We did it! It’s basketball season! First Night will be taking place at Gampel Pavilion this evening, preceded by a volleyball game open to the public (no, you should definitely not get sauced and go cheer wildly 😉). Let’s mailbag about it.
Remember: If your question wasn’t answered or you’ve been living under a rock and are just hearing about this, you can submit your questions here or on Twitter (@ADimeBack).
Kevin asks: Do we know of any recruits attending first night? Diallo? Bamba? Petty?
We were compiling a list of sourced tweets (shout to the hardworking beat guys) with the list of attending recruits and then ESPN’s Adam Finkelstein did the job for us. So here’s his list:
19’s expected at UConn First Night tonight – Bryce Wills, Max Lorca, Akok Akok & Taelon Martin
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) October 14, 2016
One note, it had been speculated earlier in the week that Hamidou Diallo would be at Kentucky’s event this evening. His presence at UConn is noteworthy and encouraging. As we’ve discussed endlessly, Diallo is Kevin Ollie’s number one priority and we’re choosing to read into this in a very positive sense.
Another note, Charli Collier will also be in attendance. Collier is a big time WBB recruit for 2018. Geno gonna Geno.
Sam asks via email: who will have the best dance moves on friday?
On the men’s side, I’ve got my money on Amida Brimah. We know he’s got moves. But I have a feeling freshman Vance Jackson might be bringing some game, too. The gauntlet has been thrown, Top Five. Show me what you’re working with. For the ladies, I’m going with extremely woke (and BardMom fave) Gabby Williams. Post moves = dance moves, is what I’m saying. And her bestie Kia Nurse, despite being Canadian, definitely has something ready for all of you. Drop it like it’s hot.
Several people asked: Should the First Night scrimmage be co-ed?
People are weirdly opinionated about the co-ed scrimmage and I’d be lying if I said I truly understood the debate. In general, I think it’s rad that when you show up to First Night at UConn you are smacked over the head by a culture of greatness — whether it’s lines of trophies, new banners being raised to the rafters or the presence of renowned star players of years past. Especially with recruits in attendance, I think the co-ed spectacle of it all really drives home the point that UConn is serious about college basketball, and serious about winning, and it requires both teams on the court to achieve that.
In regards to the actual on-court gameplay, who gives a shit? The two squads will split quarters tonight, a departure from the mixed scrimmages of the past few years. I think cross-gender alley-oops are pretty cool but exhibition games in general are one giant exercise in holding my breath, hoping no one gets hurt. If you’re concerned about anything else, you should probably reevaluate your priorities.
– Tyler
Bonus: WHUS sent us this video that is fun and worth your time.
I’m not trying to beat a dead horse, but at what point will UCONN consider to just punt football? If the Big 12 does not invite UCONN into join the conference, why not just put the basketball programs in the Big East and be done with it? I realize the Big East now is not what is was, but it’s better than this crap conference they are in right now. As for football, who cares. Put them in Conference USA and be done. UCONN has never been good at football, they will never be good at football. Is UCONN making money or losing money on the football program? If they are losing money, dump the program and be just a basketball school.
Just for the record, I do not expect UCONN to get an invitation to the Big 12. I don’t have a good feeling at all.