(06-10-2015 06:40 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  I love how UConn is the obsession on this board.

We get the most threads by far, but I still don't know why.

I'll get flack for this I know... but I was at the Yankee game yesterday and then walking around Manhattan after... the only Rutgers (New York City's team © ) logo I saw all day was the sign at Yankee Stadium with past Pinstripe Bowl participants.

I saw at least 25 people wearing UConn things ... another good dozen wearing Syracuse stuff or Maryland (keep in mind the Yanks were playing the Nationals) and 5 people wearing Cincy things... 5 different people wearing Baylor stuff (not sure why, but good for them... a lot of SF Giants fans were in town to see Yankee Stadium with the Yanks day game sandwiched in between two Mets/Giants night games at Citi Field... maybe Baylor gets some love in the Bay Area even? a stretch I know ). Handful of current Big East schools... (Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall) I'll just repeat... zero Rutgers things...

I don't think people outside of NYC or the Northeast realize that 1. NYC doesn't and won't ever have a favorite college team because it's just too big a city. 2. If you must pick a team, it's probably ND there because of their national draw.. if you throw basketball in it's UConn or Syracuse.

UConn fans kind of annoy me at times because they disrespect coaches/players who have led to success, but at the same rate.. they have seen their team build a basketball team from virtually nothing to 4 national titles in 20 years. The football team was respectable before the last two coaching hires... but the fan base in CT (which has far less to do to entertain themselves with pro sports or NYC/Boston city fare) - the fans will start going back to games when the team wins.

Maybe the bottom line of the rambling is this.. UConn was nothing 20 years ago in any sport but soccer... every sport got better, some dramatically (basketball... even baseball has produced a bunch of MLB guys). UConn fans believe that they can become a football power and will show up and support a team that wins - it worked in basketball.

This again is a sign UConn has to get out of the AAC. If the football coach has another losing season maybe he can leave Storrs.

(06-11-2015 09:09 AM)connecticutguy Wrote:  This again is a sign UConn has to get out of the AAC. If the football coach has another losing season maybe he can leave Storrs.

Winning cures everything. If Diaco turns them around I'll be the biggest fan of his ever. Just not expecting it.

(06-11-2015 09:09 AM)connecticutguy Wrote:  This again is a sign UConn has to get out of the AAC. If the football coach has another losing season maybe he can leave Storrs.

Yes but where do you go? I laugh at anyone who suggests the Big East/CAA combo; too much investment was made to drop football back down to FCS.

The ACC didn't take UConn, and there isn't a clear need for any of the conferences to expand past 14. If the Big 12 expands, it isn't likely that they'd take UConn.

(06-11-2015 02:30 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 02:01 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 12:43 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  I don't understand what the issue is? So UConn, in an area of slim pickings for recruits is getting overly creative in trying to create ways for themselves to improve recruiting in one of the strongest recruiting markets in the country?

Now granted, it does come off as pretty desperate but if I was trying to recruit strong enough to be looked at by the higher up conferences then I would try and get creative too if I was running UConn.

The issue is it makes zero sense.


The UConn coach creating a rivalry trophy with USF makes a little sense. Twelve games between the programs, a fairly competitive record, of the twelve games all but two are close games. That makes sense.


Creating one for a series where in two games you are 1-1 yest outscored in the two 91-54 makes zero sense, and should be mocked at every opportunity.

I could see a rivalry trophy be created if U. Mass. joins the AAC and compete with U. Conn.

Even though I'd want UMass to be in the AAC, this rivalry could be formed without UMass joining the AAC. It would just mean scheduling each other every year.

UMass would be on board with that, I can almost guarantee it. It would just take UConn to want it.

UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

(06-11-2015 10:43 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

(06-12-2015 03:05 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 10:43 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

(06-12-2015 03:16 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:05 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 10:43 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

TOURNEY
LOCATION
MSG
NAME
Eastern Classic
HARDWARE
WINNER: Heart of the BIG EAST
FORMAT
ROUND ONE: Boston College v. UConn
ROUND ONE: Syracuse v. Georgetown
ROUND TWO: Winner v. Winner
ROUND TWO: Loser v. Loser
That tournament would make a ridiculous amount of money, and the ratings would be unreal.

Nobody answered.....can you have a rivalry after two games?

(06-12-2015 10:42 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:16 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:05 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 10:43 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

TOURNEY
LOCATION
MSG
NAME
Eastern Classic
HARDWARE
WINNER: Heart of the BIG EAST
FORMAT
ROUND ONE: Boston College v. UConn
ROUND ONE: Syracuse v. Georgetown
ROUND TWO: Winner v. Winner
ROUND TWO: Loser v. Loser
That tournament would make a ridiculous amount of money, and the ratings would be unreal.

Ahhhh there it is. Makes sense.

(06-12-2015 10:42 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:16 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:05 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 10:43 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

TOURNEY
LOCATION
MSG
NAME
Eastern Classic
HARDWARE
WINNER: Heart of the BIG EAST
FORMAT
ROUND ONE: Boston College v. UConn
ROUND ONE: Syracuse v. Georgetown
ROUND TWO: Winner v. Winner
ROUND TWO: Loser v. Loser
That tournament would make a ridiculous amount of money, and the ratings would be unreal.

