The hybrid model of only half the conference members supporting football was never sustainable. Can you imagine the wars over revenue distribution now, considering how much power the non-football schools had in the conference?
What could have been. The football schools really needed to break away. Those 9 plus adding 3 more for a CCG had a real shot at still being here. And IMO all the programs would be in better shape. Looking back at 2000...
You already had Miami, VA Tech, WV, Pitt, Temple, Rutgers, SU, BC. Plus UConn who was about to join. The plan should have been to move South by adding 2 more schools and then taking a shot at FSU.
East Carolina was a pretty good program back then, so they would be one add. The other add should have been Louisville who was starting to build something. Then you can go to FSU and say join us or we take UCF and you are stuck in a weaker conference.
For BBall in 2000 you had...
SU and UConn
Miami was pretty good around then
BC was down but in 2001 they had a good season
WV and Pitt were about to become good
Rutgers was Rutgers
VA Tech stunk
Then you add in...
Temple who was pretty good and you could argue a better program than Nova
Louisville who was a little down but about to get Pitino
ECU who stunk
Plus either FSU or UCF who both stunk at the time.
Maybe it is slightly down but it is still a pretty good BBall conference.
I do still think Rutgers eventually leaves for the B1G. But you can replace them with Cincy who is better at both sports. And/or do you go to 14 like everyone else by raiding the ACC? FSU (if no the 1st time), Clemson, GA Tech are all low hanging fruit after Maryland leaves. Which is pretty much the ACC without the 4 Carolina schools and UVA, instead you have ECU, Cincy, WV, UConn, and Temple.