Fanta's 12 teams who could win the national championship this year

[CL82]

Marquette, UConn and Creighton make Fanta's list.

College basketball 2024 title contenders: 12 teams to watch | FOX Sports

After a wild college basketball offseason, the 2023-24 season is only 10 weeks away. Let's spin things forward with a look at early title contenders.

www.foxsports.com

 

[ceballoj]

Would you have posted this if Uconn wasnt on his list?

 

[CL82]

Would you have posted this if Uconn wasnt on his list?

If I saw it, yeah probably. Definitely yes if I saw something about Seton in it.

So, here's the thing, you know I am a Connecticut fan. There's pretty good odds that some thing I post might be Connecticut related, right? If that's upsetting to you, don't read my posts. It really won't bother me in the least.

Beyond that though, Connecticut is a national champion from the Big East. If you don't like hearing that, maybe you should skip basketball next year because you're going to hear about a lot. That's just how it is. As a very good friend of mine would say, if you don't like it, win the whole thing and then everyone will be talking about you.

 

[TrueBlue1989]

I appreciate CL82’s contributions to the board. Is he a homer? Of course, but so are we. I know that many people don’t like UConn in the BE, a perspective that I don’t get. It is a blue blood with whom we have had a rivalry back to the 1970’s. UConn elevates the conference, which is only good for SHU. Will we occasionally lose a player to UConn? Certainly, but we may well also if it was in a different conference. On the contrary, we may just as likely get an incremental recruit due to the raised profile of the BE. Uconn has already more than earned it’s re-admission back to the BE, but in fairness we left them not the opposite.

With respect to UConn’s desire to join a football conference, it was no secret and it affirmatively negotiated exit fees in contemplation of a future move. Everyone was well aware of that potential.

To me the BE is the best conference with the best rivalries, UConn is an important part of that history whether one likes it or not. Go Pirates!

 

[CT Pirate]

Living in CT, I have tons of CL 82's doppelgangers as friends and neighbors. They are all great winners - aren't we all when our teams are on top. ( Of course in the AAC days they were surprisingly quiet) The Husky dogs are atop the Hoops world. CL-82 brings great content albeit slanted with blue and white bias. I like to poke the bear occassionally to get a rise out of that Husky dog. What's a college sports board without a little smack talking? He's got a point on being at the top of the Big East in hoops. No denying that fact. That dog is having his day. Let's see how much he chirps on September 1st after the beatdown the Wolfpack lays on the Husky football on August 31st at the Rent. Not many people will be talking UCONN football - right CL82?

 

[CL82]

Living in CT, I have tons of CL 82's doppelgangers as friends and neighbors. They are all great winners - aren't we all when our teams are on top. ( Of course in the AAC days they were surprisingly quiet) The Husky dogs are atop the Hoops world. CL-82 brings great content albeit slanted with blue and white bias. I like to poke the bear occassionally to get a rise out of that Husky dog. What's a college sports board without a little smack talking? He's got a point on being at the top of the Big East in hoops. No denying that fact. That dog is having his day. Let's see how much he chirps on September 1st after the beatdown the Wolfpack lays on the Husky football on August 31st at the Rent. Not many people will be talking UCONN football - right CL82?

Lol, it's like you don't know us at all. Of course Connecticut fans will still be talking after the NC State game, win or lose. Heck, we were still talking last year after the beat down they gave us. An early game against a P5, weight, P4, opponent? That's kind of like playing with the casinos chips. No one expects us to be competitive.

Now, if we win that game, you better move back to Jersey because there's gonna be a whole heck of a lot of chirping going on in CT!

 

[radecicco]

I appreciate CL82’s contributions to the board. Is he a homer? Of course, but so are we. I know that many people don’t like UConn in the BE, a perspective that I don’t get. It is a blue blood with whom we have had a rivalry back to the 1970’s. UConn elevates the conference, which is only good for SHU. Will we occasionally lose a player to UConn? Certainly, but we may well also if it was in a different conference. On the contrary, we may just as likely get an incremental recruit due to the raised profile of the BE. Uconn has already more than earned it’s re-admission back to the BE, but in fairness we left them not the opposite.

