(05-05-2014 09:21 PM)Waterloo Wrote: No to UConn please.
The B1G should have that market pretty well covered now, the only reasons the conference made the last 2 additions was to get access to DC and NYC.
How about the B1G make the right move form a fan support and competitiveness standpoint, do the right thing. Pick up some combo of KU, OU and Mizzou. Those schools get you the KC, StL markets and OU gets you OKC and a huge chunk of North Texas (DFW to the Red River).
Other than AAU status (which UConn is getting close to obtaining), I will argue that UConn is much preferable to Kansas. While the B1G has NYC
somewhat covered, it doesn't have UConn's market covered (Hartford, which is actually a slightly
bigger TV market than Kansas City):
http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corpo...-Ranks.pdf
This also doesn't include the fact that almost at least another one-third of Connecticut's population is in the New York TV market (not the Hartford market) and helps deliver the NYC market along with Rutgers.
UConn has a more decorated men's basketball team (national champs in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014) vs. Kansas (national champs in 1952, 1988, 2008). UConn has been
much more relevant in the last two decades:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCA..._champions
As for women's hoop, UConn has no equal.
UConn has another thing that the B1G needs...UConn helps the B1G expand their fledgling hockey conference as they only have six teams now.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-hockey/sp...dings.html
For B1G hockey expansion schools, there aren't many options out there. Other than a current B1G school currently without hockey adding hockey, UConn is the only FBS school other than Boston College and Notre Dame that can bring another hockey team into the B1G. As for current B1G members without hockey adding hockey, they are all located in states where people don't care about hockey. Connecticut (being in New England) has a rabid fanbase for hockey.
In football, both UConn and Kansas need work at the moment. However, UConn seems much more dedicated to turning football around. Bob Diaco will make UConn a winner over the next few years.