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With Clemson unhappy, is Gonzaga a good fit for the ACC?

Clemson wants out of the ACC, and the next wave of conference realignment is coming

Gonzaga Nation Staff

With Clemson unhappy, is Gonzaga a good fit for the ACC?
With Clemson unhappy, is Gonzaga a good fit for the ACC? /
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The Atlantic Coast Conference is arguably the best men's basketball conference in the country. 

Several of the winningest, most tradition-rich basketball schools anchor the conference. Duke. North Carolina. Syracuse. Virginia. Louisville. 

So where does Gonzaga fit?

Over the past year the Zags openly flirted with the Big 12 and their significantly larger slice of the television revenue pie. But once the first wave of conference realignment finished, Gonzaga was left on the outside looking in.

Now, the next wave appears imminent. 

Earlier this week a Clemson senior administrator was asked how soon the Tigers could leave the ACC. The response? "Sooner than later."

Clemson leaving would open the door for Gonzaga and potentially other West Coast schools. When the ACC voted to add SMU, Stanford and Cal in early September, three schools voted against the expansion: Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina.

It appears Clemson has found a way out. If North Carolina and Florida State follow, that would create three openings - and potentially more. A 20-team ACC is not out of the question, especially as conference leaders covet TV exposure in every time zone. 

The ACC could easily create an ACC West, taking advantage of the Pac-12's demise. Adding Gonzaga, Washington State, Oregon State, San Diego State and Boise State - as a start - would expand its West Coast footprint, but more importantly its television markets. 

The odds are looking favorable that we will end up with four mega conferences: SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC. Will Gonzaga be in one of them?

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Gonzaga Nation Staff
GONZAGA NATION STAFF

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