Another example of how the big east helps Connecticut recruit in the portal.

[CL82]

Periodically on here there have been comments about how being a member of Big East benefits Connecticut. It definitely does. I was listening to this Silas Demary interview. There are a few comments that I thought would be interesting for you guys.

The first is when he was asked what were his biggest games last year. He said St. John's and Marquette talking about what a pleasure it is to play against "big-time" programs. Keep in mind that last year he played for Georgia. You hear a lot of talk about the power of the SEC, which it definitely has as a P2 football power, but there's also a lot of jawing about it. Basketball footprint. Yet, here's a kid who played at Georgia and the two biggest games of his season were Big East teams whom he referred to as "big time."

The second one of the things he's looking forward to about next season is playing at Madison Square Garden. He talks about how so few people have the "privilege" of doing that. Again, that's squarely the Big East brand.

So, why does that matter to you guys? Well, I remember when Jim Calhoun first came to Connecticut he sold playing in the Big East conference really hard. He told her recruits he may have not have gotten an offer to play for Georgetown or St. John's, but if you come here, you'll get to play against them and beat them. I think that's squarely what Holloway should be selling. A lot of people on here post about Seton Hall's shortcomings, and I think that's natural coming off a rough season, but the big east is something that it can and should sell. Yeah, that's not going to help you versus another Big East team, but versus the rest of the country, I suspect it does more than we realize. I have to believe that in the new facilities really ought to give Seton Hall opportunities.

I've included the entire interview below, it's long and I don't expect you guys to actually be interested in it, but it's there for anyone who wants to listen to it. (If you scroll like halfway through the portal section, the interviewer asked him why he chose UConn and that's when he talks about a lot of Connecticut stuff, but also about the big east). Demary is a great kid, a good speaker and he seems to emphasize all the right things.

 

[MooneyHall07]

The most fascinating part of the House settlement to me is how blue-blood Basketball schools with less successful football programs handle revenue sharing.

UNC and UCONN are two that standout to me. UNC now has an alpha head football coach in Belichick, who is not going to willingly give up money to Hubert Davis. How does that dynamic play out? Does UNC hoops suffer as a result?

UCONN is not in a power conference, has wanted to be in a power conference, but not only do they have a blue-blood men's basketball program but the preeminent women's basketball program in the sport. They could join the Big 12 or ACC but they would have to spend money on football like those programs. Does this change their desire to get into a power 4 conference?

 

[radecicco]

UConn is gone the minute they get an invite. The State of Connecticut will back stop any financial issues just as they are doing now.

 

[CL82]

Absolutely correct. The fiscal reality of it is if someone wants to give us 10 times the conference distribution we get from the big east, minimally, we can't say no. Everyone, from the coaches, to the players, to the A.D., to the president and the fans like the big east. It's been good to us. But if someone wants to hand you $40 million plus every year, you say yes, gratefully. The sad part is that may not even be enough to allow you to compete in the New World order, but it would definitely help.

That said, any of the P4 conferences know that UConn is there whenever they want it. Only the ACC and the Big 12 have expressed a material interest, and ultimately they both did not pull the trigger. That's the status quo. Something needs to happen to change that. Maybe that's teams leaving the ACC in 2030, but who knows. So, minimally, Connecticut is in the Big East for another five years handed all honesty I've got a healthy skepticism about whether that will ever change.

 

[NYC Pirate]

It will be more money and less Championships for UConn. Not sure what happens to the Women's BB after Gino departs??

 

[CL82]

It will be more money and less Championships for UConn. Not sure what happens to the Women's BB after Gino departs??

Championships are always hard. I suspect Connecticut will be able to compete from wherever it's located given it's facilities, history, culture, and university and state support.

As to the woman's team, that's the hundred thousand dollar question right? Geno has indicated that he's seen friends of his who are his age who look older, think older and act older. He says being around young kids or what keep him young. I don't think he's headed anywhere in the near term, probably for at least three more years through Sarah Strong's graduation, but after that, who knows? The guy is 70 years old.

Whenever Geno decides to leave, I would have Chris Dailey, take over for, say three years, and bring a new associate head coach for these years to facilitate the transition. Maybe Carla Barube from Princeton. She was on the 95 championship team and utilizes a lot of the Connecticut principles in her coaching schemes. That's all speculative though.

