http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstei...all-heats/

Under Five Bold Predictions

UConn will heavily explore joining another league in the offseason: The Huskies have battled injuries this season en route to a 10-12 record, but their overall cache as a program also isn’t quite what it was when they were operating in the old Big East. Kevin Ollie led UConn to a national title in 2014, but the Huskies’ brand still belongs on a bigger stage. Sources have told FanRag Sports that UConn has consistently looked into joining the Big East as a basketball only member as long as it could find another home for its football program. Other sources have stated that members of the Big East currently like the league’s double round-robin format in basketball where everyone plays each other twice and adding an 11th team could change that. A big thing to remember? The ACC will go to 20 league games during the 2019-20 season and the Big East could opt to do the same if it added the Huskies as an 11th team while keeping the double round-robin format. UConn will be better next season when it gets back Alterique Gilbert (shoulder) and Terry Larrier (ACL), but to truly return to the national scene on a high level this program may have to make a move to a more high profile league.

I could be wrong, but I believe Rothstein is unaware that an athletic program cannot be a basketball-only member of a conference (i.e. where you house basketball is your main conference affiliation). Schools can obviously be football-only members, but not basketball-only. Perhaps it was poor wording on his part.

IMO, UConn isn't coming back to the Big East (nor should they). Continue investing in football, get basketball back on track and put all your chips on the table for one last go-around into the P5 when other power conferences begin to sniff around the Big 12 again in a few years.

Not saying it is going to happen, but IF UConn went to the BE they would look to park their football in the MAC, IMO. Can't see them going INDY, as they would have serious difficulty putting together a schedule, not to mention the loss of revenue from the College Football Playoffs.

a few things-
1- I think this is a lot of Rothstein's opinion and not reality.
2- The AAC isn't what has hurt UConn. They're recruiting on a top 20 level nationally, and getting great pieces. The problem is either those pieces aren't as good as advertised, or Ollie sucks as a coach. Also, they've this year dealt with a lot of injuries.

For those that say the AAC is hurting UConn, I wouldn't say it's hurt Cincy.

I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

(02-06-2017 11:18 AM)p23570 Wrote:  I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

Maybe you should have been disappointed at how badly that poor NBE team whipped your sorry Sooners asses. What was it- 95-51?

(02-06-2017 11:07 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstei...all-heats/

Under Five Bold Predictions

UConn will heavily explore joining another league in the offseason: The Huskies have battled injuries this season en route to a 10-12 record, but their overall cache as a program also isn’t quite what it was when they were operating in the old Big East. Kevin Ollie led UConn to a national title in 2014, but the Huskies’ brand still belongs on a bigger stage. Sources have told FanRag Sports that UConn has consistently looked into joining the Big East as a basketball only member as long as it could find another home for its football program. Other sources have stated that members of the Big East currently like the league’s double round-robin format in basketball where everyone plays each other twice and adding an 11th team could change that. A big thing to remember? The ACC will go to 20 league games during the 2019-20 season and the Big East could opt to do the same if it added the Huskies as an 11th team while keeping the double round-robin format. UConn will be better next season when it gets back Alterique Gilbert (shoulder) and Terry Larrier (ACL), but to truly return to the national scene on a high level this program may have to make a move to a more high profile league.

I could be wrong, but I believe Rothstein is unaware that an athletic program cannot be a basketball-only member of a conference (i.e. where you house basketball is your main conference affiliation). Schools can obviously be football-only members, but not basketball-only. Perhaps it was poor wording on his part.

IMO, UConn isn't coming back to the Big East (nor should they). Continue investing in football, get basketball back on track and put all your chips on the table for one last go-around into the P5 when other power conferences begin to sniff around the Big 12 again in a few years.

When they talk about being a basketball only member, they mean to move all the sports to the conference. Its just a consolidated term.

(02-06-2017 11:14 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Not saying it is going to happen, but IF UConn went to the BE they would look to park their football in the MAC, IMO. Can't see them going INDY, as they would have serious difficulty putting together a schedule, not to mention the loss of revenue from the College Football Playoffs.

Actually, I think they could go Indy. I don't think there would be an issue of BYU signing a series with UConn. Along with UMass and possibly Army, that will take care of 3 November dates. Could sign a series with the upcoming new Indy team of New Mexico St.

