Things are going to be crazy in the Dean Dome Everyone is talking about how the ACC is down, other than Duke, Clemson and Louisville. Virginia’s post-Bennett hangover is part of that because Tony Bennett made Virginia a perennial power until, basically, Covid, NIL and the new transfer rules.
The Atlantic Coast Conference, which some would argue pioneered conference realignment in the 21st century, officially rejoined this most recent surge in conference expansion with the additions of Cal, SMU, and Stanford beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year.
The NCAA Tournament tips off formally (don’t start with me about the First Four) on Thursday, and for many sports fans the first game marks the start of a four-day bacchanalia of basketball that represents an unmatched spectacle in American sports.
The hot seat is a bit different this season than in most years. Not only is there the usual underperformance (real or perceived), but the cloud of the FBI's investigation into college basketball continues to loom.