There's no devotion to uconn like there is with Big 10, SEC, Big 12 teams -- or BYU.
If they slide, ratings will plummet. There isn't a ton of bball competition in NYC (hard to see Columbia or St Johns capturing the city's imagination), but Rutgers is closer and more of a true NYC team -- and it's not hard to see them eventually going on a run. But it's more of a pro sports city anyway. But maybe uconn has enough to get what they want does a network.