Thinking out loud…while wondering as long as there are school exams, does that mean there will always be school prayer?
Tweet of the Week, from @NJHoopsHaven: “UConn finished fourth in the Big East this season. Requiem my ass.”
You can, UConn.
But what the Huskies’ basketball program – and let’s not leave out the ladies’ 11 natty’s here, either – has accomplished in the past 24 years is the stuff bluebloods are made from.
Yes, UConn is a rarified air, “blue blood” program if that means anything to you. The Huskies belong right there with Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, Villanova…the programs that keep finding a way to get to the top nearly every season.
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There were bumps along the way between titles over the past decade. Some bleak moments, to be certain, especially when a once-proud founding member of the Big East was summarily dismissed by its basketball brethren because of “football.”
Instead, UConn is the fifth team since 1985 (when the brackets expanded) to win all six NCAA Tournament games by double digit margins on their way to a championship.
That’s impressive, no matter who you root for. It’s also the third title for the Big East in 10 years since realignment in 2013…and the fourth in 10 years for current Big East programs.
Make NO mistake about it, the Huskies owe a HUGE amount of gratitude (not to mention debt) to the Big East Conference. If not for the Big East throwing the athletic department a literal lifeline and taking them back in – there is simply no way Dan Hurley’s Huskies can recruit or schedule well enough to re-establish and maintain an elevated winning tradition.
Andre Jackson, Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins all committed to UConn after the Big East’s invitation to return.
How did this happen? I mean, have you ever been to Storrs, CT and nearly run over a cow, or a deer, on the way to campus? It started with Dave Gavitt. Jim Calhoun’s hiring developed it and nurtured it, and now Dan Hurley’s stewardship continues it.
It’s cache. It’s tradition. It’s reputation. It’s TV and interest. It’s swaggah.
It’s more blue collar, really, than it is blue blood. It’s now got a life of its’ own. And it’s also thanks to a school in Kingston, RI for giving a guy like Hurley a chance to develop his coaching acumen at URI. Rams’ fans should view Hurley as if one of their own has grown into something special.
Because he has. He no longer toils in the shadow of his Hall of Fame Dad and famous Duke-pedigreed brother. The “other” Hurley now has a ‘ship of his own.
Friar fans have a border rivalry renewed, with vigor and with enmity. Husky fans have a little brother, again, to pick on. The rest of the Big East has at least two shots at a defending national titlist next season to build upon…all while trying to develop another championship contender from within.
Don’t say it can’t happen. It most certainly can. The blueprints for blue blood status are out for everyone to see.
But five national titles with three different coaches? Five for five in title game attempts? All very impressive. Something that many coaches only dream of accomplishing as the reality of today’s hardships facing them settle into their consciousness.
Reality? The Big East now has seven men’s national basketball championships since 2003. The vaunted, storied, hallowed Big 10? Zero, since 2000.
Don’t fall for the hype. Even if some are laughing all the way to the bank. ‘Ships are remembered, bank accounts are not.
Is it possible the Huskies could run it back next season? It’s likely their roster will undergo some change, but a national-Top 5 recruiting class coming in should ease concern. Still – if the last few years have told us anything…it’s experience that counts.
While UConn was winning on the floor, PC’s Kim English was trying to win off the floor, and got his two biggest wins when Bryce Hopkins and Devin Carter announced their return, followed by Jayden Pierre and Rafael Castro.
With the other announced returnees and expected newcomers, the Friars have a strong chance to get back to the Dance…when all appeared bleak just a week or two ago. Dennis Felton and Nate Tomlinson are officially on English’s staff with another role to fill.
Alyn Breed’s story is a cautionary tale of forgetting where you want to go in life…as reality slaps you in the face like the cold, winter wind. You need to remember, sometimes, to simply turn the other cheek.
Colby Jones is one of six players departing from Xavier this spring and summer, declaring for the NBA Draft. Center Jack Nunge technically could return, but he did participate in the Musketeers’ Senior Night festivities and he is expected to move on.
But these days, you never know.
Justin Moore, who returned late in the season against Providence from an Achilles injury and played in only 13 games, is returning to Villanova. It’s quite likely NIL influence stepped up to keep him around in Philly, rather than play at, say, North Carolina. His health and presence, along with that of Eric Dixon, should be enough to keep the Wildcats involved as postseason contenders.
Creighton may be losing Ryan Nembhard to the portal, plus the pro ranks may pull one or two away…but the Blue Jays will add transfer big man and Nebraska native Isaac Traudt, who redshirted this past year at Virginia. Backup guard Shereef Mitchell is also transferring out.
