Pitt and Syracuse to ACC Shows Basketball Is King in That Conference

Let's face it, when the majority of us read and talk about conference realignment and the creation of so-called super conferences, we're all thinking about football.  Maybe that's why people were surprised by the sudden addition of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC.

Think about it.  Will either school jump in and make a splash on the football field?  Hardly.  But they will have a huge impact on the basketball court.  And that’s what this move is all about—creating a basketball super conference.

The addition of Pitt and Syracuse will push the ACC into media markets north and west of its traditional reach.  It will add Pittsburgh and potentially Philadelphia to the ACC base and bump television revenues to higher levels.  In all, it was a smart move.

But with the ACC's emphasis trending away from football to hoops, it certainly begs the question of who's next?  Having a 14-team monster conference is good.  Having a 16-team super conference is better.  After pushing north and west, where does the ACC go for their next teams?

Notre Dame is obviously the big prize.  They would add a national presence, a national fanbase and a decent basketball program.  That they are also the crown jewel of football expansion has not gone unnoticed.  But on top of football, Notre Dame brings so much in terms of additional TV markets, ad revenues and a financial bottom line that makes other ACC schools lick their chops.

But Notre Dame is playing hard to get with everyone and will not jump unless it's for the ideal situation.  But as they wait, their options minimize.  The Big Ten is likely to grab one or two schools from the crumbling Big 12.  And once the super conference alignment starts, the Big East is likely to be left for dead, leaving the Big Ten and ACC as Notre Dame's most likely landing places.

Who would be the most likely 16th team?  My bet is UConn.  This will allow the ACC to tap into the New York City media market, which is a good business decision for the ACC.  UConn and New York would bring huge TV numbers and drive up advertising revenues. 

Having a new northern focus would give the ACC a chance to showcase its product in Madison Square Garden three to four times a year.  Add to it the fact that UConn's basketball program is a annual contender and would easily become a powerhouse program in their new conference. 

Other schools could draw a look, like West Virginia and South Florida.  Possibly TCU, but the geography does not work as well, and all of these schools lack an ACC-worthy basketball identity. 

Other possibilities could be plucked from the Atlantic 10 or the Colonial Athletic Conference, but it would be hard, maybe impossible, for the ACC to measure those teams against UConn and Notre Dame for membership.

Like a great movie, the opening scene of super conference realignment has started with an unexpected twist.  The rest of the plot will likely unfold shortly, but when the dust settles, it's looking like there very well will be three football-focused super conferences and the ACC, which based its expansion plans on a shrewd basketball television revenue strategy. 

Your move, PAC-12.