(02-06-2017 11:18 AM)p23570 Wrote:  I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

Could it be you were actually disappointed that Oklahoma lost by a final score of 95-51 to that no-name school? Not bad for a team that has a no-name conference and that no one knows where the school is located.

(02-06-2017 11:07 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstei...all-heats/

Under Five Bold Predictions

UConn will heavily explore joining another league in the offseason: The Huskies have battled injuries this season en route to a 10-12 record, but their overall cache as a program also isn’t quite what it was when they were operating in the old Big East. Kevin Ollie led UConn to a national title in 2014, but the Huskies’ brand still belongs on a bigger stage. Sources have told FanRag Sports that UConn has consistently looked into joining the Big East as a basketball only member as long as it could find another home for its football program. Other sources have stated that members of the Big East currently like the league’s double round-robin format in basketball where everyone plays each other twice and adding an 11th team could change that. A big thing to remember? The ACC will go to 20 league games during the 2019-20 season and the Big East could opt to do the same if it added the Huskies as an 11th team while keeping the double round-robin format. UConn will be better next season when it gets back Alterique Gilbert (shoulder) and Terry Larrier (ACL), but to truly return to the national scene on a high level this program may have to make a move to a more high profile league.

I could be wrong, but I believe Rothstein is unaware that an athletic program cannot be a basketball-only member of a conference (i.e. where you house basketball is your main conference affiliation). Schools can obviously be football-only members, but not basketball-only. Perhaps it was poor wording on his part.

IMO, UConn isn't coming back to the Big East (nor should they). Continue investing in football, get basketball back on track and put all your chips on the table for one last go-around into the P5 when other power conferences begin to sniff around the Big 12 again in a few years.

Where would they go? Does the Big East want the headache of an FBS team again? Other than nostalgia what's the connection between UConn and the C7? Syracuse isn't in the Big East anymore. Who was UConn's biggest rival that's still in the Big East? St. John's or Georgetown? Anyone else?

If they are going to leave the American and pursue football independence, the only destination that makes sense is the Big East. Just not sure if the Big East would roll out the red carpet for them.

(02-06-2017 11:31 AM)megadrone Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:07 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstei...all-heats/

Under Five Bold Predictions

UConn will heavily explore joining another league in the offseason: The Huskies have battled injuries this season en route to a 10-12 record, but their overall cache as a program also isn’t quite what it was when they were operating in the old Big East. Kevin Ollie led UConn to a national title in 2014, but the Huskies’ brand still belongs on a bigger stage. Sources have told FanRag Sports that UConn has consistently looked into joining the Big East as a basketball only member as long as it could find another home for its football program. Other sources have stated that members of the Big East currently like the league’s double round-robin format in basketball where everyone plays each other twice and adding an 11th team could change that. A big thing to remember? The ACC will go to 20 league games during the 2019-20 season and the Big East could opt to do the same if it added the Huskies as an 11th team while keeping the double round-robin format. UConn will be better next season when it gets back Alterique Gilbert (shoulder) and Terry Larrier (ACL), but to truly return to the national scene on a high level this program may have to make a move to a more high profile league.

I could be wrong, but I believe Rothstein is unaware that an athletic program cannot be a basketball-only member of a conference (i.e. where you house basketball is your main conference affiliation). Schools can obviously be football-only members, but not basketball-only. Perhaps it was poor wording on his part.

IMO, UConn isn't coming back to the Big East (nor should they). Continue investing in football, get basketball back on track and put all your chips on the table for one last go-around into the P5 when other power conferences begin to sniff around the Big 12 again in a few years.

Where would they go? Does the Big East want the headache of an FBS team again? Other than nostalgia what's the connection between UConn and the C7? Syracuse isn't in the Big East anymore. Who was UConn's biggest rival that's still in the Big East? St. John's or Georgetown? Anyone else?

If they are going to leave the American and pursue football independence, the only destination that makes sense is the Big East. Just not sure if the Big East would roll out the red carpet for them.

We don't want the football headaches again, no. We also very much value our round-robin set-up, and are not looking to go away with that anytime soon. If UConn is added, it would be clear that UConn would refocus its athletic program on basketball and that it would no longer pursue a P5 membership. It would also mean that we would go to 11-teams, and bump up the conference games to 20 total, thus keeping the round-robin format.

I just don't see UConn giving up on football at this point. They need the American in order to grow football.

