UConn is officially back in the Big East after a seven-year stint in the AAC

Welcome home, UConn.

It’s ????????. #ThisIsBIG pic.twitter.com/JAFsYUMZjF

— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) July 1, 2020

On Wednesday, the UConn Huskies officially rejoined the historic Big East Conference, after spending seven years in the American Athletic Conference.

UConn was one of the first seven members of the original Big East, spending 34 years in the conference from 1979-2013.

???? ????? ????.@UConnHuskies x #BIGEAST pic.twitter.com/qcKrLYsUea

— BIG EAST Conference (@BIGEAST) July 1, 2020

During that span, UConn athletics racked up 80 conference championships across all sports, but the school found the most success with its men’s and women’s basketball programs.

The men’s team claimed 10 regular season titles and 7 Big East Tournament titles. And as a representative of the conference, the UConn men also won 3 NCAA championships – 1999, 2004 and 2011.

The women’s team dominated even more than the men, earning 19 regular season titles, 18 Big East Tournament crowns, and 8 of their 11 national championships came as a member of the Big East – 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

?? @UConnMBB and @UConnWBB are bringing some full trophy cases back to the @BIGEAST! pic.twitter.com/dJy0UzxvB5

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) July 1, 2020

Everything changed in 2013, however, when the league’s seven basketball-focused schools and UConn’s biggest competition broke away to form the new Big East.

The new Big East featured DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova, in addition to Butler, Creighton and Xavier. UConn found itself in the AAC, along with former Big East members Cincinnati, Temple and South Florida, as well as DePaul and Marquette.

With the move, the Huskies found themselves traveling a lot more for their regular season matchups, which women’s coach Geno Auriemma recently pointed out.

“This pandemic has exposed a lot of flaws in the system,” Auriemma said of the travel expenses that have come along with conference realignment. “When I got the job at UConn [in 1985], we took a bus almost everywhere. Maybe we’d have a flight to Pittsburgh, or a flight to Georgetown, and maybe one other trip a year someplace. And then, you know, things changed.”

The Huskies are back in the Big East. @UConnWBB went 139-0 against AAC competition in its seven years in the American (118-0 in conference play, 21-0 in conference tournament).
https://t.co/wt22BKgPlV

— ESPN Women’s Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) July 1, 2020

Despite the taxing travel and schedule, UConn basketball never faltered. The men won their fourth national title in 2014, and the women never lost a game in AAC conference play.

Still, the Huskies decided it was time to return home, as the new Big East was thriving as a basketball-centric conference.

Needless to say, alumni and fans are excited:

Where they belong https://t.co/t7nzgdo1CW

— Rob Stone (@RobStoneONFOX) July 1, 2020

UConn is officially back in the Big East. Huskies fans right now: pic.twitter.com/ysab30bVdG

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) July 1, 2020

If you’re a Big East fan and you’re not happy about UConn returning, you’re missing the bigger picture. It improves the brand. It adds interest. it makes the conference a better and more attractive league. This was an absolute no-brainer.

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) July 1, 2020

Now the only question remaining is, will UConn’s Big East dominance continue upon its return?

Head over to FOX College Hoops Twitter to let us know what you think!