St John's I think is a lock but if they lose in the first round of the BE tourney to De Paul, they are destined for the play in game.
OT: Serious Question - Should any BE team make the Tourney?
- Thread starter T2Kplus10
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That’s an interesting debate. Don’t think UConn would do it unless all P5 options are exhausted. They would dilute any P5 and if the ACC invites them a couple of schools would bolt for the SEC or B12.
It would add a natural rival to the BE and give more juice to the BET. You know FOX would want it (which is the most important rea$on in nefoiod the next contract.
8-10 in that conference and OOC schedule was terrible. Maryland Eastern Shore, Wagner and Sacred heart. Wow. Beat Cal who was 8-22.
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I have watched a few of their games this year and the atmosphere at Gampel has certainly changed. This is a program 5 years removed from a NCAA championship and now have been passed by programs like Central Florida and in life and death struggles at home playing Tulsa. Home games vs East Carolina and Tulane, this is not what UConn fans envisioned for the future of their program. For football? Do of any UConn fans even care about football? They need to find their way back in the Big East to do what they are best at. Its a needed partnership going forward
Putting all the chips on the table for FB was a huge gamble and disaster. UConn is left out in the cold right now with few options. It would be the only school that makes sense from a $ standpoint for the BE to add. UConn has to admit FB failure though which will not be easy. The musical chairs music stopped. RU, Syracuse, WVU, Pitt, Louisville and if you go back BC and Miami, all found a FB home, but UConn was left holding the bag.
I have plenty of people continuing to tell me that UConn will be back,because they're landing this recruit or that recruit etc....and my return question has been,"when has UConn struggled to recruit anybody in the last 2 decades or so??
The item lost on having the Big East tournament isn't UConn as a program, it's losing the March connection to MSG. MSG is a special arena and historical value is tied more to UConn, than almost any other program in Big East history....There aren't historical games tied to a sold out Gampel or game in East Hartford....The top 5 moments are MSG related in regards to the Big East.
If you told me Villanova was not in the Big East, they have their Big 5 history or something else to draw on.....the Palestra, playing in the Sixers arena.
If you mentioned Syracuse, they have had some epic games at MSG, but I can count many more at the Carrier Dome, going all the way back to the late Pearl Washington and others in the dome.
But no team has more big moments over the years than UConn and they are trying to schedule one game a year at MSG, but when the games are in November, during the hot moments of the end of college football, it's tough to register that on a Wednesday or Thursday night, during the start of the CBB season.
The fan base has to be disconnected because they've unplugged the air supply when you take away the rivalries developed over 3 decades and add to it, a full disconnect from MSG and you didnt even give them recognizable programs to root against. It sounds crazy but I think they'd be better off in the A-10, vs the AAC. At least give the A-10 a program to root against and give UConn fans some regional areas to travel to, and annoy home fans during road games.
I won't get into the BE discussion on bids, it should be 4 safely in without a question right now. If anything, St. John's is going to get the benefit of the doubt, because yes they finished 8-10 in league, but should be 9-9 if not for the Seton Hall debacle at the Rock. They didn't close out the game properly, but they're not going to lose a bid, when neutral observers will think they should have won the game, if the refs handle the call properly on Figueroa's save of the ball under 3 seconds.
And if you remove that win from SHU's resume, they'd be 8-10, but they still have more than enough quality wins to get in as well. Xavier finishing up white hot, gives SHU a underrated road win at Xavier, when they were really struggling to start the season.....if anything, the X-Men are dangerous enough to win the BE this weekend.
The item lost on having the Big East tournament isn't UConn as a program, it's losing the March connection to MSG. MSG is a special arena and historical value is tied more to UConn, than almost any other program in Big East history....There aren't historical games tied to a sold out Gampel or game in East Hartford....The top 5 moments are MSG related in regards to the Big East.
If you told me Villanova was not in the Big East, they have their Big 5 history or something else to draw on.....the Palestra, playing in the Sixers arena.
If you mentioned Syracuse, they have had some epic games at MSG, but I can count many more at the Carrier Dome, going all the way back to the late Pearl Washington and others in the dome.
But no team has more big moments over the years than UConn and they are trying to schedule one game a year at MSG, but when the games are in November, during the hot moments of the end of college football, it's tough to register that on a Wednesday or Thursday night, during the start of the CBB season.
The fan base has to be disconnected because they've unplugged the air supply when you take away the rivalries developed over 3 decades and add to it, a full disconnect from MSG and you didnt even give them recognizable programs to root against. It sounds crazy but I think they'd be better off in the A-10, vs the AAC. At least give the A-10 a program to root against and give UConn fans some regional areas to travel to, and annoy home fans during road games.
I won't get into the BE discussion on bids, it should be 4 safely in without a question right now. If anything, St. John's is going to get the benefit of the doubt, because yes they finished 8-10 in league, but should be 9-9 if not for the Seton Hall debacle at the Rock. They didn't close out the game properly, but they're not going to lose a bid, when neutral observers will think they should have won the game, if the refs handle the call properly on Figueroa's save of the ball under 3 seconds.
