Professional creepy guy Bruce Pearl will be getting his swell on at a gym near Storrs in 2010.
As the myth goes, Coach Cal and Geno don't really get a long too well. And, really, it makes a whole lot of sense -- both are put on pedestals in a state that, before basketball, excelled athletically only in playing polo with cows, and both have really ornery, really stereotypical coaching personalities.
So it wouldn't surprise me if upon hearing UConn and Tennessee would no longer play their regular-season rivalry in women's basketball, Cal immediately turned to Jeff Hathaway and bellowed, "Jeph -- get on the horn for twenty-ten," just to one-up his step-brother in ballin'.
Or at least that's how I assume UConn began discussions on the two-year agreement with the Vols' men's team that the university announced today. The deal will bring Bruce Pearl and his giant pectorals to Gampel/The Morgue in 2010-11, and the Huskies will travel to the durrty south in 2011-12.
"This is a great intersectional series for us to add to our future schedules," Calhoun said in a statement. "It will be an exciting match-up of styles and players, something fans of both teams can look forward to. For us, it continues our tradition of trying to schedule some of the best teams in the country, such as this year, where we will play at Michigan (Jan. 17) and Texas at home (Jan. 23), as well as Kentucky (Dec. 9) in New York and also the Pre-Season NIT."
Keep churning out that recruiting propaganda, Cal.
Considering they play a conference schedule comparable to the NBA's Atlantic division, UConn probably doesn't need to set up marquee non-conference games to boost its SOS. And while it does take on its share of cupcakes (I'm looking at you, Bryant), there have been, as Cal points out, some decent out-of-conference matchups the past few seasons.
Games against Kentucky and Texas have the potential to be among the best regular-season matchups next season, and while Michigan has been on the bubble every season since 1995, its players always come prepared.
Also, with Tennessee and UConn striking a deal in September to play a two-game series in football in 2015 and 2016, the two schools have managed to come together in every sport that matters besides the one people actual want. Look for agreements in softball and volleyball to be announced in the near future.
"This is a great intersectional series for us to add to our future schedules," said UConn head coach Jim Calhoun. "It will be an exciting match-up of styles and players, something fans of both teams can look forward to. For us, it continues our tradition of trying to schedule some of the best teams in the country, such as this year, where we will play at Michigan (Jan. 17) and Texas at home (Jan. 23), as well as Kentucky (Dec. 9) in New York and also the Pre-Season NIT."