So, how about a “way too early look at the Big East” for next season – when the top three could all be Top 10 nationally, depending upon who is coming, who is staying and who is going?
Right now: 1) UConn 2) Marquette 3) Creighton 4) Providence 5) Villanova 6) Xavier 7) St. John’s (David Jones is portaling) 8) Seton Hall 9) DePaul 10) Butler (Simas Lukosius is in the portal) 11) Georgetown (eight players are in the portal? Sorry, Ed).
Can’t pick against the national champs; Marquette will likely return everyone to defend both regular season and tournament titles; the Friars could be tourney-worthy in English’s first year; Xavier won’t be sixth if Nunge returns; St. John’s, once Rick Pitino decides upon his rebuild, won’t finish seventh.
Nationally, Marquette appears to be the way-too-early consensus preseason #1, with Connecticut and Duke getting a lot of play. It could be a ‘kiss of death.’ But this Marquette-UConn thing right now in the Big East has attention and momentum.
And yes, this is all very much subject-to-change. But we’ll keep the fires burning, won’t we? Just sayin’.
The Big East-Big 12 Battle for 2023 has the Friars traveling to Oklahoma to face the Sooners. UConn will play at Kansas in a match between the last two national champs, and Texas will go to Marquette for Shaka Smart’s night of redemption.
With the Big 12 Battle game on the road, expect PC to face a Big 10 team in the Gavitt Games at the AMP, plus URI at home. In 2024, the Big 12 Battle should come to Providence, with the Big 10 and Rhody away.
Not for nuthin’, but three of the last six men’s hoop teams to play this season were from Conference USA, which went 18-3 in the postseason between the NCAA, NIT (FAU, North Texas, Alabama-Birmingham) and CBI (Charlotte). None of them will be in CUSA next season.
The fact that Cinderella had more than just ‘a few moments’ in the tournament this year is a primary reason why the final game was the least-watched men’s title game on record. Viewership was down 14% over Kansas and North Carolina in 2022.
But UConn-San Diego State still drew more viewers than the NBA Finals’ Boston-Golden State Game Six clincher.
Conversely, the women’s championship between LSU and Iowa was the most watched women’s title game, ever.
Why? The women’s game, with compelling ‘side’ stories and a burgeoning rivalry (LSU’s Angel Reese vs. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark), had widespread interest. The men’s game, without potential NBA studs and big-name teams (with all due respect, UConn) in the final…drew less overall interest.
We like stories. We like underdogs. We like conflict. We like stars. We like villains. We like things that we can depend upon, too. And these are all reasons why the TV numbers went a little wacko this year. But it’s likely not a trend within the sport.
Best guess? Next year’s TV numbers for the men’s game will likely jump through the roof. Especially if it’s a ‘blueblood vs. blueblood’ final.
Is it possible that actual summer college basketball is ahead? There are discussions about allowing teams to take part in games and/or scrimmages against other schools during the off-season, in addition to the once-every-four-year out of the country experience…like the Friars will take to Spain in August.
It would give the athletes something to look forward to after the regular season ends, certainly. And likely allow schools to capitalize on what they just accomplished or get a fresh start early on the next season. And maybe even make a buck or two.
It’s already getting out of hand; this letting dollar signs and NIL payments dominate the collegiate landscape.
You’ve heard of “Alston payments?” Those are the (up to) $5980 stipends some schools give to their student athletes for academic-related benefits if they so choose. More than 50 Division I schools are providing these payments to athletes in some – or all – sports.
Now, two former student-athletes have filed a federal anti-trust lawsuit against the NCAA and the Power 5 Conferences seeking retroactive damages from these schools. The Supreme Court allowed these payments to become permissible in 2018…but they didn’t begin until 2021.
See where this is going? Thousands of athletes, and dozens of schools, could be affected. Where my money at?
My buddy “Big E” sez he grew up living paycheck to paycheck. But now, through hard work and perseverance, he now lives direct deposit to direct deposit.
Trading Mac Jones makes zero sense to me. But then again, Matt Patricia as an offensive coordinator didn’t make much sense to me, either.
Someone has an agenda. Someone is leaking stories to the media. Someone is acting like a petulant, whiny junior high schooler, trying to write scripts for the soap opera “As the Patriots Turn.”
