The UConn addition

[GumbyDamnit!]

It was quite interesting, back when the HLOH was still in diapers, seeing how different fan bases reacted to their new conference mates. We had our share of minor dust-ups among fan bases, for the most part we've all pulled for each other. It's actually a really strange dynamic in competitive sports, one that I think the coaches have a lot to do with IMO. Guys like Mac and Cooley and Wright and Willard all seem to genuinely like each other. It became us against the world.

So now we bring back a prodigal son of sorts. The Huskies bring a full trophy case and a confident (cocky?) fan base with them. It will be really interesting how they are received back in the fold. Do they step in day 1 and assume that Darth Vader role? Do they point to the 4 NC's and expect BE fans to genuflect at their rich heritage? I remember in expansion threads often support for UConn fell along old and new members fault lines. The C7 yearned to return to old rivalries and the 3 new programs wanted to stand pat. How will Jays, Dawg and X fans view this new rivalry? Will the old rivalries with PC and Nova and G'town be automatically rekindled back to where they once were--which truth be told carried a bit more venom and edge than rivalries we've seen in this new iteration of the BE.

Honest question: when watching them next year (or the year after), play against other BE schools will you be rooting for them to lose? Which current fans bases are going to get along least with our new conference mates?

[OmahaUberAlles]

This Jays fan is excited about UConn rejoining the Big East.

Imagine Providence fans will be rooting relentlessly against them.

I think it’ll take awhile for UConn to be ‘back’. Will probably be an afterthought in the short to medium term.

[paulxu]

Hurley's antics are sometimes challenging.

[Omaha1]

Hurley's antics are sometimes challenging.

Gut says UConn will be an easy team to root against. Hurley will wear the black hat and enjoy it.

[DeltaV]

The new guard will certainly want to proove something against the 'new old' guys.

The old guard will be thinking 'we told you so!'

UConn will probably try to forget that the AAACK even happened (though won't let anyone forget that NC banner)

[Xudash]

I didn’t want the BE to stand pat as a Xavier fan.

I was always 100% for adding UCONN and stopping at 11 to maintain the RR (my presumption is that we are safe on the content quantity issue; if that ever changes and the media agreement demands additional content from us, then OK, we add a 12th member).

Always seemed to be an obvious move - for TV, for MSG, optics for the composition of the conference, etc.

I’m looking forward to watching some of the old rivalries, while providing UCONN a better Cincy rivalry.

[Letsgonova]

I was and am 100% for adding UCONN to the league. Nothing but positives from a competition standpoint.

But their fans. Oh, their fans. I would suggest all of the fans who didn't previously experience a BET with UCONN to withhold their judgement until they see one firsthand. 10,000 drunk middle-aged white guys with long-sleeve t-shirts tucked securely into their carpenter jeans, New Balance 409s squeaking on the polished concrete of MSG, secure in their knowledge that college basketball started around 1992 and Jim Calhoun is basically Jesus Christ with better man-to-man concepts and more capacity for forgiving (his players') sins.

[Xudash]

I was and am 100% for adding UCONN to the league. Nothing but positives from a competition standpoint.

But their fans. Oh, their fans. I would suggest all of the fans who didn't previously experience a BET with UCONN to withhold their judgement until they see one firsthand. 10,000 drunk middle-aged white guys with long-sleeve t-shirts tucked securely into their carpenter jeans, New Balance 409s squeaking on the polished concrete of MSG, secure in their knowledge that college basketball started around 1992 and Jim Calhoun is basically Jesus Christ with better man-to-man concepts and more capacity for forgiving (his players') sins.

Well, that paints a picture!

[GoldenWarrior11]

Very excited for UConn to return home to the Big East. On the other board, especially with Stever and others, I repeated my stance that UConn would eventually leave the AAC for the Big East (as a P5 invite was never going to come, and between the Big East being stronger in basketball, as well as having more regional ties) - which always got significant pushback. In the old Big East, I always felt that Syracuse, UConn and Louisville were the three top "disliked" basketball programs. This was a combination of success, off-court scandals, hall of fame coaches and style of play. With this incarnation of the Big East, it is no secret that the coaches are uniquely a collective; they root for each other in OOC, support each other in the media, and recognize the Big East brand is stronger together.

Given Hurley's personality, I actually think he will buy into this and support/be supported by the other BE coaches. For as crazy as he can get during games, AAC coaches always had respectful quotes (I think Penny was always the most complimentary). Hurley/UConn were both placed in a historical unique circumstance for the past seven years; they were treated as an outsider, they were not treated as an equal, and the past success of the program was rarely acknowledged as a true elite basketball program within the AAC (Memphis could be AS good, etc.). Hurley has very strong ties in the NE (not unlike Cooley/Willard/Wright), and will have his own following as well. In the Big East, UConn will be viewed and treated accurately for what they are and for what they bring: a championship-level program with great historical success and an immensely strong following in the NE.

The round-robin, which quickly and efficiently assimilated Butler, Creighton and Xavier into the Big East with membership, will once again pay significant dividends for UConn. They will be welcomed back, get familiar with everyone, and - in a number of years - will feel like UConn never left the Big East. UConn's tenure in the AAC will be forgotten and past over by many over time.

[Husky_U]

Hall fans ain't lovin our addition today.