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Big 12 Basketball: UConn Huskies leading candidate for expansion?

By Doug Winkey

Dec 20, 2015; Storrs, CT, USA; The UConn Huskies mascot performs prior to the start of the game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks at XL Center. The Huskies won 88-79. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Storrs, CT, USA; The UConn Huskies mascot performs prior to the start of the game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks at XL Center. The Huskies won 88-79. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Big 12 basketball conference wants great academics, basketball, and media proximity, then the UConn Huskies should be first in line.

Big 12 expansion is the gift that just keeps on giving.

Related Story: Is East Carolina a viable candidate for expansion?

Schools everywhere from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast are vying for a seat at college sports’ most vulnerable table. Two or four schools will get an invitation to play the likes of Texas and Oklahoma on a regular basis.

The latest count of schools getting an interview is now 20, per ESPN.

This is an outrageous number, but the teams on that list are all correct in wanting to move up for more money.

Now, we are going to talk about one of my favorites, UConn.

Connecticut is located in the small, scenic town of Storrs, CT. The school of nearly 32,000 total students is one of the finer academic institutions in America. They are among the top 200 in school rankings, according to Forbes, but not yet part of the prestigious American Association of Universities.

UConn is a top-notch institution that can hold its own with UT and OU in the classroom. Don’t let football cloud your mind, academics still matter.

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One advantage that people seem to discount is the school’s geographic location. The Huskies are somewhat far away from Big 12 member West Virginia, but they are less than three hours from both New York and Boston.

TV market proximity has gripped college sports and having two major cities next to a conference member could be a major advantage. After all, TV and academics are what got Rutgers into the Big Ten, and they are far worse athletically than Connecticut.

The school competes at a high level in the American Athletic Conference for all sports save hockey, where they are members of Hockey East.

On the basketball court, it becomes almost impossible to ignore the Huskies. Both the men and women programs are nearly unmatched in success. The men’s program has won four National Titles, the most recent coming in 2014.

They have 13 alumni currently in the NBA, tied for first among all colleges. Head coach Kevin Ollie has done a superb job since Jim Calhoun retired and is one of America’s best young coaches. Seeing UConn play Kansas every year would be an absolute treat.

As impressive as the men are, the women are just overpowering. They have 11 National Titles and have won four straight. They have 23 players starring in the WNBA and are nearly unbeatable in any measure of basketball success.

There is no limit to the excitement that would grip college hoops fans should UConn get into the Big 12. Both programs play games at both the Harry A. Gampel Pavillion (10,167 capacity) in Storrs and the XL Center (16,294) in Hartford. Even when the teams don’t play in CT, there are numerous difficult arenas that have hosted UConn games. Iowa State found this out in 2014 when they squared off against the Huskies at Madison Square Garden.

If you can’t tell, I think UConn should be a slam dunk. They add so much to the conference. Everything from academics to geography to sports, the Huskies possess major potential. I know the conference is focused on football, but there is so much more at stake as college sports evolve.

Next: Projecting Georgia Tech's rotation

I truly hope that the Big 12 gives UConn the chance it deserves.

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