UCONN gone

[wichshock65]

[Maizerunner08]

This loss is almost all optics. Almost like how some people still associate WSU baseball as being good on program history alone.

[N Crestway]

Think losing Connecticut is big, a little more than just optics. Losing the primary state school of a state with a bigger population than Kansas located north of the NYC metro is going to hurt... since the 1990's the only notable basketball school in New England.

[Shox The Revenant]

This hurts bad. There's no amount of spin-doctoring that can lessen the blow. The AAC is not going to allow UCONN to be a football only member so what other programs that are out there that play D1 football and quality basketball? Football is going to drive this and the options are very limited. This sucks so bad.

[another shocker]

it sucks because uconn has the new york college basketball market sewed up.

they'll enjoy watching wichita state rip it up, tear it up, give 'em hell shocks!

[Stickboy46]

This hurts bad. There's no amount of spin-doctoring that can lessen the blow. The AAC is not going to allow UCONN to be a football only member so what other programs that are out there that play D1 football and quality basketball? Football is going to drive this and the options are very limited. This sucks so bad.

It's definitely not as bad as you are making it sound. The idea of Army/VCU add would make the conference as strong or better. UConn football was adding nothing. Basketball hasn't added much in the last few years.

Losing Cincy, Memphis, Houston, or UCF would be way worse than this.

[State]

Losing Cincy, Memphis, Houston, or UCF would be way worse than this.

And, that's a matter of when, not if. Buckle up.

[WichitaStateGuy]

And, that's a matter of when, not if. Buckle up.

Some very pointed first three posts there, State. Quiet day in Lawrence?

[WuShock Reaper]

"Financially, UConn’s exit should have no bearing on the new media rights deal the AAC recently reached with ESPN. The AAC’s exit fee is $10 million, and schools must give 27 months’ notice, meaning UConn may have some negotiating to do in that area."

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/usf-bulls/2019/06/22/uconn-appears-headed-back-to-big-east-but-what-does-it-mean-for-usf/

[ShockerD]

Wish we had Football!

[JJClamdip]

Yea, let’s bring that dead horse discussion back up for the millionth fricking time!

[Stickboy46]

Some very pointed first three posts there, State. Quiet day in Lawrence?

Must be... Gonna be awkward when WSU has the deciding vote to add KU to the AAC after the Big 12 blows up when Texas and Oklahoma leave

[Dark Lord]

If UCONN leaves, it is not the best optics for the American. However, it is not a significant loss on the field of play unless Hurley turns things around and makes them a bad ass nationally again. Could happen.

UCONN is hemorrhaging money in their athletic department. I believe all of their sports each lost millions. Taking less money is not going to fix that problem. Plus, without a home for football, which the American would never allow to stay, they are likely to lose even more there. Putting together an independent schedule is not the easiest thing to do, especially when you are as horrible as the Huskies.

Now, if they do leave, the American does not have to rush to do anything. They can make football work and basketball goes to a round robin format. Not a big deal. They could have some options that might have potential.

Army/VCU - The service academies have value because of what they represent. VCU would be a terrific add for basketball.
Charlotte - Not sure what their success level is right now, but it is a large market and a program that could have potential.
Old Dominion - I believe their football has been steady and they have expanded their stadium and they have been pretty solid in basketball.
Buffalo - Solid in both major sports. Just lost their basketball coach, but in the American it could give them a better chance to hold onto one that has success. Still keeps New York in play to a degree.
UAB - There is potential there, but they are treated so poorly by the state that I am unsure if they will ever get over the hump.
Western Kentucky - They have had some good flashes in both major sports and fit within the current footprint.
Middle Tennessee State - Same as Western Kentucky.
Missouri State - The Dark Lord has jokes.

None of those names are as sexy as UCONN, but most would improve football and at least be a wash in basketball with where UCONN has been in the past five years. Joining the American can only help these schools as well when it comes to exposure, recruiting and retaining coaches.

I am sure that there are other options that could be thrown around, but I believe these are probably the most likely, realistic options, that could provide some good basketball.

Others I have seen mentioned elsewhere are mostly because of regional connections or football only thinking with the likes of Marshall, Appalachian State, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State, Southern MIssissippi, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, North Texas, Rice.

I also do not believe that grabbing a Mountain West school is likely. American fans have been dreaming of that since the beginning. The only possible scenario would most likely be taking all of the range schools as a group (New Mexico, Air Force, Colorado State, Wyoming). Is it really worth it to do that?

[ShockerFever]

And, that's a matter of when, not if. Buckle up.

Thank you for you interest in Wichita State athletics.

Please come again.

[ShockerFever]

UConn has really been a name only in the AAC. They haven’t been a factor since Calhoun’s boys have moved on. Their recruiting has trended up lately with Hurley but still hasn’t shown in on-court results.

I don’t fault them but also got really tired of the look-down attitude by a lot of them (not you Husky).

If they became a punching bag in the BE, what will their excuse be for dragging them down?

[Aargh]

There's a few people getting too nervous about this. UConn's athletic department had revenues $41 million short of expenses in the last reporting period. With more regional games and more rivalry games in the big east, they can probably boost basketball attendance, but selling an additional $41 million in basketball tickets isn't going to happen.

UConn's history is bright. Their future looks pretty dim. Those kinds of losses in an athletic department cannot be maintained. Football is the big drag on their budget, but UConn insists they will not give up football. As an independent, they will not be able to schedule games with the top end of the AAC, which is likely to decrease their ticket revenue from football.

We're familiar with a similar situation at Northern Iowa. The difference is that UNI has an outstanding lower-level FB program and is likely to outdraw UConn for football with a lower revenue drain for scholarships. When UNI's budget shortfalls hit, their basketball program went down.

Ron Baker's time with the Knicks may be more important for east coast recruiting than WSU's league affiliation with UCOnn.

[Maizerunner08]

Solid Post. This is a good take on the situation.

[KraRam]

Great take and also a lesson for why we should not be thinking about adding football in my opinion.