Big 12 Basketball: 3 ACC schools to add in conference expansion

Virginia

From a men’s basketball perspective, the Virginia Cavaliers is one of the most appealing programs in the ACC. Under longtime head coach Tony Bennett, Virginia has established itself as one of the best college hoops programs in the nation in the last decade.

Despite the postseason issues that Bennett and the Cavaliers faced the last few years, being knocked out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament twice and missing it entirely another time, Virginia is still one of the most valuable hoops programs in the ACC.

Bennett has also recruited and developed talent at a level high enough to maintain the national contender status of the program, likely well into the future.

As a bonus, Virginia brings a football program to the table that is capable of competing nationally. Virginia is a resourceful athletic program that can right the ship with football consistently with the right head coach in place.

Although, Virginia took a step back after the departure of former head coach Bronco Mendenhall following the 2021 season. Virginia is looking to return the program to a competitive level in the second year under head coach Tony Elliott.

Another appealing part of the Big 12 hypothetically courting Virginia in this round of conference realignment is the ability to expand the conference’s footprint east.

If the Big 12 were to add Virginia, it would likely be part of a package deal with the Virginia Tech Hokies or one of the North Carolina schools.