ESPN Should Be Embarrassed
- Thread starter kaiaamt
- Start date
They should also be embarrassed about the lead announcer saying rutgers had no chance to win even if Davis played
The fault is with the other womens teams that simply are not anywhere close to the talent UConn has every season.ESPN obviously is going to favor UConn because they are the best womens team .The media isn't in the business of extolling losing teams regardless of the sport.Winning is the only thing that matters.
But what they are really doing is favoring their broadcast - or what they perceive is favoring their broadcast - I'm still not convinced that most of the country really wants to watch UConn blow-outs.
The interesting counterpoint is that the late games have been a contributing factor to poor attendance. While their post-season attendance hasn't been great always, the late starts kept a number of folks that traditionally attend away, what with the long drive to Storrs, slow emptying of the parking (apparently) and the late game start. So some UConn fans are po'd at ESPN for presumably driving the game times to what suited them, while having Stanford play a 3:30 PDT start.
"I am beginning to think that ESPN has influenced the selection committee to seed Rutgers eighth in Uconns bracket."
That was my very first thought when the pairings were announced last weekend. And I don't blame UConn fans (and Geno) from being annoyed with the evil empire for the strange scheduling of games. Stanford at 3:30 on a Monday? Crazy. While an east coast team starts at 9:00 p.m. on a school/work night? I got to see none of the game, since I'm in bed by 9 on Monday nights to get up at 3:30 for the drive out to LI. I hope their ratings reflect their poor choices.
I continue to hope for another network to rise up and challenge the empire's domination (and corruption) of college sports, but based upon the new, new, new BE's very low ratings for its men's games, it doesn't appear that Fox will be that network. I have no idea how widespread the access to Fox's sports channel(s?) might be and how that compares to the B1G network, but the ratings for BE games were horribly low, as posted on the men's board within the past few days.
That was my very first thought when the pairings were announced last weekend. And I don't blame UConn fans (and Geno) from being annoyed with the evil empire for the strange scheduling of games. Stanford at 3:30 on a Monday? Crazy. While an east coast team starts at 9:00 p.m. on a school/work night? I got to see none of the game, since I'm in bed by 9 on Monday nights to get up at 3:30 for the drive out to LI. I hope their ratings reflect their poor choices.
I continue to hope for another network to rise up and challenge the empire's domination (and corruption) of college sports, but based upon the new, new, new BE's very low ratings for its men's games, it doesn't appear that Fox will be that network. I have no idea how widespread the access to Fox's sports channel(s?) might be and how that compares to the B1G network, but the ratings for BE games were horribly low, as posted on the men's board within the past few days.
The NCAA women's committee should consider playing the early rounds on Monday,Tuesday ,Wednesday .Would increase viewership at least a little . Starting an eastern regional NCAA tournament game after 9 o'clock .?UConn may be the brand name in women's basketball,but fans on the East Coast have to work or go to classes .
As far as UConn ,it will be very difficult for any college team to beat the Huskies in the future .They are recruiting more super talent in the 2015 signing the #1 player in the country in 6'3 " Samuelson from California . And 2016 could be the best women's recruiting class in a very long time .They already have a commitment from the # 1 point guard and three overall player in Crystal Dangerfield from Tennessee ( surprised that Tenn. didn't get her .), UConn is very active in recruiting the #1 player (Lauren Cox 6'4" forward ) and the #2 player(Joyner Holmes 6'3" forward ) Both from Texas. .If they sign the three top players in the 2016 class , will be tough for other schools to compete .
Auriemma will have a dynasty at UConn . These top recruits want to play for a NCAA title every year and UConn is the place .
The only negative ,the AAC is a terrible women's basketball conference . But UConn compensates by scheduling 5or 6 top 10 out of conference games ,Duke,Tennessee,Stanford ,ND,South Carolina ,Ohio St.etc.
As far as UConn ,it will be very difficult for any college team to beat the Huskies in the future .They are recruiting more super talent in the 2015 signing the #1 player in the country in 6'3 " Samuelson from California . And 2016 could be the best women's recruiting class in a very long time .They already have a commitment from the # 1 point guard and three overall player in Crystal Dangerfield from Tennessee ( surprised that Tenn. didn't get her .), UConn is very active in recruiting the #1 player (Lauren Cox 6'4" forward ) and the #2 player(Joyner Holmes 6'3" forward ) Both from Texas. .If they sign the three top players in the 2016 class , will be tough for other schools to compete .
Auriemma will have a dynasty at UConn . These top recruits want to play for a NCAA title every year and UConn is the place .
The only negative ,the AAC is a terrible women's basketball conference . But UConn compensates by scheduling 5or 6 top 10 out of conference games ,Duke,Tennessee,Stanford ,ND,South Carolina ,Ohio St.etc.
the top schools should stop scheduling them. Its a virtual automatic loss plus it will hurt UConn in some capacity, how much we don't know. Their conference is abysmal.
Totally agree! If you want parity to return to women's hoops, stop helping Uconn improve their RPI. I'm glad Stringer seems to want to avoid them. The losers may get a tiny bump from it but Uconn gets more.
I'm sure the fans love winning every game (wouldn't anybody?), but how much fun can it be to watch them annihilate their opponents by 40+ night after night. The games are over in the first 10 mins. I wonder if attendance will be impacted too.
I'm sure the fans love winning every game (wouldn't anybody?), but how much fun can it be to watch them annihilate their opponents by 40+ night after night. The games are over in the first 10 mins. I wonder if attendance will be impacted too.
