Football/Academics:
He did say that UConn was very young in the sport that counts (football). I agree that he should have added academically young also, with the caveat that the academics seems to be continually improving, whereas football has plateaued the past two years. UConn needs to make an inspired hire after coach P leaves (retired/fired).
Pitt/Syracuse/UL and the ACC:
I agree, for the ACC, Pitt and Syracuse were on par to, or better choices than, UConn. Syracuse gives the ACC NY state and in-roads to NYC, though I don't think Syracuse brings all of NYC. Pitt gives them some competition with the B1G in PA (though they will never surpass PSU). As a side note, I am a bit surprised Rutgers didn't get an invite earlier than Pitt. I know Rutgers is a bit of a joke athletically, but Rutgers would have sealed up ACC dominance (TV-wise, those Rutgers fans watch their team even when, as usual, it stinks) from Philly to NYC (with Cuse). Pitt was never going to be in the B1G, though maybe it goes to the B12 Pitt still has the PSU issue.
The ACC was selecting based off of football first and academics second when Maryland left, so UL also made sense based on the past two years and historical relevance in football. Academically (historically) Pitt and Cuse have better reputations than UConn, though UConn is rising quickly and is a lot closer to both now than UL is to UConn.
Bringing it back to football for a second, it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy that UL was a better choice based on football. If UConn was invited to the ACC/B1G (and UL wasn't) and had that type of football money coming in, chances are UConn is better than UL going forward. Cash is suddenly there to expand the Rent, fire P and find a better coach, etc.
Basketball:
UConn had some good years pre-Calhoun, but yes it is very Calhoun oriented. He alluded to this when saying timing hurt UConn. Would UConn have gotten more consideration if this was 2007? UConn coming off a share of the BE crown in football and Calhoun still looking to have 5 years left in him. Even 2009 would have been better for UConn. Ollie seems to be a solid choice, so in some theoretical world where Maryland doesn't leave the ACC until, say, 2017, does UL still look better than UConn with Pitino on the brink of retirement and Ollie as an up-and-comer?
Going forward, the new conference could seriously hurt UConn, it is a legitimate concern for UConn fans. If Ollie is as good as many think he is, will be, than it's far less of a concern. UConn fans can rest fairly easily knowing Ollie isn't going to another college (NBA is a possibility down the road). It also depends on how well current recruits do, because we all know that success breeds success. It's a huge reason why kids like Purvis and Hamilton were such recruiting coups (esp. Hamilton, IMO). If UConn can land even 1-2 more of it's top recruits than that will build UConn further as an acceptable school to go to outside the big 5 conferences.
I mean when it comes down to it, UConn may not compete (arguable) with UK/Calipari for recruits, but it can still go head to head with a school like NCSt/Alabama (caveat assumes Ollie is as good as UConn fans think he will be).
Does it throw UConn down to San Fransisco/Houston territory? I don't think so.
Or does it move them into Gonzaga territory? Possibly.
Or does it make them Memphis/Butler on steroids? Possibly.
Or will UConn be picked up by a major conference? Not likely, ATM.
I would say it's probably 5%, 50%, 40%, 5% from top to bottom, ATM. This is obviously opinion.
Another thing to look at will be OOC scheduling, which could make the new conference less relevant in terms of positioning UConn as a brand basketball school for recruits. It's not an enviable position but it is one that is workable.
UConn's basketball situation is a fairly unprecedented occurrence with how media/sports focus/etc. is these days, not to mention UConn being the flagship public University in CT.
Overall:
Syracuse, Pitt and UL all are in better situations to succeed, ATM.
UConn is definitely handicapped in basketball, but not nearly as much as some here would like to believe. NCAAT's are certainly possible and even likely in the league they are in. It should be a 3 bid league at a minimum (Cincy, Memphis and UConn should all be regulars). Will UConn win an NCAAT before Cuse/Pitt and UL (or even again), who knows, but UConn will stay competitive much longer in basketball regardless of it's conference. There is enough precedence of schools outside the major conferences doing well in the NCAAT, schools with a smidgeon of UConn's history and resources.
In terms of football, UConn is on the outside looking in. Syracuse, Pitt and UL may never win a championship game (it's a much harder task to even make the playoffs in football than in basketball) but have a shot at the playoffs through their conference. UConn would need a minor (maybe major) miracle to even make the football playoffs. Here is where the difference is more likely to be seen sooner.