It'd be a cool thing to have. I do, however, think the participants need a minor tweak. In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest. They definitely weren't a part of the "Heart of the Big East" in basketball. Villanova fits that role much better. I'd say Providence too...

On a side note...I think UCONN, Cuse, Georgetown, and Nova should all be playing each other on a yearly basis anyways. Glad to see that some of these match-ups have been scheduled or are being discussed.

(06-13-2015 09:06 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 10:42 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:16 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:05 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 10:43 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  UCONN should let a natural rivalry develop with NIU... battle of the Huskies. You can stomp us in basketball and we'll return the favor in football

Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

TOURNEY
LOCATION
MSG
NAME
Eastern Classic
HARDWARE
WINNER: Heart of the BIG EAST
FORMAT
ROUND ONE: Boston College v. UConn
ROUND ONE: Syracuse v. Georgetown
ROUND TWO: Winner v. Winner
ROUND TWO: Loser v. Loser
That tournament would make a ridiculous amount of money, and the ratings would be unreal.

It'd be a cool thing to have. I do, however, think the participants need a minor tweak. In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest. They definitely weren't a part of the "Heart of the Big East" in basketball. Villanova fits that role much better. I'd say Providence too...

On a side note...I think UCONN, Cuse, Georgetown, and Nova should all be playing each other on a yearly basis anyways. Glad to see that some of these match-ups have been scheduled or are being discussed.

"In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest."

If you're judging it on those factors, you're missing the point.

(06-13-2015 09:37 AM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-13-2015 09:06 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 10:42 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:16 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:05 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  Husky nation will be pulling for NIU on September 26... I'll tell you that. NIU and UConn.

Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

TOURNEY
LOCATION
MSG
NAME
Eastern Classic
HARDWARE
WINNER: Heart of the BIG EAST
FORMAT
ROUND ONE: Boston College v. UConn
ROUND ONE: Syracuse v. Georgetown
ROUND TWO: Winner v. Winner
ROUND TWO: Loser v. Loser
That tournament would make a ridiculous amount of money, and the ratings would be unreal.

It'd be a cool thing to have. I do, however, think the participants need a minor tweak. In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest. They definitely weren't a part of the "Heart of the Big East" in basketball. Villanova fits that role much better. I'd say Providence too...

On a side note...I think UCONN, Cuse, Georgetown, and Nova should all be playing each other on a yearly basis anyways. Glad to see that some of these match-ups have been scheduled or are being discussed.

"In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest."

If you're judging it on those factors, you're missing the point.

Not really. Better ratings and money would come from a Nova/UCONN match-up.

Why would BC be included in a "Heart of the Big East" basketball tourney when there are other Eastern teams that better fit the description and make for more compelling match-ups?

(06-13-2015 10:16 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(06-13-2015 09:37 AM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-13-2015 09:06 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 10:42 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-12-2015 03:16 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  Not fond of BC? Haha or just an inner P5 struggle to stay at the top?

TOURNEY
LOCATION
MSG
NAME
Eastern Classic
HARDWARE
WINNER: Heart of the BIG EAST
FORMAT
ROUND ONE: Boston College v. UConn
ROUND ONE: Syracuse v. Georgetown
ROUND TWO: Winner v. Winner
ROUND TWO: Loser v. Loser
That tournament would make a ridiculous amount of money, and the ratings would be unreal.

It'd be a cool thing to have. I do, however, think the participants need a minor tweak. In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest. They definitely weren't a part of the "Heart of the Big East" in basketball. Villanova fits that role much better. I'd say Providence too...

On a side note...I think UCONN, Cuse, Georgetown, and Nova should all be playing each other on a yearly basis anyways. Glad to see that some of these match-ups have been scheduled or are being discussed.

"In terms of basketball prestige, accomplishments, fanbase, etc., BC doesn't belong with the rest."

If you're judging it on those factors, you're missing the point.

Not really. Better ratings and money would come from a Nova/UCONN match-up.

Why would BC be included in a "Heart of the Big East" basketball tourney when there are other Eastern teams that better fit the description and make for more compelling match-ups?

If you think that UConn v Nova is more compelling than BC v UCONN, you're living in denial. Yes, Nova is a better team. But no, it would not get better ratings. It's far less interesting, as neither school has tried to annihilate the other's athletic program. THAT is s storyline.

Anyway, *the* heart of the BIG EAST was Syracuse. Everyone else was just taking up space. When we left, the conference died.

(06-11-2015 08:28 AM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 05:47 AM)NestaKnight1 Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 12:11 AM)BigHouston Wrote:  I say UConn wins this next game...


... sorry UCF but looks to me Diaco's boys will be ready.

I wouldn't bet the farm, UCF won't be subjected to the cold of Conn in November for the next game.

