2019 Recruiting Class - Surely the best ever :D

[GoldenWarrior11]

https://twitter.com/NoEscalators/status/1085350174753468417

pretty hilarious exchange here

In football, UConn is dead last, for the second consecutive season in a row within the AAC, in recruiting. Looking at men's basketball:

From 247 Rankings:
2008 (BE): 7 (National), 2 (Big East)
2009 (BE): 8 (National), 1 (Big East)
2010 (BE): 23 (National), 2 (Big East)
2011 (BE): 33 (National), 2 (Big East)
2012 (BE): 29 (National), 2 (Big East)
2013 (BE): 37 (National), 5 (Big East)
2014 (AAC): 46 (National), 3 (American)
2015 (AAC): 47 (National), 3 (American)
2016 (AAC): 8 (National), 1 (American)
2017 (AAC): 84 (National), 8 (American)
2018 (AAC): 117 (National), 9 (American)
2019 (AAC) 17 (National), 2 (American)

Last Six Years in Big East Average: 24.5 (National), 2.3 (Big East)
First Six Years in American Avereage: 53.2 (National), 4.3 (American)

I am still confused how anyone can possibly argue that recruiting has NOT been affected for UConn by not being in the Big East (or a regionally geographic conference). They are one of two Northeast programs (with Temple) in a Southern-based conference. The locations they play in are in warm-weathered, big city environments. The Northeast recruits they usually got in the BE would had ample opportunity to play in front of friends and family, especially in a big-time atmosphere. However, in 2019, that is certainly not the case.

Alas, UConn has committed to football (albeit 30 years too late), so none of it matters. @NoEscalators was in rare form last night, after UConn's loss to Tulsa (gulp).

[stever20]

The problem is that you also have what I believe everyone thought was a bad coach in Ollie who took over in 2013. He had 1 good class in 2016. Before him, they were getting top 30 classes, and now 1st class with Hurley they're top 20 again.

Classes from 2008-12, 19- avg national class of 19.5
Classes from 2013-18 (Ollie)- avg national class of 56.5

I'd be a lot more inclined to agree with you were it not for the 2019 class.

[GoldenWarrior11]

DePaul's 2019 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 22 at ESPN.com, No. 24 by 247Sports.com and No. 28 in the nation by Rivals.com.

so have you changed your mind on Leitao?

No, not yet. Recruiting is only part of being a successful head coach and part of a successful program. The AD is still there, which has been the greatest source of underachievement (and scandal). He has bought himself time, no doubt. But the program needs to start winning (and not continuing to bump the ETA of a competitive program down the road).

I gave the point on the other site, but - through my eyes - Loyola is still the college basketball darling of Chicago. It is their gear - sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats and scarves - that fans wear around the area. Their in-person attendance (not announced) is also higher than a number of DePaul games this year (and DePaul was caught fudging their numbers in epic proportions by their own newspaper in the Spring). Moser, in the eyes of the Chicago area HS coaches, has more credibility, and Loyola has recruited Chicago area much better than DePaul has. Now, it shouldn't matter where your kids come from (as long as you win).

Even after this year, DePaul is likely to once again not make an NCAA Tournament (which hasn't since joining the Big East). They have opened a new arena (that fans still do not consistently show up to). There are no excuses why this program is not more competitive than what is has been.

[adoraz]

UConn basketball recruiting is absolutely negatively affected by being in the AAC. AAC's best team is 1800 miles away. As for local rivals, they'd rather play Nova 2-3 times than Temple, and... that's it. They have no other local rivals. Local rivals are critical, they're what get fans excited and invested. It's no coincidence that St. John's plays all of our NE BE rivals at MSG and all our MW BE rivals at CA.

People can argue the AAC is a better place for them long term because of football (I'd disagree), but in terms of basketball short (and probably long) term they are 100% being negatively affected.

As for football, I highly doubt it will ever be turned around. They're at absolute rock bottom right now.

[GoldenWarrior11]

UConn basketball recruiting is absolutely negatively affected by being in the AAC. AAC's best team is 1800 miles away. As for local rivals, they'd rather play Nova 2-3 times than Temple, and... that's it. They have no other local rivals. Local rivals are critical, they're what get fans excited and invested. It's no coincidence that St. John's plays all of our NE BE rivals at MSG and all our MW BE rivals at CA.

People can argue the AAC is a better place for them long term because of football (I'd disagree), but in terms of basketball short (and probably long) term they are 100% being negatively affected.

As for football, I highly doubt it will ever be turned around. They're at absolute rock bottom right now.

https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-john-dunn-randy-edsall-uconn-football-salary-column-20190117-d6qtmzgmlrfehfdg6i7fcwmzsi-story.html

Well, apparently, Randy Edsall took a $150,000 pay-cut in order to give that money to OC John Dunn, and make him the "head coach-in-waiting". With Rhett Lashlee leaving his OC position last year for the same position at SMU (a conference foe), and with Houston, UCF, Memphis and USF all spending more money on coaching candidates, UConn is - financially - now falling behind the rest of the American in coaching salaries. Couple that with the recruiting, the (lack of) on-field success, the heavy state-subsidy and the poor attendance, it just cements the fact that their present economic model is not sustainable.

If they felt that they were due for a big raise (under the next TV deal), couldn't they a swing a meager $150k raise for an assistant? Seems odd, IMO.

[adoraz]

UConn basketball recruiting is absolutely negatively affected by being in the AAC. AAC's best team is 1800 miles away. As for local rivals, they'd rather play Nova 2-3 times than Temple, and... that's it. They have no other local rivals. Local rivals are critical, they're what get fans excited and invested. It's no coincidence that St. John's plays all of our NE BE rivals at MSG and all our MW BE rivals at CA.