 

[dehere23]

Championships are always hard. I suspect Connecticut will be able to compete from wherever it's located given it's facilities, history, culture, and university and state support.

As to the woman's team, that's the hundred thousand dollar question right? Geno has indicated that he's seen friends of his who are his age who look older, think older and act older. He says being around young kids or what keep him young. I don't think he's headed anywhere in the near term, probably for at least three more years through Sarah Strong's graduation, but after that, who knows? The guy is 70 years old.

If it were up to me, I would have Chris Dailey, take over for, say three years, and bring a new associate head coach for these years to facilitate the transition. Maybe Carla Barube from Princeton. She was on the 95 championship team and utilizes a lot of the Connecticut principles in her coaching schemes. That's all speculative though.

I don’t follow the women’s game nearly as closely, but Geno strikes me as an Izzo or Pitino type that is going to do this until he cannot physically. He’s adapted to the era, whether he likes it or not, but he’s born to be a coach. It’s why some CEOs or law firm partners work into their 70s, 80s or even 90s god willing. It’s still what they want to do and what they know how to do best. A partner of mine is in his upper 80s, sharp as a tac, and thinks if he stops working his health will rapidly decline.

 

[dehere23]

Periodically on here there have been comments about how being a member of Big East benefits Connecticut. It definitely does. I was listening to this Silas Demary interview. There are a few comments that I thought would be interesting for you guys.

The first is when he was asked what were his biggest games last year. He said St. John's and Marquette talking about what a pleasure it is to play against "big-time" programs. Keep in mind that last year he played for Georgia. You hear a lot of talk about the power of the SEC, which it definitely has as a P2 football power, but there's also a lot of jawing about it. Basketball footprint. Yet, here's a kid who played at Georgia and the two biggest games of his season were Big East teams whom he referred to as "big time."

The second one of the things he's looking forward to about next season is playing at Madison Square Garden. He talks about how so few people have the "privilege" of doing that. Again, that's squarely the Big East brand.

So, why does that matter to you guys? Well, I remember when Jim Calhoun first came to Connecticut he sold playing in the Big East conference really hard. He told her recruits he may have not have gotten an offer to play for Georgetown or St. John's, but if you come here, you'll get to play against them and beat them. I think that's squarely what Holloway should be selling. A lot of people on here post about Seton Hall's shortcomings, and I think that's natural coming off a rough season, but the big east is something that it can and should sell. Yeah, that's not going to help you versus another Big East team, but versus the rest of the country, I suspect it does more than we realize. I have to believe that in the new facilities really ought to give Seton Hall opportunities.

I've included the entire interview below, it's long and I don't expect you guys to actually be interested in it, but it's there for anyone who wants to listen to it. (If you scroll like halfway through the portal section, the interviewer asked him why he chose UConn and that's when he talks about a lot of Connecticut stuff, but also about the big east). Demary is a great kid, a good speaker and he seems to emphasize all the right things.

View embedded media

I have no doubt these were factors or no reason to doubt what the kid said. But most seem to think these factors and even the coach/program itself are by and large irrelevant these days. At least that’s what folks like Carino put out there. I happen to disagree to some extent but UConn also has the financial wherewithal to “win” a Demary sweepstakes.

 

[CL82]

I have no doubt these were factors or no reason to doubt what the kid said. But most seem to think these factors and even the coach/program itself are by and large irrelevant these days. At least that’s what folks like Carino put out there. I happen to disagree to some extent but UConn also has the financial wherewithal to “win” a Demary sweepstakes.

This is true. Connecticut can put out a financially competitive offer, but there are a lot of schools that can, as well. I'm inclined to think it's the intangibles that probably close the deal for us. Some of that is the big east aura. Some of it is Connecticut tradition. A lot of it is the fact that Hurley has shown he can position players to play at the next level, some of them very successfully. And I think a big chunk of it is that Hurley, for as big a jerk as he sometimes sounds, is, apparently, a pretty likable guy in person.