With respect to UConn’s desire to join a football conference, it was no secret and it affirmatively negotiated exit fees in contemplation of a future move. Everyone was well aware of that potential.

To me the BE is the best conference with the best rivalries, UConn is an important part of that history whether one likes it or not. Go Pirates!

Yes, the C-7 left UCONN with the other BE leftovers. But then UCONN had a choice: hoops or football. They chose football.

 

[Levirgo]

Nope, don't see us. 😔 Always checking though! Proud fan! 😁

 

[CL82]

Yes, the C-7 left UCONN with the other BE leftovers. But then UCONN had a choice: hoops or football. They chose football.

Are you saying that the C7 schools offered UConn a slot in the new conference in Connecticut turned them down? Because that's the first time I ever heard anyone make that assertion.

 

[TrueBlue1989]

Are you saying that the C7 schools offered UConn a slot in the new conference in Connecticut turned them down? Because that's the first time I ever heard anyone make that assertion.

True. UConn was offered and the BE prenegotiated with FOX to accept UConn. UConn was hoping that it could get in a better football conference.

 

[CL82]

True. UConn was offered and the BE prenegotiated with FOX to accept UConn. UConn was hoping that it could get in a better football conference.

I've never heard this! Is there any article or anything? I'm not saying that I don't believe it, because sticking with football is a logical choice, but I am amazed that I never caught wind of this before.

 

[radecicco]

Are you saying that the C7 schools offered UConn a slot in the new conference in Connecticut turned them down? Because that's the first time I ever heard anyone make that assertion.

You know what I mean. Stop the BS. They could have come with the C-7 if they dropped football. Don’t know if that was verbalized but it’s as plain as day. And apparently UCONN is still prioritizing football as evidenced by their constantly seeking an offer to a P5/P4 league.

 

[STLPirate12]

Are you saying that the C7 schools offered UConn a slot in the new conference in Connecticut turned them down? Because that's the first time I ever heard anyone make that assertion.

Can't say I remember where, but I had heard that as the C7 were planning to leave the OBE they invited UConn to join them and UConn declined. Probably not much written about it because it was so early on and short lived.

 

[CL82]

You know what I mean. Stop the BS. They could have come with the C-7 if they dropped football. Don’t know if that was verbalized but it’s as plain as day. And apparently UCONN is still prioritizing football as evidenced by their constantly seeking an offer to a P5/P4 league.

I don't know that at all. From my perspective as a Connecticut fan, one day you guys just loaded up the van and moved out leaving us to wither and die on the vine.

I don't know what the deal is here with this mythology that somehow Connecticut is responsible for the C7 bolting and leaving us. I don't often say it here, but we were the victims in that scenario. It's all good now, and I understand the reasons why the C7 felt it was in their best interest to, well, let's just call it what it was, completely screw us over. But you know what, you guys carved out a nice new conference and we are grateful to be here. Sometimes, though, the mythology that we left you gets tiresome.

Sorry to vent about that. Conference realignment is a little bit of a touchy subject right now.

 

[CL82]

Can't say I remember where, but I had heard that as the C7 were planning to leave the OBE they invited UConn to join them and UConn declined. Probably not much written about it because it was so early on and short lived.

That may be true if it happened in the margins. I've never heard about it before, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

 

[TheHall87]

I don't know that at all. From my perspective as a Connecticut fan, one day you guys just loaded up the van and moved out leaving us to wither and die on the vine.

I don't know what the deal is here with this mythology that somehow Connecticut is responsible for the C7 bolting and leaving us. I don't often say it here, but we were the victims in that scenario. It's all good now, and I understand the reasons why the C7 felt it was in their best interest to, well, let's just call it what it was, completely screw us over. But you know what, you guys carved out a nice new conference and we are grateful to be here. Sometimes, though, the mythology that we left you gets tiresome.

Sorry to vent about that. Conference realignment is a little bit of a touchy subject right now.

Poor, poor pitiful me.

 

[CL82]

Poor, poor pitiful me.

Lol that's what I keep hearing:

"Woe is me, Connecticut left us to join the American" (Uh, wait that never happened.)

"Oh no, Connecticut's going to leave us again!" (Uh, we never left the first time)

Blah, blah, blah...

