How’s This For A Super Conference?

With all the talk about expanding conferences, one conference that’s largely been ignored has been the ACC. Which only makes sense. All the talk is about football schools, and of the Big 6 conferences, the ACC is the least of these.
In fact, its actually more of a basketball conference. So, with everyone trying to figure out exactly where Nebraska is going, why not create a super ACC basketball conference.

Nine teams was perfect for the ACC, everyone played each other twice and a weak team couldn’t hide. Now with the rotation schedule, games like Duke/NC State don’t happen twice a year, and Boston College’s primary partners are Miami & VaTech. What? How does that make sense?
Since the ACC is already ruined with 12 teams lets just bump it up to 16 teams.

First, dump BC, Miami and Florida State, that puts at back that 9. And keeps people from having to make the trip to Boston and Florida, it also keeps the ACC tournament from ever being held in one of those far away locations.
Now we have seven to add.

Lets start raiding the Big East first and take Georgetown and Louisville. The Hoyas make a perfect match for Maryland and it would quickly become an intense rivalry. Imagine the hell that the Maryland students would unleash on G’Town.
Louisville has already changed conferences once in the last five years, why not another change. Both G’Town and Louisville have rich basketball traditions (and National Championships) and big name coaches. Sounds like a perfect match for the ACC.

The SEC is next and lets hit them up for their big dog. The University of Kentucky. We already have two kinds of blue, why not add a third? Besides adding another of the top 5 all-time programs; twice a year Louisville and Kentucky would play each other. How’s this sound for a Sunday night double-header on ESPN, Lousiville/Kentucky followed by Duke/UNC?

Next, lets take Memphis from Conference USA. The conference is normally described during the season as Memphis and everyone else. They stand out in the small pond of C-USA, like a sunken galleon in a roadside ditch. Quick, name another coach of a Conference USA team. Yeah, I know, me either. Even though they are on probation, they would make another fine addition to the rich tradition of the new ACC. Don’t get all high and mighty about ACC teams on probation (see. Jim Valvano).

We are now at 13 teams and have some choices to make. Do we add more big name teams? Villanova, Pitt or Tennessee. Do we raid more mid-majors for their best teams? Temple, Xavier or Butler. Do we take the best of the smaller conferences? ODU, Murrey State, Davidson, Charlotte, Eastern and Western Kentucky, Richmond, Radford or Winthrop.

Villanova and Pitt from the Big East would add another pair of power teams, as well as in state rivalry. Something this conference is accustomed to. Tennessee is another good match, especially when you look at it from the Woman’s side of the ball.

Xavier and Butler are strong mid-majors and if they want to play with the big dogs, I say we let them. Temple is another good choice; a rich tradition (6th most wins ever) and another major market. Philly is close enough to NY to draw all the ACC fans that live there for away games.

That leaves a whole bunch of elite teams among the single-bid conferences. Why would they want to leave the relative safety of the small conferences? How about stacks and stacks of cash? Cash is normally a good motivator. Sure these teams would get pummeled for a while, but they most of them have local fan bases and traditions in winning (either recent or past). Plus every conference needs some one at the bottom.

I know its a pipe dream, but if you want to create Super Conferences, here’s one for you, the new ACC.

Northern
Georgetown
Kentucky
Louisville
Maryland
Temple
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Xavier

Southern
Clemson
Duke
Georgia Tech
Memphis
NC State
Tennesse
UNC
Wake Forest

As for the schedule, each team gets three home & away rivalries. And then play each of the other twelve teams once. That’s 18 conference games.
Then instead of the silly double-by the Big East currently has, only the top 12 teams go to the conference tournament and the four best teams get a single-by.
Going by last years tourney teams, you would have 11 teams in the NCAAs. Not including UNC (NIT), Memphis (probation) or VaTech (the eternally screwed).

You want to build a super conference, try creating one with a richer tradition, more championships or better rivalries than this one.