And if you remove that win from SHU's resume, they'd be 8-10, but they still have more than enough quality wins to get in as well. Xavier finishing up white hot, gives SHU a underrated road win at Xavier, when they were really struggling to start the season.....if anything, the X-Men are dangerous enough to win the BE this weekend.
if they took UConn, would the BE want to include another school to make it 12....perhaps Wichita State or VCU or Dayton....that really would shore up the strength
I cannot see how any football school in the ACC would want to devalue the conference so much by adding UConn football, I realize that some can say the same thing about RU football and the Big 10 but RU did prove in its first season that it can at least get to a 7-5 season given the right makeup of a team. I see no scenerio that gives positive future for UConn football and its not like they are bringing the nyc market
I cannot see how any football school in the ACC would want to devalue the conference so much by adding UConn football, I realize that some can say the same thing about RU football and the Big 10 but RU did prove in its first season that it can at least get to a 7-5 season given the right makeup of a team. I see no scenerio that gives positive future for UConn football and its not like they are bringing the nyc market
U Conn fans used to classic games vs Gtown, Nova, Cuse and their rival Providence now force fed games vs Tulsa, Tulane and East Carolina.
Hurley can definitely get them to challenge in that league in a few years but the name cache of the program has really torpedoed so quickly...much like it did at Pitt.
Coaches matter. Look how St John's still has never recovered from losing Louie. Just some brief blips in the NCAA tourney but not sustaining.
Hurley can definitely get them to challenge in that league in a few years but the name cache of the program has really torpedoed so quickly...much like it did at Pitt.
Coaches matter. Look how St John's still has never recovered from losing Louie. Just some brief blips in the NCAA tourney but not sustaining.
Totally disagree UConn will be just fine in the American which is having a good year and the Big East has done just fine without UConn.
I don't think it would be VCU but Dayton or Wichita would be excellent additions. You could even add St Bonnie who IMO the conference would take over VCU.
Big East could definitely use some more marquee names/matchups, and adding UConn would be all benefit for them, imo. I know the current Fox deal expands if they go to 12 teams, too.
As far as UConn basketball - they have been losing fan support. The last three seasons have all averaged under 9k fans per game.
Last 20 years of average attendance figures:
2019 - 8,649
2018 - 7,829
2017 - 8,505
2016 - 10,413
2015 - 10,687
2014 - 10,134 (first year in AAC)
2013 - 10,728 (first year with Ollie after Calhoun retires)
2012 - 12,640
2011 - 11,569
2010 - 11,685
2009 - 12,518
2008 - 11,887
2007 - 13,012
2006 - 13,948
2005 - 13,771
2004 - 13,549
2003 - 13,229
2002 - 13,709
2001 - 12,543
2000 - 13,543
not to switch gears, but this question should go to the MetroAtlantic too! How is the #1 seed Iona worthy as a #1 seed in the conf at 17-15 (12-6 in conf)?
a 4-5K decline in attendance since the mid 2000s is pretty steep..they are bleeding money from all their programs, not good at all.
I wonder what their womens attendance looks like. Top elite program but its not Rutgers, Notre Dame and Louisville and northeastern rivals anymore. Its Tulsa and Tulane
I dont think the Big East is helped by St Bonnies at all...it would be swamped by the other programs and sit at the bottom.
Agreed but they would take them before VCU IMO.
VCU is a high school with ash trays.
Attendance for American or Big East ? American I know will probably suck it always does but Big East I believe outdrew everyone last year even the Big which surprised even me.
Only way Big East ever gets in serious talks with UConn is if they blow up the football program. Big East has been there done that and won't go down that road again. Also Commissioner is on record of saying they will never go over eleven teams the coaches absolutely love the round robin and it is working very well for them . Also take it to the bank Wichita will never play in the Big East.
FOX will drive the bus on expansion. If they want it to happen, they will make it happen with the AD's and Ackerman. (I've never heard that Fox wants 12 teams). This gets kicked around every few months on our board and it's fun to throw names out there, but it's about the Benjamin's. Remember, the BE is about TV markets and VCU (Richmond), Dayton (Dayton) and St. Bonaventure (Buffalo), don't add much value. Adding UConn would add a good market, a team with history/rivalries and tradition with the BE and 11 teams gives you a 20 game H/H schedule. Also, guarantees that MSG will be a sell-out since they travel well.
To bad ND went to the ACC for BB...that would have been a perfect fit to stay in the BE and provide geographical balance (6 Midwest/6 East) with UConn.
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2013/03/21/Media/Big-East-MWC.aspx
"The new Big East yesterday formally inked a 12-year, $500M contract with Fox Sports, a “sum that will rise" to $600M if, "as expected, the league expands to 12 members,” according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES."
The article is six years old. Ten teams or twelve each school gets $50mm so they are not going to expand unless there is a compelling case.
Just noting that there was an expectation of further expansion when Fox inked the deal originally.
Thanks for sharing. I didn’t recall that from when the deal was announced back then.
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