ACC Expansion: 10 Reasons Adding Syracuse, Pitt Awful for ACC and College Hoops

It's official. College basketball and ACC basketball are now doomed.

As of September 18th, 2011, the ACC accepted both the Syracuse Orange and Pittsburgh Panthers into the conference, as the change would take effect just over two years from now.

The two top-notch Big East programs would make up the 13th and 14th teams in the conference, as the ACC will now is looking at becoming a 16-team conference with Rutgers and Connecticut but being the two teams more likely to join the conference next.

These are the 10 reasons why this ACC expansion and the departure of both Syracuse and Pitt from the Big East are moves that ultimately are detrimental to the sport of college basketball and both conferences.

10. The Big East Loses Quality

Plain and simple the Big East are arguably the biggest losers when it's all said and done.

Two of the conference's premier basketball programs in Pittsburgh and Syracuse both depart what many believed the to be the strongest conference in college basketball over the last five years.

You are talking about two teams that went a combined 55-14 last season, with Syracuse winning its first 18 games of the season. The two were a combined 27-9 in Big East play last season as well.

Talk about some numbers.

There is no question the Big East is losing quality, despite the fact they will undoubtedly be adding teams to the conference with the spaces available.

9. Jim Boeheim...Coaching Outside of the Big East?

Really?

Although not the most constructive or compelling of arguments, can one in fact picture Boeheim coaching outside of the Big East?

One of the best coaches in the history of the conference will have to move over to the ACC after coaching in the Big East for close to 40 seasons?

It's a tough sight to endure, and certainly one that will take some getting used to for most fans of the game. Truly, the Big East loses a coaching legend, as they are the biggest losers when it comes to Boeheim switching to the ACC.

8. Top ACC Teams Will Not Stand a Chance

With the exception of head coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils and the talent-filled North Carolina Tar Heels, the consistent winning programs of the ACC like the Maryland Terrapins, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Virginia Tech Hokies will all take a significant hit.

In a conference that is already as difficult as any to come out on top, the ACC now adds two of the better teams in the Big East in Pitt and Syracuse, which is arguably the best conference in all of college basketball.

Pittsburgh and Syracuse are not only two top-notch programs, but as a result are programs that bring in as solid recruits as any in the country. As a result the ACC will be all the more difficult to come out on top in. Competition is healthy, but too much of it will be problematic.

7. North Carolina and Duke Will Suffer

While the Marylands, Georgia Techs and Virginia Techs of the conference suffer from an immense overload of competition, both North Carolina and Duke take evident hits as well.

Why?

Because these two are the two teams of the conference known for their elite play and top of the line programs as of late. As a result, bringing in two teams that are arguably just as well-rounded or better make life plenty more difficult when it comes to recruiting talent.

There is no question that these two programs will find talent and continue to play winning basketball, yet there is no question both may easily find themselves at No. 3 and No. 4 in the conference.

No. 6: A Less Anticipated Conference Tournament

In 2011 the Duke Blue Devils came out victorious in the ACC tournament. Who did they beat? The North Carolina Tar Heels were the other finalists of course.

There is no question that these two teams are the top teams in the conference, yet even still there were opportunities for underdog teams to make a run and take the title for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

No. 9 Miami were two points away from upsetting North Carolina early in the tournament in what was a 59-61 thriller. Meanwhile, the Terps, Hokies, and Florida State had solid, productive runs as well.

Adding two more powerhouses to the conference only weakens the opportunity for these teams to be able to make an ACC title run and improbably earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. Isn't that what conference tournaments are all about? Giving a chance to the teams that aren't necessarily capable of making the big dance without winning their respective tournaments?

No. 5: Where Are the Mid-Major Teams?

If a conference like the ACC is to consider expanding the number of teams in its conference, adding two powerhouses is not the answer. What the conference would find significantly more beneficial is adding mid-major programs that are ready for the spotlight.

San Diego State is one example of a team that is on the rise and could be a team the ACC attempts to pick up.

If the ACC was to pick up mid-major teams or at least mix them in with a team like Pitt, the conference doesn't overload on top-notch teams and still adds depth to the conference.

No. 4: And Wait...That's Not All!

Not only are Pittsburgh and Syracuse set to leave the Big East, it has been discussed that both Rutgers and UCONN may well be on their way out as well. It is the ACC that has talked about possibly adding these two teams as well to make the conference a 16-team one.

Talk about an imbalance.

Now not only does the Big East lose a plethora of talented programs, the ACC also overloads significantly, to the point that with the exception of Duke and North Carolina, the rest of the conference will find a difficult time staying on top.

No. 3: Pressure on Other Big East Teams to Step Up

The Big... what?

As Pittsburgh and Syracuse are set to join the ACC, teams like Louisville and Cincinnati are now faced with the responsibility of becoming a top-notch team in the conference in order to restore the conference's reputation as arguably the most competitive one in the nation.

With the exception of UCONN and West Virginia, two of the other powerhouses of the conference, as UCONN may well be out of the conference soon enough, the Big East is up for grabs and needs teams to step up in order to keep the conference on the map.

No. 2: A Potential Lack of Balance About the Nation

As a shift will involve some of the stronger teams in the nation in Pittsburgh and Syracuse, without question there comes a difficulty in maintaining balance about the nation's premier conferences.

The Big East is more than capable of picking up teams that will help to strengthen the conference, as they likely will, yet it is a must when it comes to benefiting the sport. This is because with more balanced conferences there is more competition and significantly less discrepancy in talent between teams.

This makes the game more exciting for fans while making for a healthier competition level across the board.

It should not be a problem, as the Big East committee is more than prepared to add teams and help fill the gaps.

No. 1: The Start of a Super-Conference Trend

The ACC, with the move, would have a total of 14 teams in the conference, two away from having a 16-team super conference.

This trend of having 16 teams in a conference would be a big change to the game of college basketball with both it's benefits and disadvantages.

The big disadvantages would be the overwhelming level of competition in each major conference and the inability for smaller, less successful teams in these conferences having that much less of an opportunity to compete.

These two disadvantages are detrimental to the game of college basketball, so much so that the trend ultimately becomes one not worth pursuing, although some may certainly have their fair share of disagreement. It fails to allow the underdogs to make a stand and prove themselves.

Winning basketball games gives these smaller programs more money, and adding more teams to a conference could well prevent a team like that from putting together the W's.