The UConn Huskies athletic program officially returned to the Big East Conference on July 1st, 2020. After a seven-year hiatus, the school returns back to the conference in which it previously competed for an historical 34-year run.
In 1979, the Huskies became one of the original members of the Big East and competed at a high level for decades. In particular, the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams garnered the most prosperity and success over those years under Head Coaches Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma. The men’s basketball program won seven Big East Championships including three National Championship wins in 1994, 1999, and 2011 under Calhoun. Under Auriemma, women’s basketball set a precedent of sure dominance with 16 Big East Championships and eight National titles.
Since joining the AAC in 2013, the men’s program won a national championship under then-coach Kevin Holley (in 2014) following the NCAA ban the year prior. Under Head Coach Dan Hurley, they’ve missed the NCAA tournament for three consecutive seasons, the most in school history since 1989.
“Who wouldn’t want to play here now?” Hurley asked after the move became official. “We’re back in the Big East.”
This question resonates because it shows how much the recruiting process will enhance the program again.
Over the last seven years, the success of schools in the Big East such as Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Providence comes from the recruits they’ve been able to acquire since moving to the conference. The potential of competing on that Madison Square Garden stage for the conference crown every year against some of the best players in the country alone will draw in the best athletes. Although UConn has cachet with its program, the top players weren’t looking at UConn as the preeminent landing spot while in the AAC. Now the Huskies have a chance to rewrite history and reclaim some of that glory.
The University has eliminated Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Rowing, Men’s Swimming and Diving and Men’s Tennis. The school had to meet a financial goal by 2023 and relieving these four sports along with reducing scholarships will help them escape the financial burden that was approaching.
The revenue that both men’s and Women’s basketball can generate being back in the Big East will help this program get back to a championship level.