They had some decent teams in the late 2000’s, even getting a Fiesta Bowl birth in the Big East. Seems like that would have been something they could have built on. Who knows, maybe they could have positioned themselves to take that ACC spot instead of Louisville (regardless of what BC might have thought, if UConn had solid football as well as basketball, the rest of the ACC would have been behind adding them. Plus, they certainly have better academics than Louisville).

Football requires about 45+ elite players to be a potential title contender. Basketball requires 8-9 elite players to win a title. Plus, they have been the best team for the past 25 years and have done really well with their coaching hire.

If they win it all, they'll have as many nattys as UNC and more than Duke.

Recruiting to play in the Big East is easier for UConn than the American was. With Rick Pitino back in there at St. John's look for him to build a team there. He wasn't happy with his team members this year, but he knows what he's doing too.

was willing to demolish its on campus football stadium so it could build a multi-million dollar basketball practice facility in its place. UConn was willing to go all in on basketball at the right time and now it is paying off dividends.

What kind of men's and women's basketball programs we could afford.

I'm sure many schools could outbid UConn for him if they wanted. I assume WBB isn't worth the $3.1 million a year price tag for Auriemma's services by the schools that could afford him? Louisville pays Jeff Walz $1.75 million a year. I see Dawn Staley makes $3.2. million a year while Mulkey tops them all with $3.3 million. Geno just turned 70, so he'll retire at UConn. Will non-Power 5 UConn spend millions a year for their next women's basketball head coach or will reality hit them in the head and they sign some new coach for $600,000 a year?

2nd, Their boosters are not putting much into their football. It would be interesting to see how much they have in NIL to pay out just for both MBB and WBB.

New York City, Boston, even Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC all within their reach. Also have to think certain connected families have taken an interest in them as their favorite team to root for. Also they have had excellent coaches on both the men and women’s side. ** Edited by OrlandoHokie at 3/31/2024, 1:09:07 PM

Crazy how they do it.

1. Football money. I think for people concerned about football money, and its resulting NIL money, it is more about the near- and long-term future. I am not sure if it is going to go down that way or not. Kinda reminds me of the nuclear non-proliferation movement of the 1970s and 1980s. They were afraid that the Soviet Union and United States were going to blow up the world. It never went down that way. But it doesn't mean their fears were entirely unfounded. 2. Non-P5 basketball success. I have always thought that in the era of one-and-done players, that the "underdogs" would have a better chance to compete. This is due to the fact that while programs like UK are just rolling through new AAU star freshmen year after year, the lesser programs can actually take the time with their players sticking around to build a winner. Although NIL might cut into this idea, but then again, it might support it. Not sure yet. Plus, you really only need 8 or so quality players to have a great BB team. Big difference in football. ** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 3/31/2024, 1:02:25 PM