UCONN back to Big East?

Mike Zaun wrote: I guess I'm in the minority but I like this move. I used to think that UConn was an impediment to us, but the truth is that we only failed ourselves. Our hires have been horrific, and we have made tons of terrible decisions. That's why we have been so down...not because of UConn. Will they battle us for more recruits? Maybe...but IMO they still would've picked them in the AAC over us anyway if they were that interested in them. So no real difference IMO.

What it comes down to is, do you want our conference more stable or less stable? In the event of a NCAA breakaway, adding UConn makes it much, much harder to leave us out of further alignment. We all know the BE is major, but adding UConn closes the casket on any criticism that it isn't and buries it for good. We can't run on emotion...we have to run on sound business decisions. It's a business and we will get more money and exposure for adding them. We all know Hurley will get them back to being at least a likely top 25 team soon...why let the AAC reap the benefits? The AAC was just starting to get pretty good to be honest...it's a great time to pluck them just before they ripen. This will strengthen fan attendance, rivalries, history, tradition, branding, TV deals, and eyeballs nationally. I hate UConn just as much as the next guy, but this is the right move for our conference. Only we control our destiny.

For the most part, I agree with this. More pluses than minuses to adding UCONN as far as I can see.
 
[quote="Double J" post=352727]Anyone know how they will reconfigure the tournament once there are 11 teams?[/quote]
Source telling me they'll be a Wednesday triple-header, including (I'm assuming) a "play-in" game ... but the last-place team will not be sitting it out.
 
This is a GREAT move for the Big East. It was inevitable once Syracuse blew up the old BE that UCONN would end up back here once the dust settled and they had no power conference affiliation.

Instant rivalries. More fans at the tournament, which will please MSG and end their flirtations with the ACC. Just need to make sure they can't blow things up again. The penalty for leaving need to be extreme.

For folks who think this is a bad move for St John's...suck it up. Don't be afraid of competition. If we run our programs correctly with a competent AD and coaches, then we'll be just fine. If we don't then it doesn't matter who else is in the conference. We'd suck anyway.

Now go get Gonzaga or Cincinnati so its a 12 team league with two divisions. You play everyone in your division twice and everyone in the other once. That's 16 games. Free's up two games to strengthen the RPI with good out of conference match ups.

East - St John's, Providence, Villanova, Uconn, Georgetown, Seton Hall
West - Gonzaga/Cincy, Xavier, Creighton, Butler, Marquette, DePaul
 
Other thread was deleted but:

1. This is a great decision that was too obvious not to make.

2. This is a business and it greatly strengthens our conference further.

3. If there is ever a breakaway from the NCAA with a different tourney, it would be much harder to not include the Big East with UConn back to add with G'Town and Nova.

4. We only beat ourselves...UConn competes for our recruits anyway and they often win the battles anyway even in the AAC. There will be no difference. As Jack said, don't shy away from competition...let's smack UConn around at MSG. I'll be the first one to lose my voice.

5. Restores natural rivalry, tradition, more exposure, more money, and there would be a massive fee if they leave again. Worst possible case is we get a huge payday and they leave...which puts us in the same boat we were before which was still very good.

The Big East tournament just gained a lot of its luster back and now we will have UConn vs. SJ/PC/Nova/G'Town again. Will be interesting because now PC has been better than UConn. I think this will be a TON of fun. Still hate them, but let's show up to the games like we did last year and there's nothing to worry about (regarding a home "away" game). Bring it! Also, no one can ever question if we are a major conference again UConn will be top 25 soon and I'd rather have it happen in our conference than the AAC which is starting to creep up.
 
[quote="Adam" post=352733]Why was the other thread deleted?[/quote]

Don't know what happened too it. We'll find it and get it restored if possible.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=352739]Done[/quote]
We gettin Pacheco? :lol:
Good for conference overall but could hurt us a bit in recruiting and probably makes it a little harder to make the tournament.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=352739]Done[/quote]

I would have preferred not to have UConn in the conference, but if a done deal, it will give us a MSG sellout every year, and will make the Big East Tourney a very tough ticket, again. On the negative side, we'll have to tolerate their obnoxious, half-witted fans, again.
 
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It’s good for the conference overall. Makes us more powerful. It won’t effect our recruiting. It will be great to being back another team that fills the garden. I hate em but it’s inevitable.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=352738]Other thread was deleted but:

1. This is a great decision that was too obvious not to make.

2. This is a business and it greatly strengthens our conference further.

3. If there is ever a breakaway from the NCAA with a different tourney, it would be much harder to not include the Big East with UConn back to add with G'Town and Nova.

4. We only beat ourselves...UConn competes for our recruits anyway and they often win the battles anyway even in the AAC. There will be no difference. As Jack said, don't shy away from competition...let's smack UConn around at MSG. I'll be the first one to lose my voice.

5. Restores natural rivalry, tradition, more exposure, more money, and there would be a massive fee if they leave again. Worst possible case is we get a huge payday and they leave...which puts us in the same boat we were before which was still very good.

The Big East tournament just gained a lot of its luster back and now we will have UConn vs. SJ/PC/Nova/G'Town again. Will be interesting because now PC has been better than UConn. I think this will be a TON of fun. Still hate them, but let's show up to the games like we did last year and there's nothing to worry about (regarding a home "away" game). Bring it! Also, no one can ever question if we are a major conference again UConn will be top 25 soon and I'd rather have it happen in our conference than the AAC which is starting to creep up.[/quote]

As someone who always wanted UConn back, I agree with Mike here.

Too many people assumed UConn would never return to glory. It was inevitable, and much better for them to do that in the Big East than the AAC.

I am certain that this will also help everyone in our next TV deal. Even the women's games will finally have some value.

Great news for the league!
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=352743]It’s good for the conference overall. Makes us more powerful. It won’t effect our recruiting. It will be great to being back another team that fills the garden. I hate em but it’s inevitable.[/quote]

Before it's official, those SOB's should apologize to every old B.E. school for trying to leave not once, but twice.
Are they they keeping their football.
I say they can burn in hell and shouldn't be allowed back in the B.E., but I'm powerless so whatever.
 
Don't see how anyone can dislike this move unless it's strictly based on their emotion. We all hate UConn...but again this is a business. Why are we assuming it will be "harder" to make the tourney now? If UConn is ranked on the reg again, that's 2 more chances we can beat a ranked team. The chances have decreased considerably in conference post realignment. I see it as, they will have a target on their back, not vice versa. We beat them the last game we played them in 2013...they are beatable. This guarantees sellouts at UConn and at MSG for our games. It also guarantees a TON more BET tickets sold and much more exposure. I can see Dan Hurley flipping out already on the sidelines after a big fast break dunk by one of our future players ;).
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=352738]

2. This is a business and it greatly strengthens our conference further.

[/quote]
The only thing wrong with this statement is that it’s not #1. I despise Yukon as much as everyone else, but it is the correct move to make. Hurley has been a solid coach so far, but everyone seems to think he’s Jim Calhoun. Maybe someday, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

The bottom line is always the bottom line.
 
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It's good for the league and good for us.

Doesn't change the fact that I HATE UConn. I actually think I hate them more than Cuse and Duke.
 
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