Dick Weiss on College Basketball
The University of Connecticut has returned to its roots, rejoining the Big East Conference. Huskies’ athletic programs will begin play in all sports but football, beginning in 2000-2021.
This will be a chance for UConn to rekindle rivalries against Georgetown, Villanova, St John’s, Seton Hall, Providence and Xavier and give the Big East a national brand name that has proven fan support in the league’s annual tournament at the Garden.
The Huskies were a charter member of the old Big East, which ended in 2013 when a group of Catholic non-football playing schools broke away to form a new Big East. UConn, which plays football was left behind and became a member the American Athletic Conference.
The Huskies’ men’s basketball won three national championships under Jim Calhoun in the old Big East in both men’s and Geno Auriemma won eight national titles in women’s basketball.
The move reportedly will cost UConn $10 million in exit fees and millions of dollars in entry fees. UConn is coming off a year where the athletic department lost $40 million dollars.
The Huskies has a problem with football. UConn officials say they are committed to keeping football in the NCAA top division. Following a Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2010, the Huskies have failed to finish .500 or better in every season. The Huskies bottomed out a 1-11 in 2018.
The Big East does not sanction football and the agreement bars the Huskies for talking to any of the Power 5 conferences prior to entering the Big East. Once it joins, UConn would need to pay $30 if the school wants to leave the Big East within the first six years. That fee drops to $15 million after year 6 and then $10 million after year 10.
Options include joining another conference or becoming an independent. The possibility of the Huskies staying in the American as a football member only is a non-starter. AAC commissioner Mike Aresco was adamant his conference won’t let UConn stay in one sport.
The American could decide to stay at 11 schools once UConn leagues, or replace the Huskies, possibly adding Army or Air Force as a football-only school, in the same vein as Navy, then add another program like VCU in basketball
