Chasing Ghosts: UConn ESPN Article

[TheBasketballOpinion]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... ting-uconn

"Medcalf: I'm not sure if it will guarantee anything for the Huskies, but the Big East feels like an appropriate home that's equipped with the logistical advantages in a rich recruiting market. I mean, they just built new football locker rooms and the football team doesn't even have a home for the 2020 season. That's how strong the Big East brand is for UConn.

The Big East makes sense. It's a familiar pairing. The American produced some solid competition but few casual fans could name most members of the league. Meanwhile, the Big East is rolling right now and it's led by schools that matter on the East Coast. This seems like a complete win for basketball and it makes Hurley's job easier when he's making the pitch to prospects within the region."

[scoscox]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/27216796/calhoun-looms-large-clouds-parting-uconn

"Medcalf: I mean, they just built new football locker rooms and the football team doesn't even have a home for the 2020 season. That's how strong the Big East brand is for UConn.

What is he saying here? I don’t really think these are related in any way

[Django]

Aaaaannnnd yet another espn writer wants to defect and join FS1

[GoldenWarrior11]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/27216796/calhoun-looms-large-clouds-parting-uconn

"Medcalf: I mean, they just built new football locker rooms and the football team doesn't even have a home for the 2020 season. That's how strong the Big East brand is for UConn.

What is he saying here? I don’t really think these are related in any way

He means that the Big East brand (as a non-football conference) is so strong that it overshadows the present needs for the UConn Football program - which include just getting brand new locker rooms, despite not having an official home moving forward.

[GoldenWarrior11]

In terms of on-court impact, as Myron notes, I think its greatest consequence will be on the recruiting front. Calhoun strongly recruited the Northeast and D.C. areas -- especially New York -- during the Huskies' run, while also keeping some New England prep school kids home. All of that is in the heart of the Big East. And if you told a top-100 kid from New York he could play against Wichita State and Cincinnati and SMU or he could play against St. John's and Villanova and Georgetown, it's not hard to figure out which he would pick. - Jeff Borzello

Here's an affirmed point that many AAC fans simply could not wrap their heads around. The AAC footprint did not benefit UConn (in any sport). There was no sense of regionalism or geographic rivalry that got anyone in the league excited. It didn't matter that SMU hired Larry Brown, or that Memphis has a top recruiting class, or that Wichita State recently made a Final Four - UConn was never going to be able to get its players, teams or fans excited about playing any of the teams. Now, all the NE players that they will recruit moving forward and guaranteed to have multiple games within the region that they can be seen when playing.

[Savannah Jay]

In terms of on-court impact, as Myron notes, I think its greatest consequence will be on the recruiting front. Calhoun strongly recruited the Northeast and D.C. areas -- especially New York -- during the Huskies' run, while also keeping some New England prep school kids home. All of that is in the heart of the Big East. And if you told a top-100 kid from New York he could play against Wichita State and Cincinnati and SMU or he could play against St. John's and Villanova and Georgetown, it's not hard to figure out which he would pick. - Jeff Borzello

Here's an affirmed point that many AAC fans simply could not wrap their heads around. The AAC footprint did not benefit UConn (in any sport). There was no sense of regionalism or geographic rivalry that got anyone in the league excited. It didn't matter that SMU hired Larry Brown, or that Memphis has a top recruiting class, or that Wichita State recently made a Final Four - UConn was never going to be able to get its players, teams or fans excited about playing any of the teams. Now, all the NE players that they will recruit moving forward and guaranteed to have multiple games within the region that they can be seen when playing.

Exactly...to say nothing of UCONN's teams playing in front of, on average, twice as many fans in the BE as the AAC. I bet anyone a cold beer or 12 that UCONN's attendance goes up at least 50% it's first year in the Big East, because they will have home games against teams their fans actually want to see them play. I would place the same bet that their attendance will never be 7800 like it's been the last few years in the AAC.

[billyjack]

In terms of on-court impact, as Myron notes, I think its greatest consequence will be on the recruiting front. Calhoun strongly recruited the Northeast and D.C. areas -- especially New York -- during the Huskies' run, while also keeping some New England prep school kids home. All of that is in the heart of the Big East. And if you told a top-100 kid from New York he could play against Wichita State and Cincinnati and SMU or he could play against St. John's and Villanova and Georgetown, it's not hard to figure out which he would pick. - Jeff Borzello

Here's an affirmed point that many AAC fans simply could not wrap their heads around. The AAC footprint did not benefit UConn (in any sport). There was no sense of regionalism or geographic rivalry that got anyone in the league excited. It didn't matter that SMU hired Larry Brown, or that Memphis has a top recruiting class, or that Wichita State recently made a Final Four - UConn was never going to be able to get its players, teams or fans excited about playing any of the teams. Now, all the NE players that they will recruit moving forward and guaranteed to have multiple games within the region that they can be seen when playing.

Exactly...to say nothing of UCONN's teams playing in front of, on average, twice as many fans in the BE as the AAC. I bet anyone a cold beer or 12 that UCONN's attendance goes up at least 50% it's first year in the Big East, because they will have home games against teams their fans actually want to see them play. I would place the same bet that their attendance will never be 7800 like it's been the last few years in the AAC.

Totally agree. Plus fans of nearby opponents will fill in any vacant seats. Also, UConn's road games will boost the attendance for all of us.

[GoldenWarrior11]

In terms of on-court impact, as Myron notes, I think its greatest consequence will be on the recruiting front. Calhoun strongly recruited the Northeast and D.C. areas -- especially New York -- during the Huskies' run, while also keeping some New England prep school kids home. All of that is in the heart of the Big East. And if you told a top-100 kid from New York he could play against Wichita State and Cincinnati and SMU or he could play against St. John's and Villanova and Georgetown, it's not hard to figure out which he would pick. - Jeff Borzello

Here's an affirmed point that many AAC fans simply could not wrap their heads around. The AAC footprint did not benefit UConn (in any sport). There was no sense of regionalism or geographic rivalry that got anyone in the league excited. It didn't matter that SMU hired Larry Brown, or that Memphis has a top recruiting class, or that Wichita State recently made a Final Four - UConn was never going to be able to get its players, teams or fans excited about playing any of the teams. Now, all the NE players that they will recruit moving forward and guaranteed to have multiple games within the region that they can be seen when playing.

Exactly...to say nothing of UCONN's teams playing in front of, on average, twice as many fans in the BE as the AAC. I bet anyone a cold beer or 12 that UCONN's attendance goes up at least 50% it's first year in the Big East, because they will have home games against teams their fans actually want to see them play. I would place the same bet that their attendance will never be 7800 like it's been the last few years in the AAC.

Totally agree. Plus fans of nearby opponents will fill in any vacant seats. Also, UConn's road games will boost the attendance for all of us.

UConn's addition will add another 19k sold-out game/session for the BET as well. The last year in the Big East, UConn had 171,644 in total attendance (10,728 average); last year, UConn only had 125,271 in total attendance (7,829 average). That will easily bump the league over the Big 12, and put us very close - on average - to the ACC home attendance.

[Django]

We’ve already had a 7 bid year, with the addition of UCONN our chances of having an 8 bid year go up exponentially

[Edrick]

...our chances of having an 8 bid year go up exponentially