People can argue the AAC is a better place for them long term because of football (I'd disagree), but in terms of basketball short (and probably long) term they are 100% being negatively affected.

As for football, I highly doubt it will ever be turned around. They're at absolute rock bottom right now.

https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-john-dunn-randy-edsall-uconn-football-salary-column-20190117-d6qtmzgmlrfehfdg6i7fcwmzsi-story.html

Well, apparently, Randy Edsall took a $150,000 pay-cut in order to give that money to OC John Dunn, and make him the "head coach-in-waiting". With Rhett Lashlee leaving his OC position last year for the same position at SMU (a conference foe), and with Houston, UCF, Memphis and USF all spending more money on coaching candidates, UConn is - financially - now falling behind the rest of the American in coaching salaries. Couple that with the recruiting, the (lack of) on-field success, the heavy state-subsidy and the poor attendance, it just cements the fact that their present economic model is not sustainable.

If they felt that they were due for a big raise (under the next TV deal), couldn't they a swing a meager $150k raise for an assistant? Seems odd, IMO.

That's pretty embarrassing.

Also something to consider, national perception between UConn and their old BE rivals (which affects recruiting and many other things):

5 years ago:
1. UConn
2. Georgetown
3. Marquette
4. Villanova
5. St. John's
6. Providence
7. Seton Hall
8. DePaul

As for today, it's debatable. Obviously Nova is #1. UConn has had a great recruiting year due to Hurley's hire, but recently the wheels have started falling off a bit both in regards to recruiting and on court success.

One thing I can say with 100% certainty: during the past 5 years every single BE team has improved their profile relative to UConn's profile. That even includes bottom feeder DePaul, who is finally starting to win a few games and more importantly has a great class coming in next year.

UConn doesn't mean the same thing to high school recruits today as it meant 5 years ago. They need the Big East.

[stever20]

UConn basketball recruiting is absolutely negatively affected by being in the AAC. AAC's best team is 1800 miles away. As for local rivals, they'd rather play Nova 2-3 times than Temple, and... that's it. They have no other local rivals. Local rivals are critical, they're what get fans excited and invested. It's no coincidence that St. John's plays all of our NE BE rivals at MSG and all our MW BE rivals at CA.

People can argue the AAC is a better place for them long term because of football (I'd disagree), but in terms of basketball short (and probably long) term they are 100% being negatively affected.

As for football, I highly doubt it will ever be turned around. They're at absolute rock bottom right now.

https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-john-dunn-randy-edsall-uconn-football-salary-column-20190117-d6qtmzgmlrfehfdg6i7fcwmzsi-story.html

Well, apparently, Randy Edsall took a $150,000 pay-cut in order to give that money to OC John Dunn, and make him the "head coach-in-waiting". With Rhett Lashlee leaving his OC position last year for the same position at SMU (a conference foe), and with Houston, UCF, Memphis and USF all spending more money on coaching candidates, UConn is - financially - now falling behind the rest of the American in coaching salaries. Couple that with the recruiting, the (lack of) on-field success, the heavy state-subsidy and the poor attendance, it just cements the fact that their present economic model is not sustainable.

If they felt that they were due for a big raise (under the next TV deal), couldn't they a swing a meager $150k raise for an assistant? Seems odd, IMO.

That's pretty embarrassing.

Also something to consider, national perception between UConn and their old BE rivals (which affects recruiting and many other things):

5 years ago:
1. UConn
2. Georgetown
3. Marquette
4. Villanova
5. St. John's
6. Providence
7. Seton Hall
8. DePaul

As for today, it's debatable. Obviously Nova is #1. UConn has had a great recruiting year due to Hurley's hire, but recently the wheels have started falling off a bit both in regards to recruiting and on court success.

One thing I can say with 100% certainty: during the past 5 years every single BE team has improved their profile relative to UConn's profile. That even includes bottom feeder DePaul, who is finally starting to win a few games and more importantly has a great class coming in next year.

UConn doesn't mean the same thing to high school recruits today as it meant 5 years ago. They need the Big East.

You can make the case that Georgetown is in the exact same boat as far as decline in national perception.

[kayako]

Also something to consider, national perception between UConn and their old BE rivals (which affects recruiting and many other things):

5 years ago:
1. UConn
2. Georgetown
3. Marquette
4. Villanova
5. St. John's
6. Providence
7. Seton Hall
8. DePaul

I don't know if Nova was behind Marquette. We were just 4 years removed from Final Four and were recruiting McDonald's All-Americans left and right.

[adoraz]

Also something to consider, national perception between UConn and their old BE rivals (which affects recruiting and many other things):

5 years ago:
1. UConn
2. Georgetown
3. Marquette
4. Villanova
5. St. John's
6. Providence
7. Seton Hall
8. DePaul

I don't know if Nova was behind Marquette. We were just 4 years removed from Final Four and were recruiting McDonald's All-Americans left and right.

I should've said 6 years ago. Marquette I think got to the Elite 8 during the final year of the "old" BE, and was the only BE team ranked pre-season year 1. After pretty much the first week of the realigned Big East, the momentum went completely in Nova's favor.

[pc5151]

DePaul may not make the NCAA tournament next year but they are bringing in talent and after having 1-2 Big East level players on their roster each season for years they have 5-6 this year and will have 9 next year (including the 3 freshman). They have an assistant coach that kids want to be trained by in Tim Anderson and you can really see his impact on Paul Reed, a kid who looks like could be a big time player. DL's in game coaching can be debated but he is bringing in talent. DePaul was just so bad, a joke really, that it has taken him a long time bring in players. Being so bad they had a lot of ground to gain on other Big East teams, teams that also continue to improve. DePaul should continue with him and keep building the talent in the program.