UConn should have consulted UCF so they could have put the school's proper logo on the trophy (which they didn't). They also should have put both games .. not just the fluky bad-weather game UConn won last year. I understand what Diaco is doing picking a fight with the toughest kid in the school yard... but UConn's schedule this year is monstrous for a team that won only 2 games last year.... I think Diaco should have been a little more intelligent about this (or proposed a rivalry with Temple or Cincy as said in the post- since they've been playing those schools a lot longer) - they could be a 1-3 win team this year and less than 6 wins in 2 years isn't going to keep his job long.

I get it that these two programs have no history with each other but most good strange rivalries start with unexpected drama and this one is no different.

This game here like many others in THE AMERICAN have yet to start and already under eyeball consideration.

I'm definitely watching this game.

(06-13-2015 11:06 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 08:28 AM)jskwrite Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 05:47 AM)NestaKnight1 Wrote:  

(06-11-2015 12:11 AM)BigHouston Wrote:  I say UConn wins this next game...


... sorry UCF but looks to me Diaco's boys will be ready.

I wouldn't bet the farm, UCF won't be subjected to the cold of Conn in November for the next game.

UConn should have consulted UCF so they could have put the school's proper logo on the trophy (which they didn't). They also should have put both games .. not just the fluky bad-weather game UConn won last year. I understand what Diaco is doing picking a fight with the toughest kid in the school yard... but UConn's schedule this year is monstrous for a team that won only 2 games last year.... I think Diaco should have been a little more intelligent about this (or proposed a rivalry with Temple or Cincy as said in the post- since they've been playing those schools a lot longer) - they could be a 1-3 win team this year and less than 6 wins in 2 years isn't going to keep his job long.

I get it that these two programs have no history with each other but most good strange rivalries start with unexpected drama and this one is no different.

This game here like many others in THE AMERICAN have yet to start and already under eyeball consideration.

I'm definitely watching this game.

Houston is the team most likely to lose the trap game at UConn this year... late November, potentially brutal weather - but, last year at that time the weather was pleasant and warm in CT so... that might not matter either. Going to be a long season for UConn. On the bright side for them, the basketball team will be very, very good.

(06-13-2015 05:45 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  If you think that UConn v Nova is more compelling than BC v UCONN, you're living in denial. Yes, Nova is a better team. But no, it would not get better ratings. It's far less interesting, as neither school has tried to annihilate the other's athletic program. THAT is s storyline.

Anyway, *the* heart of the BIG EAST was Syracuse. Everyone else was just taking up space. When we left, the conference died.

UConn - Nova would get better ratings than UConn - BC, because Nova is a bigger basketball name than BC. It's that simple.

And in your second to last sentence, you misspelled "Georgetown".

(06-14-2015 12:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-13-2015 05:45 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  If you think that UConn v Nova is more compelling than BC v UCONN, you're living in denial. Yes, Nova is a better team. But no, it would not get better ratings. It's far less interesting, as neither school has tried to annihilate the other's athletic program. THAT is s storyline.

Anyway, *the* heart of the BIG EAST was Syracuse. Everyone else was just taking up space. When we left, the conference died.

UConn - Nova would get better ratings than UConn - BC, because Nova is a bigger basketball name than BC. It's that simple.

And in your second to last sentence, you misspelled "Georgetown".

I get Nova is better, but stories sell. Two teams that have each tried to destroy the other meeting in a game that was sworn to never happen on the world's biggest stage is one h*ll of a story.

Two good teams meeting on the world's biggest stage is a good story.

That's the difference. UConn v. 'Nova is just another game. UConn v. BC is a grudge match. Going purely by who is a better program, SU v. UNC would be better than Georgetown, but I think everyone would agree with me that SU v. GU is a much more compelling game.

(06-14-2015 12:34 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(06-14-2015 12:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-13-2015 05:45 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  If you think that UConn v Nova is more compelling than BC v UCONN, you're living in denial. Yes, Nova is a better team. But no, it would not get better ratings. It's far less interesting, as neither school has tried to annihilate the other's athletic program. THAT is s storyline.

Anyway, *the* heart of the BIG EAST was Syracuse. Everyone else was just taking up space. When we left, the conference died.

UConn - Nova would get better ratings than UConn - BC, because Nova is a bigger basketball name than BC. It's that simple.

And in your second to last sentence, you misspelled "Georgetown".

I get Nova is better, but stories sell. Two teams that have each tried to destroy the other meeting in a game that was sworn to never happen on the world's biggest stage is one h*ll of a story.

Two good teams meeting on the world's biggest stage is a good story.

That's the difference. UConn v. 'Nova is just another game. UConn v. BC is a grudge match. Going purely by who is a better program, SU v. UNC would be better than Georgetown, but I think everyone would agree with me that SU v. GU is a much more compelling game.

UConn has actually played both BC and Villanova once since the Big East implosion - UConn squeaked out a win vs. BC and beat 'Nova in the tournament in a strange but interesting game... I'd rather see Villanova because they have been a top 10 program the last couple of years. BC is not good. The off the court rivalry doesn't help the RPI.