There's been a lot of talk in recent days about how the Uconn womens basketball team's current win streak of 89 and counting measures up with the UCLA men's team streak from way back in the day of 88. And even more talk about how its not getting enough attention in the media because its a woman's team. Well I got the message loud and clear, you want coverage, I'll give you coverage.
For the most part I think Uconn coach Geno Auriemma is dead on in his assessment. Yes, the streak isn't getting nearly the attention that a men's team on a similar streak would get. And yes, it's because the woman's game isn't as entertaining, relevant, or as impressive as a men's team would be if they were pulling this off today. Sorry, just delivering the message.
Stressing the today is the important though. Because I really believe their streak is as impressive as the old UCLA streak of the 1970's, and will be more impressive if they can reach the 100 straight mark.
Mens college basketball back then was not the same as it is today. Now even shit teams get multiple nationally televised games per year, raising the status of their programs and enhancing their recruiting tools. Back then? UCLA was one of a handful of teams to get national television exposure on a consistent basis, this gave them a tremendous advantage in recruiting battles, landing top recruit after top recruit. Sound familiar? Uconn has had this same advantage and employed it to their benefit for well over a decade now, continuing to be destination of choice for star recruits each year.
More evidence that men's game of the 70's was just as diluted as the women's game of today? During their streak the UCLA men faced 18 top 20 teams during their streak. Uconn has faced 29 and counting. That's about three less per season. Three less chances of facing an opponent that actually has the potential to match up against you. Uconn's margin of victory (while playing stiffer competition): 32.4 (only two single digit victories), UCLA's: 23.5. UCLA didn't face a conference tournament at the end of season, UCLA's NCAA tourney was made up of fewer teams than the current field (less land mines to navigate).