Would be nice for the affected parties to, you know, maybe work together to try and improve and reach the playoffs next season. And given his track record for moving on quickly, if BB really wanted Jones gone – wouldn’t it have happened by now? Just a thought.
Great gesture by the Patriots to induct Dante Scarnecchia into the Patriots Hall of Fame as a contributor, joining Billy Sullivan, Gil Santos and Traci Sormanti. Talk about someone who has given his all…time and time again…
You’ll soon be able to vote for your selection as this year’s inductee on Patriots.com. It’s an honor to be on the nominating committee – it also means some of us have been around for a while. But while no choice is obvious for this year (like Adam Vinatieri will be next year), none of this would be happening today without the presence of one Duane Charles “Bill” Parcells.
He belongs. Get over the butthurt from his departure for the Jets. That was a long time ago.
Ex-Friar Justin Minaya got an end-of-the-season call up from Mexico City of the G League to the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers this week. Eight points, four boards, 17 minutes in his debut.
Part of the new CBA between the players and owners in the NBA – is a midseason tournament that will begin next year. Players on the winning team will earn an extra $500K. Is this robbing Peter to pay Paul?
Or is it robbing fans in order to pay ‘em all?
One encouraging sign – NBA players will need to participate in a minimum of 65 games to qualify for postseason honors and awards. Maybe even hit contract incentives. Still, it’s possible that this “load management” nonsense dissipates as quickly as it started.
Still feel like the Bruins are setting us up for massive disappointment. If they come through to win the Cup, 2022-23 will truly go down as one of the most remarkable seasons in Boston/New England sports history…considering the records they will have trampled along the way.
MLB games are moving along at a quicker pace – cut by about 25 minutes per game on average. The Twins and Marlins this week played a full, nine-inning game in 1:57. The game had evolved into an exercise in extreme patience at best, and simply bad and boring at worst.
The pitch clock seems to be working for the good of the sport, regardless of whether or not pitchers and players like it.
The Red Sox? The only thing that seems to be working the way it should is Alex Verdugo’s hot start to the year…and from the leadoff spot, too. That’s good and all, but…
…the pitching has been terrible. At midweek, the Sox staff was 29th of 30 MLB teams in number of pitches thrown per game, 30th of 30 in team ERA at week’s end…which equates to a slower-paced game that even a pitch clock has a hard time speeding up.
Boston is also dead last, 30th out of 30 teams, in game length at 2:59. And last year, at two hours and 59 minutes? We’d have taken that in a heartbeat.
Oh, and the Sox were s-s-s-swept by Pittsburgh? It’s just the 6th time since interleague play began that the Pirates have swept anyone in the AL, and first road sweep in five years. That’s just embarrassing.
Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and James Paxton’s potential returns are needed, and soon. Or these guys are gonna ruin anotha’ summah.
Speaking of ruined summahs, the NY Mets have had NINE pitchers already hit the injured list? Whoa.
Is it really the bigger bases responsible for Red Sox catching suddenly being unable to throw a runner out on a stolen base attempt? Or the pitch clock? Opponents have 14 stolen bases through six games, most allowed in the sport in 25 years.
Maybe someone simply can’t play (or scout) catcher the way you need to play it today?
A new, five-year collective bargaining agreement has been agreed upon by 99% of minor league players across the country, which means they stand to receive a nice salary bump. Owners still need to approve it – so their previously lower-than-low wages can finally reach some level of respectability.
Minor leaguers will also get upgrades in housing, transportation, and meals, they’ll be paid for training in the off-season and their overall salaries will more than double. In other words, they’ll become real, working people.
And, MLB cannot further contract MiLB for the length of the deal – which is what they did when cutting 40 teams out of the minors after 2019 – including in Lowell, MA.
Just so you can understand: Rookie ball players’ salaries will go from $4800 to $19,800 per season; In High A, $11K to $27,300; Class AA, $13,800 to $27,300; In Triple A, $17,500 to $45,800.
Yeah. It was poverty-level, wasn’t it?
College baseball around here rarely gets much play, with the exception of some occasional good teams at UConn, Bryant, and URI. But you might want to pay attention this year to what’s happening at Boston College.
The Eagles are presently ranked #9 nationally by D1baseball.com, their highest program ranking ever. BC is 21-6 this season after a midweek win over UMass, and off to an 8-4 start in an always competitive ACC.
Bryant defeated URI this week, 12-8, to improve to 13-11 thus far. UConn is 20-7, and also ranked 19th this week.
Kinda good to be a Husky right now, isn’t it?
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