 

[dehere23]

This is true. Connecticut can put out a financially competitive offer, but there are a lot of schools that can, as well. I'm inclined to think it's the intangibles that probably close the deal for us. Some of that is the big east aura. Some of it is Connecticut tradition. A lot of it is the fact that Hurley has shown he can position players to play at the next level, some of them very successfully. And I think a big chunk of it is that Hurley, for as big a jerk as he sometimes sounds, is, apparently, a pretty likable guy in person.

I agree the Head Coach still matters IMO, especially if the money is close. But there is a significant segment, at least on here, which seems to think that every kid goes to the highest package regardless.

 

[MBF72]

The who-follows-Geno watch is intriguing. I'd bet the ranch Dialey leaves with him, and I do think Berube is the heir apparent, but to ask such a successful 52 year old coach to be the woman--in-waiting "for .... three years" is a pipe dream.

I'd compare Geno to Izzo, but likening him to Pitino is an insult.

 

[CL82]

The who-follows-Geno watch is intriguing. I'd bet the ranch Dialey leaves with him, and I do think Berube is the heir apparent, but to ask such a successful 52 year old coach to be the woman--in-waiting "for .... three years" is a pipe dream.

I'd compare Geno to Izzo, but likening him to Pitino is an insult.

I've heard her say things both ways. I've definitely heard her say that she would probably leave Geno left, but I've also heard her say that she's younger and they're not joined at the hip.

I think Chris Daley makes just under 1 million a year, so the opportunity to make 3 million for a few years might be intriguing. I think you're probably right about Berube not wanting to be an associate head coach for three years. Maybe have a two-year transition?

Don't underestimate the fact that coaching women's basketball Storrs is different than all, but a couple of places across the country. I've heard Carla say that she has fond remembrances and I think being in a place where you get to play in front of 8000-10,000 (or 16,000 in Hartford) every night has some appeal.

 

[TheHall87]

Chris is 65 herself (66 in August). For every day (year) Geno stays, her clock continues to tick.

With all due respect to her, I'm not sure a two or three year stint as a caretaker is in the best interests of the program. I'm sure the conversations have been had and if she does want to slide over a seat, she'd be given the opportunity.

I'm sure Chris would do well as a coach in her own right but I'd think the best thing for the program would be to bring in someone who would reasonably be expected to spend 10-12 years (or more) as head coach.

 

[CL82]

Chris is 65 herself (66 in August). For every day (year) Geno stays, her clock continues to tick.

With all due respect to her, I'm not sure a two or three year stint as a caretaker is in the best interests of the program. I'm sure the conversations have been had and if she does want to slide over a seat, she'd be given the opportunity.

I'm sure Chris would do well as a coach in her own right but I'd think the best thing for the program would be to bring in someone who would reasonably be expected to spend 10-12 years (or more) as head coach.

Yeah, I'd argue that the best plan is to transition your existing players to a new coach, especially in the port era. But we will see eventually.

 

[MBF72]

I've heard her say things both ways. I've definitely heard her say that she would probably leave Geno left, but I've also heard her say that she's younger and they're not joined at the hip.

I think Chris Daley makes just under 1 million a year, so the opportunity to make 3 million for a few years might be intriguing. I think you're probably right about Berube not wanting to be an associate head coach for three years. Maybe have a two-year transition?

Don't underestimate the fact that coaching women's basketball Storrs is different than all, but a couple of places across the country. I've heard Carla say that she has fond remembrances and I think being in a place where you get to play in front of 8000-10,000 (or 16,000 in Hartford) every night has some appeal.

I didn't realize Dailey was that much younger than Geno.

Agree that the crowds the women draw at Storrs and Hartford are amazing, even against second-tier non conference teams.
In fact, I wonder if opposing coaches from the Big Ten and SEC stress to recruits their arenas v. UCONN women playing at Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, St. John's.

 

[CL82]

I didn't realize Dailey was that much younger than Geno.

Agree that the crowds the women draw at Storrs and Hartford are amazing, even against second-tier non conference teams.
In fact, I wonder if opposing coaches from the Big Ten and SEC stress to recruits their arenas v. UCONN women playing at Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, St. John's.

It wouldn't surprise me if the ones who actually have good draws do. South Carolina has excellent attendance, but their tickets are much cheaper than Connecticut. That may just be a northeast thing though. Things are expensive up here.

For what it's worth I read that the average crowd at a woman's basketball game last season was 11,000 versus the men's team that was about 11,800.