Syracuse Basketball: Why Orange Fans Should Be Concerned About Joining the ACC

When Syracuse University announced it would join the Atlantic Coast Conference, the news generated a mixed reaction from fans and the media. Ultimately, it is the right move for the Orange financially and for stability, but there are several downsides for the basketball team.

Jim Boeheim's program will try to establish itself in the ACC, and there are many difficulties that come with that. They'll have to deal with the issue of being a northeast school in a southeast league. Fans won't be able to enjoy the old rivalries, and the team will struggle to find its identity within the new conference.

Eventually, things will sort themselves out, but for the next few years, there will be challenges. Here are a few reasons why Orange fans should be concerned about joining the ACC.

Unlikely to Continue Big East Rivalries

Fans hope that Syracuse will be able to continue competing against the likes of Georgetown, Connecticut and Villanova, but it will be difficult for the Orange to maintain rivalries with its longtime Big East foes. 

It's unlikely that the teams will schedule each other frequently. Syracuse might be able to play the Hoyas or Huskies occasionally, but the meetings will be few and infrequent.

Intermittent non-conference games just won't be the same as duking it out for Big East supremacy.

Status Within the ACC

During the Jim Boeheim era, the Orange have been a Big East power and the team has become nationally prominent. Although the conference has elite teams, it also has plenty of mediocrity. Syracuse stands out amid this mediocrity and thrives on the fact that it is the only power program in New York State. Right now, Syracuse is an A-plus Big East program.

When it moves to the ACC, Syracuse will be in the upper half of the conference, but it won't be a top-shelf team. It will be the younger brother to Duke and North Carolina, and it will have second-fiddle status similar to Maryland and Georgia Tech.

Essentially, Syracuse will go from being an A-plus team in the Big East to a B-plus team in the ACC. They will still command great publicity in the northeast, but among ACC teams, they will be overshadowed.

No Home-and-Home with ACC Powerhouses

When the news broke that Syracuse and Pittsburgh were bolting for the ACC, Syracuse fans were thrilled with the idea of Duke, North Carolina and Maryland visiting the Carrier Dome every season for prime-time showdowns.

Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. 

The reality is that the ACC will have 14 teams and may expand to 16 teams, so teams won't be playing a home-and-home with each conference opponent. The Blue Devils and the Tar Heels will travel to Syracuse every other year at best.

Flying South for the Winter?

The ACC is still primarily a southern conference, with eight of its teams south of Virginia. It will slightly impact the players and their weekly schedule, but the people that will be adversely affected the most is the fans.

With the Big East schedule, many of the games are within a manageable driving distance for fans. Once Syracuse begins ACC competition, fans will need to fly if they want to support the team in person. 

Consequently, fewer fans will be able to travel to see their beloved Orange squad. This is unfortunate for both the team and the fans.

Will Be Difficult to Create ACC Rivalries

Becoming rivals with the ACC powers won't be as easy as you think. It may happen over time, but the teams and fans on Tobacco Road won't consider Syracuse a rival right away.

The Tar Heels, Blue Devils and Terrapins already take part in some of the best rivalries in college basketball, and they'll feel generally indifferent toward Syracuse. This may change after a few years of intense games and compelling conference tournaments, but for the near future, Syracuse's seasons will lack electric rivalries.

Syracuse Is a Basketball School

The move to the ACC is the right choice, and it's all about money and providing stability for the football program. But Syracuse is ultimately a northeast basketball school, and this change will alter the dynamics of Syracuse basketball.

The Big East was built on basketball schools, and Syracuse was one of those basketball powers that served as the foundation for the conference's success. Now the Orange take on a different identity as a newcomer in the ACC.

A fresh start is good in many respects, but it is still unfortunate that the Big East and Syracuse will part ways.