Emmon Brennan's "Mailbag" article (on the Athletic) got to talking about realignment.
So this guy Heath B. (in the comments section) got out his pencil and sketched this:
https://theathletic.com/1882737/2020/06 ... =creightonHeath B.
10h ago
I like your alignment choices. I’d keep every one but add some more.
Starting with the SEC:
-You jettisoned Missouri back to the Big12; smart.
-I’d boot Vandy while you’re at it. They, along with Missouri don’t really add anything to SEC football or basketball on a consistent basis.
-South Carolina; gotta go, sorry. (Mostly bc pairing up with Clemson.)
-Arkansas, you’re out, too. (Not bc you’re not a good fit in the SEC, but others are a better fit and being with Missouri and Texas & OU in the Big12 is just better.)
The replacements: UNC, Duke, UofL & Memphis.This would be a net gain in football, and that can’t be completely ignored. The academic swaps are, mostly neutral. But now you’ve got a real basketball league with 4 of the greatest programs of all time playing each other 2x every year. Yes, please! Also, can we not agree that Memphis/Tennessee 2x a year in basketball and 1x a year in football would be WAY better than UT/Vandy? Same with making UK/UofL play playing 2x as conference foes in basketball? Oh man... this realignment would be awesome.
ACC:
Out - UNC, Duke, Syracuse, UofL
In - SC, UCF, Cincy, Maryland
Admittedly, this league loses a lot in basketball, but Maryland and Cincy have had some good success in the past, and frankly, Maryland back in the ACC makes sense to me. The big gains here are in football. Clemson/SC takes on added meaning as a conference game and now they have to play each other 2x a year in basketball. UCF, SC & Cincy are football upgrades, which actually could elevate the conference profile. Miami and FSU now have to play UCF in football... yes, please. Perhaps that even helps Miami? I think Maryland, UVA, Cincy & FSU could make for a decent top portion of the basketball league.
Big 12:
Out - WVU, TCU
In - Arkansas, Missouri.
This just feels right for that league. Old rivalries restored. Pretty neutral in on-field and on-court performance. But the rivalries, make this a win for them.
Big East:
No outs
In - Vandy, UConn, Syracuse.
This is all about basketball and academics.
Uconn is already here. Would I take S'cuse n Vandy? Certainly. Syracuse needs to return to sanity and the BE. Vandy would make a nice doorstop down there with DePaul. Of course, I'd rather have Duke than Vandy.
All in all a nice little exercise in "what if's".