumental shift in college athletics. But UConn was an original member, they've always been a BB school first, and they've come back hat in hand. If you are talking about concrete actions, not sure UConn itself did much wrong. They just figured out the best way to play the hand that was dealt to them by Pitt, Cuse, BC, WVU, Miami & VT, first, and then the C7 second. I certainly don't blame them for that.

[Xudash]

If the BE is so much better than the AAC (I'm not saying it is, but this board seems to hold that opinion), then how will this move "save" UConn's basketball program? They've been awful the last three years. If they can't win in the AAC how are they going to win in the supposedly much better BE?

Perhaps because this move will reinvigorate their recruiting. The fan base will otherwise get pumped again as a result of restoring old rivalry games and delivering UCONN back to MSG for its conference tournament again.

[hawkoooo]

Perhaps because this move will reinvigorate their recruiting. The fan base will otherwise get pumped again as a result of restoring old rivalry games and delivering UCONN back to MSG for its conference tournament again.

I would "like" or "thumbs up" your post, but not sure if that's a feature here

[TheBasketballOpinion]

Will be nice to hate another team besides Nova in conference

[Husky_U]

If the BE is so much better than the AAC (I'm not saying it is, but this board seems to hold that opinion), then how will this move "save" UConn's basketball program? They've been awful the last three years. If they can't win in the AAC how are they going to win in the supposedly much better BE?

Ollie killed our program. Hurley is building it back up. Top 20 class coming in (second best UCONN class since Calhoun retired). A real coach in a better conference will keep top recruits interested and have us competitive very soon.

[Hall2012]

If the BE is so much better than the AAC (I'm not saying it is, but this board seems to hold that opinion), then how will this move "save" UConn's basketball program? They've been awful the last three years. If they can't win in the AAC how are they going to win in the supposedly much better BE?

Perhaps because this move will reinvigorate their recruiting. The fan base will otherwise get pumped again as a result of restoring old rivalry games and delivering UCONN back to MSG for its conference tournament again.

Obviously, the majority of it is on them to perform (and I believe they will under Dan Hurley). Under Kevin Ollie, they'd have repeatedly gotten their doors blown off in this league over the past few years. Joining the Big East isn't magically going to transform them back into a perennial top 25 team, but it does both give them the tools to get back to where they want to be faster and raise their ceiling. Why does it do those?

Get back faster - The Big East will both reinvigorate their fan base (bringing in money and improving their home court) and give them better recruiting tools. Local rivalries, name opponents, strong opponents, MSG, and for those NYC recruits - they're "away from home" but close enough to where friends and family can come to games - they also play a LOT of local games.

Raise Ceiling - UConn's ceiling in the AAC would be "the team with a lot of wins but hasn't played anyone noteworthy since December." The conference schedule may not be quite as soft as say a Gonzaga, but it's not super impressive. Anything more than 2 or 3 conference losses and they'll have a hard time getting above the 7 line in the NCAA Tournament. In the Big East, nearly every conference road game is a Q1 game. Nearly every conference home game is Q1 or Q2. They'll play a schedule that will give the a chance to be mentioned among the nation's elite (again, if they perform). Even if they don't reach that level - in the Big East, a .500 league record can get you in a dance. In the AAC, a 13-5 league record can send you to the NIT.

[adoraz]

in the Big East, a .500 league record can get you in a dance. In the AAC, a 13-5 league record can send you to the NIT.

Or below .500

St. John's got in last year due to our 5 Q1 wins. Plenty of opportunities.

[kayako]

Will be nice to hate another team besides Nova in conference

I'd love to hate anyone in this conference, really.

[MullinMayhem]

I hate UConn but respect you guys as a program obviously. Ollie was awful for you guys...I always said he just had Calhoun leftovers which is why you guys won that year. Once he had his own guys, UConn imploded. It wasn't the AAC who did that...it was a bad coach. Hurley IMO is a rock solid coach who will likely always recruit well. Doubt he ever gets close to Calhoun levels, but UConn should be a regular tourney team again and maybe even be ranked every other year or so. Welcome back.

[adoraz]

Wow, talk about some big news. Hopefully during the dead months of the summer this board will get some new members.

I have been hoping for UConn to return to the Big East for a long time. They have been my #1 expansion candidate. I anticipate this will result in a better upcoming TV contract for all 11 of us. Also, this past year we had the #1 attended conference tournament, so it's exciting to think about how much UConn can add to our rivalries/attendance/ratings/etc.

As a St. John's fan, I know half of us aren't happy (scared?) with your return given our regional rivalry, but most Big East fans are excited. Can't wait to add another MSG home game to our schedule each year.

Scared? LMFAO are you shitting me.
Why bail them out when they tried to f us and leave not once but twice, but now we'll bail them out of that garbage conference, resurrect their basketball program, and then try to bail a 3rd time (history usually repeats itself), but when they try for the 3rd, I hope they succeed and the ACC take them. They'll say hahaha thank you idiots for saving our bball program, but f ya now, we're out of here. Hell, I'll even be laughing when they clown this conf. This is just the dumbest move ever.
Everyone is acting like ohhhh UConn is the B.E. savior, what a load of BS this is.

I personally say a big FU to UConn, yeah everyone and I won't be apologizing either.

You sound a bit defensive and just stated you fear they will leave for the ACC. So yes, you are scared. I don't see them getting into a P5 conference, and even in the small chance they do we'll be right back where we were a few days ago. This is a win for everyone, not just them. You'll see when we get our new TV contract.