The Big East Has (Reportedly) Saved UConn's Basketball Program

Well, this is absolutely gigantic news in the world of college basketball. UConn, a program with plenty of history no doubt, is being saved by the Big East. I mean at least that’s what UConn fans are making it out to be. Let’s not forget that they barely won in the AAC because of terrible hires, guys getting hurt and just not being good. But, hey! They are being saved!

I will say this though. UConn in the Big East does sound right. Don’t get me wrong. The Big East didn’t need UConn. We’ve seen the success on the court since the ‘new’ Big East started. A couple champions, consistently in KenPom’s top-3 conferences. It’s not like the Big East was dying and needed UConn to save the conference.

Here’s where it gets a bit intriguing though. Why would the AAC want UConn football? That does ABSOLUTELY nothing for them. There’s no benefit for the AAC to keep football. Are they going to go independent? Will they join someone like the MAC? It opens up a bunch of questions from that side.

Staying with the AAC for a second – Cincinnati has to be livid. There’s no bigger loser in conference realignment than Cincinnati. They got stuck in the AAC with Memphis and UConn both down. They’ve become the flag-bearer for the conference. But, now with UConn expected to be on the rise with Danny Hurley, you lose what many think will be a consistent top-4 program. That means Penny better work out at Memphis. Aaron McKie needs to make Temple more consistent. Wichita needs to bounce back from a rebuilding year. Houston needs to stay how they’ve been. If that happens then UC is okay. If not, UC is going to be dying to find the Big 12 or Big East to take them.

But, for now? Celebrate UConn fans. Your basketball program is back where it belongs in the Big East. You’ll get to play in the Garden. You’ll get to play Georgetown, Marquette Providence, Villanova, St. John’s and Seton Hall during the season again. There’s no reason now to blame poor seasons or poor recruiting on being in the AAC.

The program has been saved (reportedly of course).