I think their attendance already has been affected, due mostly to the unattractive schedule. Their fans who go probably do so to see them compete against themselves, see just how well they can play. And they almost never disappoint but it doesn't make for any real drama.
I have nothing but respect for their team but having one completely dominating program does no good for the sport. Similarly on the men's side, UK going the NBA farm team "one and done" route is also very bad for the sport. I have little to no interest in watching the tournaments, since the outcomes seem predetermined. At least the UConn players will be around in May to take finals and earn college credits. Kentucky's men???
This post was edited on 3/25 11:33 AM by ecojew
I have nothing but respect for their team but having one completely dominating program does no good for the sport. Similarly on the men's side, UK going the NBA farm team "one and done" route is also very bad for the sport. I have little to no interest in watching the tournaments, since the outcomes seem predetermined. At least the UConn players will be around in May to take finals and earn college credits. Kentucky's men???
This post was edited on 3/25 11:33 AM by ecojew
UConn women and Kentucky men personify elitism in college sports.The top recruits want to win national championships and enhance future professional opportunities.In essence they are semi pro teams in talent .The difference is that mens basketball has more teams with enough talent where there may be a remote possibility for Kentucky to lose.In women's basketball UConn is the only story in town winning 79 out of the last 80 games with most wins a 30 point margin of victory.
In some respects, having season tix for the UConn women's team is as bad as having RU men's season tix. Many people do not want to watch uncompetitive games regardless of who wins.
Really surprised that Gampel wasn't more crowded for either of the first/second round games. Official Attendance for the Saturday night double-header was 3666 and I believe it. And the ESPN box score lists 3486 for our game on Monday night. That has to be wrong. I'd estimate Gampel was about 60-65% full on Monday (around 6000-6500). But with the #1 team in the country playing a former rival, I expected close to a sellout.
Anyone see any other "official attendance" figures for Monday?
edited to add link to ESPN Box
This post was edited on 3/24 3:12 PM by RUClassof67
ESPN Box Score
A lot of UConn fans were complaining about the 9:00 start time (and I can't really blame them). That may have affected attendance.
Small private schools versus big state universities. The size difference in the fan bases are huge.
That's an interesting concept. It would be much more difficult to recruit if they didn't play any big games in the regular season.
Hard to feel sorry for them since they get to host almost every single year...both the league championships and NCAA games. How many years did we have to trek up there for the Big East tournament, as if they needed yet another advantage?
Kentucky MBB is a complete joke. They're kidding themselves thinking it is representative of the University of Kentucky.
:... I'm still not convinced that most of the country really wants to watch UConn blow-outs...."
Right. Even UConn fans don't want to watch. I remember when EVERY seat in Gampel was full of rabid fans. Not last weekend. As '67 said above, there were not a lot of fans there. You didn't see it on ESPN, but the upper reaches of the stands were EMPTY except for some, er, exhibition dancers who were featured on the pavilion video.
Even many lower, close to the court seats were not occupied.
And thanks to the staff and BobMan for obtaining seats for me. I appreciate the time and effort.
Right. Even UConn fans don't want to watch. I remember when EVERY seat in Gampel was full of rabid fans. Not last weekend. As '67 said above, there were not a lot of fans there. You didn't see it on ESPN, but the upper reaches of the stands were EMPTY except for some, er, exhibition dancers who were featured on the pavilion video.
Even many lower, close to the court seats were not occupied.
And thanks to the staff and BobMan for obtaining seats for me. I appreciate the time and effort.
":... I'm still not convinced that most of the country really wants to watch UConn blow-outs...."
I agree and I also believe that most of the country is already very sick of watching Duke's TV network (otherwise known as ESPiN) religiously televise just about every Duke men's home game against the little sisters of the poor, year after year after year.
I agree and I also believe that most of the country is already very sick of watching Duke's TV network (otherwise known as ESPiN) religiously televise just about every Duke men's home game against the little sisters of the poor, year after year after year.
After the Seton Hall game, I watched a recording of the game at home. ESPN had a bit about Betnijah's mother playing for CViv and showed a woman in the stands. On Monday night I asked that woman if she were Betnijah's mother. Nope. She pointed out the REAL Betnijah mom. Now I think Betnijah is beautiful and the woman who admitted to being her mom is also very good looking. A shame she wasn't featured on TV.
Bingo, Izo.
It doesn't matter who they play, if they beat each conference opponent by 60 points, and if there's only 10 fans in the stands. It just doesn't matter. As long as Geno is coach, the elite will flock to Storrs for no other reason than to virtually be guaranteed multiple national championships. It's actually an interesting topic: you're a top talent with high probability to go to the WNBA wherever you play college ball, so do you go the UConn route and have a steady diet of routs/blowouts b/c you don't want to leave college w/o a championship no matter what.....or, do you go to another college (top 10 or otherwise) that appeals to you geographically, coach-wise, conference-wise, competitiveness-wise etc.
The point you miss (unfortunately) is that Geno also develops players particularly well for the next lever.
FWIW, so does Vivian, but not every coach does so, nor does so in the same way.
Being a star at UConn (and not all stars at UConn were "created" equal, example Stefanie Dolsen) equates with a greatly improved chance for success in the WNBA.
FWIW, so does Vivian, but not every coach does so, nor does so in the same way.
Being a star at UConn (and not all stars at UConn were "created" equal, example Stefanie Dolsen) equates with a greatly improved chance for success in the WNBA.