 

[TheHall87]

Lol that's what I keep hearing:

"Woe is me, Connecticut left us to join the American" (Uh, wait that never happened.)

"Oh no, Connecticut's going to leave us again!" (Uh, we never left the first time)

Blah, blah, blah...

More go-away heat.

 

[STLPirate12]

That may be true if it happened in the margins. I've never heard about it before, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

It's not like Connecticut would have given the offer much consideration anyway. They weren't going to abandon football to align themselves with schools they spent the previous decade+ looking down their noses at and felt added no value to the (old) Big East.

 

[CL82]

It's not like Connecticut would have given the offer much consideration anyway. They weren't going to abandon football to align themselves with schools they spent the previous decade+ looking down their noses at and felt added no value to the (old) Big East.

I agree. But unlike a couple of posters here I haven't heard that there was actually an offer made to Connecticut. That surprised me.

 

[radecicco]

I agree. But unlike a couple of posters here I haven't heard that there was actually an offer made to Connecticut. That surprised me.

More BS. Nobody said there was an offer. If UCONN was committed to hoops over football they would have followed their 30+ year partners to be charter members of the NBE. Instead they decided to ride with the football playing members.

UCONN was getting screwed, LOL! The hoops only schools were getting screwed. They were getting less money obviously, but all decisions were being made with football front of mind. To wit— Tulane, Boise State, SDSU. The C7 said enough, this is ridiculous.

In fact, UConn wanted it both ways— keep football in a P6 conference at the time while trying to keep it traditional basketball rivals in also. The C 7 rightly said, no thanks. We’re going who wants to come with us. UCONN said no thanks and entered a 10 year drought. So please stop with the UCONN was screwed BS.

 

[STLPirate12]

I agree. But unlike a couple of posters here I haven't heard that there was actually an offer made to Connecticut. That surprised me.

I'm not talking about any sort of formal invite/offer. I'm saying when someone came up with the idea to split away and started making calls to other presidents and ADs to gauge interest, UConn got one of those calls. So it wouldn't have been the C7 adding UConn. If UConn was interested it would've been the C(?)8 from the start.

 

[CL82]

I'm not talking about any sort of formal invite/offer. I'm saying when someone came up with the idea to split away and started making calls to other presidents and ADs to gauge interest, UConn got one of those calls. So it wouldn't have been the C7 adding UConn. If UConn was interested it would've been the C(?)8 from the start.

That's cool to know.

 

[CL82]

More BS. Nobody said there was an offer.

Lol, you might want to reread this thread

UCONN said no thanks and entered a 10 year drought.

A 10 year drought during which we won a national championship? Which ended when we won another national championship?

I think you're trying a little too hard friend.

 

[radecicco]

Lol, you might want to reread this thread

A 10 year drought during which we won a national championship? Which ended when we won another national championship?

I think you're trying a little too hard friend.

And in between? Ten years in the wilderness. And you needed the BE to rescue your hoops program. Hey both sides benefitted but stop with this BS that the C7 screwed UCONN.

 

[CL82]

And in between? Ten years in the wilderness. And you needed the BE to rescue your hoops program. Hey both sides benefitted but stop with this BS that the C7 screwed UCONN.

Yes both sides benefited from Connecticut joining the Big East, greatly, in my opinion.

Also yes, when the C7 bailed on the big east it screwed over Connecticut. Both things can be true. It's fine, the C7 did what they thought was in their best interest. That's OK, they get to.

I don't talk about that a whole lot on this board, because I view it as pointless. But, sometimes, when people claim that Connecticut left the C7, I liked it insert a little bit of reality in that conversation.

 

[radecicco]

Yes both sides benefited from Connecticut joining the Big East, greatly, in my opinion.

Also yes, when the C7 bailed on the big east it screwed over Connecticut. Both things can be true. It's fine, the C7 did what they thought was in their best interest. That's OK, they get to.

I don't talk about that a whole lot on this board, because I view it as pointless. But, sometimes, when people claim that Connecticut left the C7, I liked it insert a little bit of reality in that conversation.

I never said UCONN left the BE. Effectively the OBE left the hoops only schools behind so they were forced to leave in order to chart their own course.