ACC-Big 10 Challenge

[Fjoinkay]

is Exhibit 'A' for why the ACC added SU and Pitt. The ACC is very serious about being the best basketball conference. They held that label securely for over a decade or so until the BE expanded and became the superconference that it is. Now the ACC's slide is showing up against the likes of the Big10-losing the Challenge for the third consecutive after winning the first 10 years.

The ACC wants SU.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

Syracuse and Pitt joining will also help the rest of the league get better.

 

[rottweiler44]

It is amazing how far the "middle" programs have fallen...GT, MD, BC, WF, NC State. Even Miami had a nice run in the Big East. To an extent everything is cyclical, but part of me believes that the Big East surge in power and popularity cut off many of the preferred NE recruiting ties to these schools used to enjoy in the northeast. Duke and UNC obviously still have their pick but the others have been passed...

 

[orange79]

It is amazing how far the "middle" programs have fallen...GT, MD, BC, WF, NC State. Even Miami had a nice run in the Big East. To an extent everything is cyclical, but part of me believes that the Big East surge in power and popularity cut off many of the preferred NE recruiting ties to these schools used to enjoy in the northeast. Duke and UNC obviously still have their pick but the others have been passed...

Another reason we were chosen

 

[Knicks411]

It's amazing that seemingly ALL of the middle programs have fallen. Just by sheer luck, you'd think a few would at least be at their normal level. Maybe State is this year, UVA is getting better, but all in all, it's ugly past UNC and Duke. FSU is a solid team, I will give them that.

 

[Marsh01]

It is amazing how far the "middle" programs have fallen...GT, MD, BC, WF,

These 4 schools are shockingly bad. I am very surprised ot see how irrelevant thay have become. I know Gary Williams buried himself by not going after the AAU players out of high school. When the Wake coach died that really hurt that program. Tech had a nice run with hewitt and was hurt by a lot of one-two and done players. BC is just freaking terrible. Is there a major D1 program that is more irrelevant in their area than BC? Between the Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins now and the Patriots BC is a pimple on the ass of Boston sports fans.

 

[texascpa]

Maryland won the NC in 2002, didn't they?

I think they are just having a hiccup of a downspell. They'll bounce back.

 

[arbitragegls]

...in many newspaper articles written when 'Cuse and Pitt joined the ACC...the primary reason given was the two teams strength in bball...aside from academics etc. In fact, coach K said how pleased he was with 'Cuse and Pitt to help the bball side of the conference and that if further expansion takes place they should try to find a top football school...the ACC has known for some time that their bball ranking had fallen...and Cuse and Pitt(probably should have been Uconn) were needed to get bball back on top

 

[Maxsumm]

then why not also invite UConn? I may be in the minority, but i want at least one more of our old BB rivals to come with other than Pitt..

 

[Fjoinkay]

For some of those middle of the road ACC schools I'm pretty sure it is just cyclical and they will bounce back sooner rather than later. Obviously, the Big East expansion and upgrade plays a role too. The Big East has a rock solid roster of coaches. I'm not sure the ACC is attractive for great coaches right now, but that is probably cyclical too. The dominance that Duke and UNC have shared for so long could also be a hindrance in some ways. Rick Barnes had a few really good teams at Clemson, but he never garnered much respect or attention and he could never seem to catch a break when they played Duke or UNC.

Looks like the Big10 is waking up from a long nap. I wonder how long that will last.