(05-02-2021 03:00 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-02-2021 02:26 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-30-2021 02:40 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(04-30-2021 02:09 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-30-2021 12:30 PM)cuseroc Wrote:  I would say bad for UNC and Duke since they pride themselves on "academics" and having a loud voice within their conference. The BIG would be a much better fit for both schools, although they would still not have as loud a voice. But at least they would continue to be in a conference with a bunch of schools with similar academic rankings. But doubt they would want to be in a league with a bunch of "Yankees."

If they are looking to continue dominating basketball, the SEC is the place to go.

Precisely why in this case the SEC has appeal. Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Missouri plus Duke and North Carolina along with Georgia would be a comparable grouping. Even if Missouri headed back to a rebuilt Big 12 and Virginia took their place.

They'd have Kentucky and Florida to play annually and each other and would be bell cows for hoops only with SEC football level money funding them. And Tennessee is right next door for another nice hoops rivalry.

The Big 10 has plenty of academics and hoops and they might have more need of Virginia Tech and N.C. State which are both land grant schools I think.

It's an interesting prospect. And should ESPN gain full rights to the Big 12 surrounding them with solid to above average football makes all of them more money as well (Miami, F.S.U., Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pittsburgh, plus possibly Missouri). It's a weird world moving forward. Who knows what is possible and what is not.

In the somewhat unlikely event that Carolina would join the SEC, I would imagine that the other team to join with the Heels (if 16 is the desired outcome) would be another team from Texas. The SEC needs another Texas team.
JR is almost correct on the alignment for the Heels. I could see a division of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Missouri. The second Texas team would join A&M, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, MSU, Alabama and Auburn.
Of course Texas would be the home run for the second Texas team, although Baylor or TCU could be serviceable. Texas Tech is out of the question.

Well X, it does cement both schools as unquestionably the top athletic program in each state, an issue only in doubt because of growing revenue concerns. A&M is duly relegated as Texas now has equal media money in addition to all other advantages and North Carolina couldn't be touched by any other program in the state due to doubling their media revenue and having the sustained access to all solid recruiting areas, including Texas.

When the downturn in higher ed is in full swing in a decade that branding advantage will be massive. So whether you consider it unlikely or not it would prove most sustainable. UT & UNC would be quite the coup and should a Vanderbilt opt out it still leaves room for a prominent private or an Oklahoma.

Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Arkansas, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M

However, the above would be the likely lineup with Vanderbilt replacing OU should they decided to stay.

If Carolina goes to the SEC, NC State will go to the Big 10. Money will be a wash and it is easier to compete on the field against MD, Rutgers, Indiana, and Purdue. I think it is an advantage to be the southernmost school in the B10 versus the northeastern most school in the SEC. But that's me