If the schools in the AAC are smart don't panic, they could turn the American into a basketball power conference. The base is already there with Uconn, Cincy, Memphis, Temple, Houston and SMU. They just need to add a couple more basketball powers.

Another scenerio is that the Big 12 loses Texas and Oklahoma, and the Big 12 decides to rebrand as a top basketball conference, adding Uconn, Cincy, Temple, Houston, SMU, Memphis, New Mexico, BYU

So long as UConn is unwilling to go indy in FBS football, I would say it will be impossible for them to leave the AAC.

I would have to agree the AAC is not the OBE but it's not that horrible either. Plus it is a decent football conference probably better then what was the OBE. After Miami and VT left. They had a lot of injuries this year and Ollie has to prove he can actually coach with his own players. I don't think Uconn is really doing that much worse recruiting wise in basketball mens or womens. Its just the coach not getting the same level of play from them. Next year will be a telling year for Ollie, He gets a pass because of the mass injuries this year.

(02-06-2017 11:31 AM)megadrone Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:07 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstei...all-heats/

Under Five Bold Predictions

UConn will heavily explore joining another league in the offseason: The Huskies have battled injuries this season en route to a 10-12 record, but their overall cache as a program also isn’t quite what it was when they were operating in the old Big East. Kevin Ollie led UConn to a national title in 2014, but the Huskies’ brand still belongs on a bigger stage. Sources have told FanRag Sports that UConn has consistently looked into joining the Big East as a basketball only member as long as it could find another home for its football program. Other sources have stated that members of the Big East currently like the league’s double round-robin format in basketball where everyone plays each other twice and adding an 11th team could change that. A big thing to remember? The ACC will go to 20 league games during the 2019-20 season and the Big East could opt to do the same if it added the Huskies as an 11th team while keeping the double round-robin format. UConn will be better next season when it gets back Alterique Gilbert (shoulder) and Terry Larrier (ACL), but to truly return to the national scene on a high level this program may have to make a move to a more high profile league.

I could be wrong, but I believe Rothstein is unaware that an athletic program cannot be a basketball-only member of a conference (i.e. where you house basketball is your main conference affiliation). Schools can obviously be football-only members, but not basketball-only. Perhaps it was poor wording on his part.

IMO, UConn isn't coming back to the Big East (nor should they). Continue investing in football, get basketball back on track and put all your chips on the table for one last go-around into the P5 when other power conferences begin to sniff around the Big 12 again in a few years.

Where would they go? Does the Big East want the headache of an FBS team again? Other than nostalgia what's the connection between UConn and the C7? Syracuse isn't in the Big East anymore. Who was UConn's biggest rival that's still in the Big East? St. John's or Georgetown? Anyone else?

If they are going to leave the American and pursue football independence, the only destination that makes sense is the Big East. Just not sure if the Big East would roll out the red carpet for them.

Yup. If they expand to take UConn and one other---they do so knowing that eventually UConn will leave---meaning they will eventually have to take a team they don't really want.

That said, the fact UConn likely longs for a better basketball conference---might be the reason that there are reports of some renewed consideration of adding a team like Wichita to the conference. As it is, the AAC isn't a bad basketball conference. If I were king, I'd add 3 non-football members to strengthen the basketball side, but with Memphis, Cinci, SMU, Temple, UConn, Houston, Tulsa, and Wichita---its a pretty solid basketball conference. That's 8 of 12 members that will usually field a team that has post-season potential.

Will UConn eventually leave though?

Big Ten and ACC are their only realistic options.


Adding Dayton and UConn would make the Big East even stronger in bball. I don't think anyone will argue against that.

(02-06-2017 12:14 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Will UConn eventually leave though?

Big Ten and ACC are their only realistic options.


Adding Dayton and UConn would make the Big East even stronger in bball. I don't think anyone will argue against that.

They differ from all the other BE members in that their stated desire is to leave for a P5 conference.

Dunno why they don't want to rejoin their former brethren in the ACC.

(02-06-2017 12:18 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  They differ from all the other BE members in that their stated desire is to leave for a P5 conference.

Stated desire and reality sometimes don't align.

(02-06-2017 11:18 AM)p23570 Wrote:  I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

Wut? Pretty sure people all over know who Georgetown, St. Johns Villanova etc are.

(02-06-2017 12:25 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Dunno why they don't want to rejoin their former brethren in the ACC.

They do. One has to be invited in, though.