ACC basketball coaches usually get their way, but an expanded conference regular-season schedule is inevitable.
An increase from the current 16-game slate to 18 may not be voted in by athletic directors and faculty reps during this week's spring meetings in Florida.
But as much as the 12 coaches prefer the status quo, television officials want additional inventory. In a stronger economy, the coaches probably could prevail indefinitely. But with school budgets tight and current TV contracts expiring after the 2010-11 season, the coaches eventually will be told schedule expansion is no longer a point of debate.
Even with extra conference games to offer, the ACC is facing a challenge on TV negotiations. Advertising revenue is down across the board and some dependable corporate backers either are gone or strapped. Wachovia, Circuit City and General Motors were big spenders on college sports when the last round of TV contracts were signed.
At the core of the push for an 18-game schedule is regional TV audience ratings. While ratings are consistently high for North Carolina and Duke regardless of their opponents, the viewer market for most nonconference games among the other 10 schools is soft.
Clemson, a preseason top-25 pick by some last season, played eight non-ACC games that were not even included in the league TV package. Other than a game against Illinois in the ACC vs. Big Ten Challenge, the Tigers didn't have another non-league game on any of the ESPN outlets. Nine N.C. State non-league games were omitted from the TV lineup.
By forcing the coaches to play two more conference games each, the ADs (and TV) will at least create more marketable games. It's not that a Clemson vs. State game is going to be of interest to the big three networks, but it will do better in regional ratings or on ESPN-Something than Clemson vs. Hofstra or State vs. Lipscomb.
The coaches generally contend that 18 league games will lead to worse overall records and a bigger logjam in the middle of the conference standings. They're correct on both counts. But that's the price of expansion in a weak economy.
The irony is that expansion was all about football, where the eight-game conference schedule may never change. Most of the ACC basketball coaches at the time were against adding new league members. In part that was because they feared 18, then 20 and maybe 22-game conference schedules would follow.
Don't bet against it.
Comments
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I watch some of their
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 03:16 — ninaninaI watch some of their matches and they are really cool. I just wish I could watch the live one in my area.
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Totally argee, they are
Tue, 02/16/2010 - 23:36 — nicolescandyTotally argee, they are really cool, i am one of the biggest fans around!
And also, I love the
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 03:11 — makemineAnd also, I love the vacation
travel vacation
I would support a 22 game
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 16:01 — Thad_WilliamsonI would support a 22 game schedule and no tournament.
Alternatively, make it an 18 game season and then create something called the "ACC Cup" based on a European-soccer cup tournament. That is, all 12 schools get entered into a random draw (no seeding; 4 lucky teams will draw first-round byes). Your opponent and the location of the game is pulled from the hat. Each round brings a new draw, and the games are sprinkled out throughout the season. The final game would be played on a neutral court on Selection Sunday, and the winner gets automatic NCAA berth.
I bet those "cup" games would attract a lot of interest from TV. And it would add a randomness to the outcome that would add interest in a top-heavy league.
Schedule might look like this:
1. First round games--early December
2. Quarterfinal games--early January
3. Semifinal games--early February
4. Final--March
The ACC built its identity on being innovative. It's time to recognize the old conference tournament is a dinosaur and innovate again.
ACC expansion
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 10:34 — trw219Only Duke and Carolina stood firm against the pressure to expand the league to 12 teams in Swofford's grand experiment to add a league championship game in football, which has been a dismal failure thus far. ACC basketball has suffered, as evidenced by the number of teams advancing past the first round of the NCAA tournament. The league now ranks no better than 2nd (to Big East) and arguably 3rd or maybe even 4th. Although it is not anyone's first choice, a 22-game conference schedule may be in the best interest of the school's programs and the ACC since it's unlikely that the conference will return to fewer teams (Duke '68)
more, not less
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 06:46 — fdub11to make the standings actually mean something, there has to be more conference games with a goal towards a full conference schedule where everybody plays everybody home and home. Already the conference tourney is meaningless. The current setup is just not working.
hello!
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 18:15 — gvillegatr"At the core of the push for an 18-game schedule is regional TV audience ratings. While ratings are consistently high for North Carolina and Duke regardless of their opponents, the viewer market for most nonconference games among the other 10 schools is soft."
I thought ncsu fans supported their team no matter what!? thats what they tell us. All they have to do is turn on their tv ... and there the game is!? doesn't cost them anything extra. I guess they lied to us!
regional TV audience
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 11:29 — noneyabusinessThe ratings are regional, not local. If a team is consistently winning (see duke and uncch), they will have a large following of walmart fans and sheeple. Thus driving high ratings outside the local market. Until the wolfpack can win on a regular basis, their tv ratings will continue to be soft.
Clemson vs. Little Sisters of the Poor
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 17:07 — melvinfurdRe: "Clemson, a preseason top-25 pick by some last season, played eight non-ACC games that were not even included in the league TV package."
I'm surprised only eight of Clemson's non-ACC games failed to be included in the league TV package.
I can't imagine why anybody, other than a Clemson fan would willingly watch Clemson play Hofstra, TCU, Wofford, UNC-Charlotte, Savannah State, Presbyterian, Liberty, S.C. State, North Florida or East Carolina.
Voices of University Presidents and Chancellors?
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 16:34 — uBniceWow! I wonder was there any consideration at all regarding whether this is a good thing for the young men? What will it do to their schedules, how will it affect their classes? More time on the court and more travel usually equates to less class time. It is an honor to play big time ACC basketball and the ACC has done as well or better than most in graduating their players. I hope it continues to do so but you have to give pause to think as this super conference continues to expand.
What about untelevised conference games?
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 13:55 — DeaconPeachBefore the ACC worries about televising additional non-conference games, they should work to ensure that EVERY conference game is televised. Last year 92 of 96 conference games were televised. This conference supposedly has a lot of clout. Use it...and make sure all conference games have a spot on the TV schedule.