Do You Consider UConn a "Blue Blood"?

The argument for: Won 5 national championships between 1999-2023

The argument against: Missed the Tournament 8 times between 1993-2023, including three years straight (2017-2019), and lost in the first weekend 7 times.

I say yes, but people are debating this, I guess. Or at least they were on ESPN radio yesterday (not sure if it was a local or national show).

I agree. That many national titles in under 25 years is extraordinary.

Oh, and they’ve done it with different coaches.

What does that mean? Or what advantage do they get for being thought of in that matter?

DWags wrote:What does that mean? Or what advantage do they get for being thought of in that matter?

While not trying to speak for Heat, I’d like to see them all rewarded with Lifetime Platinum Memberships to tSwill. Winning has its privileges.

DWags wrote:What does that mean? Or what advantage do they get for being thought of in that matter?

No advantage except maybe marketing and recruiting, but I don't know. I don't even know how it's defined.

It seems to be associated with Duke, UNC, UK, KU, and previously but maybe still UCLA and IU. So I guess what people see as the top programs over the last several decades? The person on the radio also included Villanova since they have three titles. Some people include MSU with its two titles and current Tournament streak.

Point 1- they’ve missed the tournament 7 times since 2000. That feels like a lot of times, like if they’re bad they’re real bad and can’t tread water.

Point 2- I truly do not care fuck it they’re all blue bloods what does it even mean

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Point 1- they’ve missed the tournament 7 times since 2000. That feels like a lot of times, like if they’re bad they’re real bad and can’t tread water.

Point 2- I truly do not care fuck it they’re all blue bloods what does it even mean

Maybe a better way to put it would be "where do you rank UConn among the all-time great CBB programs?"

How are the TV ratings around Syracuse? That is the real tell.

I look at the Jim Calhoun coached teams the way I look at KU’s, UK’s, Duke’s and the Wooden coached UCLA teams.  One way or another he got players to come to Storrs CT.  

Kevin Ollie won one and put UConn on probation.

Dan Hurley built this team the new fashioned way with solid recruiting, transfers and NIL just like every team can.

If it can happen at UConn in the Big East it can happen anywhere.

NigelUno wrote:

Turtleneck wrote:

Maybe a better way to put it would be "where do you rank UConn among the all-time great CBB programs?"

Tier 1 - Navy Blue Blood
UCLA
UK
UNC

Tier 2 - Royal Blue Blood
Indiana
Kansas

Tier 3 - New Blood
Duke
Connecticut
Villanova

Tier 4 - Others

Quarter century is a long time. In 25 years Indianba has been through 7 coaches including Dakich maybe been to 4 sweet 16s. 2 elite 8s At what point do you loses that status?

Is Army still a blue blood football program? Syracuse? Just think it’s a tired narrative. All time programs or blue blood. Meh. Where are you at now.

So Nigel thinks MSU is an other. Hmmm. Speaking of the color blue...

I'd trade our tourney streak for 3 more rings.

But would you trade the tourney streak for Bud Light?

NigelUno wrote:

Turtleneck wrote:So Nigel thinks MSU is an other. Hmmm. Speaking of the color blue...

Others meaning teams with 2 championships.  I’m not putting us with Duke and UCONN.

I'm just giving you a hard time. If you are a blue, you're the best secret agent in the history of the blue-green war.

I am tempted to move UCLA to Tier 2. It seems like it's been a minute since they were real national contenders. I would move Kansas up to Tier 1 and Duke to at least Tier two. I guess I am basing it not just on titles but the super subjective factor of the longevity of relevance, which, ironically, is probably a recency bias.

Trapper Gus wrote:

Turtleneck wrote:


I'm just giving you a hard time. If you are a blue, you're the best secret agent in the history of the blue-green war.

I am tempted to move UCLA to Tier 2. It seems like it's been a minute since they were real national contenders. I would move Kansas up to Tier 1 and Duke to at least Tier two. I guess I am basing it not just on titles but the super subjective factor of the longevity of relevance, which, ironically, is probably a recency bias.

UCLA was a blue blood, but not now.

Indiana was a blue blood, but not now.

Duke is a blue blood.

Gonzaga is a blue blood

&

MSU is a blue blood

A blue blood is where, everything else being equal, the best players want to say the program wanted them to play

Gonzaga has no national championships, and their success is relatively recent. It's a great program, but they are farther down the list to me. I think Nigel named them all, but I would probably order them differently.

Really not surprised by this debate. The potential for long, drawn out discussion is nearly as great as music lists, all-time athletes and team lists, Apple vs. Android, or foreign vs. domestic vehicles. Well done, Turtleneck. Not bad for a blue.

tGreenWay wrote:Really not surprised by this debate. The potential for long, drawn out discussion is nearly as great as music lists, all-time athletes and team lists, Apple vs. Android, or foreign vs. domestic vehicles. Well done, Turtleneck. Not bad for a blue blood poster with multiple posting titles.

Fixed. Also, everybody knows the best year in music history was 1991, and you should prefer domestic vehicles.

Taking Nigel's format, I would go

T1: UK, Kansas, Duke, UNC
T2: Indiana, UCLA, UConn
T3: Villanova, Louisville, MSU

Trapper Gus wrote:

Turtleneck wrote:

Gonzaga has no national championships, and their success is relatively recent. It's a great program, but they are farther down the list to me. I think Nigel named them all, but I would probably order them differently.

My main point is that today's blue blood's are not the same as yesterday's. 24 NCAA bids is pretty impressive.

Gonzaga, imo, is currently an elite program, but not a blue blood. No titles being the relevant missing link. There’s no shame in being elite but no higher and is something to be embraced. They might upgrade their status eventually. It’s a journey. I hope they enjoy it as much as I’ve had fun with TI’s teams.

So this is the best we can do after a dump of a men's Final 4?

Turtleneck wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Really not surprised by this debate. The potential for long, drawn out discussion is nearly as great as music lists, all-time athletes and team lists, Apple vs. Android, or foreign vs. domestic vehicles. Well done, Turtleneck. Not bad for a blue pretending to be green.

Fixed. Also, everybody knows the best year in music history was 1991, and you should prefer domestic vehicles.

Yes, yes, we all know you’re a huge fan groupie of Michael Bolton. Do you still drive your Ford truck to his shows?

Nordic wrote:So this is the best we can do after a dump of a men's Final 4?

It’s OT season. We need to warm up before things really get going.

Turtleneck wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Really not surprised by this debate. The potential for long, drawn out discussion is nearly as great as music lists, all-time athletes and team lists, Apple vs. Android, or foreign vs. domestic vehicles. Well done, Turtleneck. Not bad for a blue blood poster with multiple posting titles.

Fixed. Also, everybody knows the best year in music history was 1991, and you should prefer domestic vehicles.

You're gonna need to start a separate thread and defend that assertion, because, on its face, that is absolutely absurd.

If Dan Dakich was your head coach longer than 10 and a half minutes you don’t belong.

The only thing I really consider uconn is a good source for final four erections.

DWags wrote:If Dan Dakich was your head coach longer than 10 and a half minutes you don’t belong.

Fair