The Beast : The New ACC

It’s deja vu all over again. At one point Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College tried to get as far away from the Big East as possible and now, it’s like Peaches and Herb, “reunited and it feels so good.”

There’s a lot of people knocking the move, and I probably would too if only looking at it from a football perspective. At one time Syracuse and Pittsburgh had great football tradition, but Jim Brown and Dan Marino aren’t walking through that door anytime soon for either program.

Forget about football for a minute and move forward with that honest understanding that football simply is not the priority in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miami probably should’ve known this back in 2004, but this conference is all about basketball. Beyond that, the ACC will forever be bound together by academics. That’s why programs like West Virginia and East Carolina would never have an invite extended their way.

In looking at the addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh, simply in terms of basketball and academics, it’s a pretty good move. You’re talking about two teams that are always in that Final Four conversation every March and when you add these two to a mix that also includes Duke and North Carolina, there’s no doubt the ACC now becomes the toughest Division-I basketball conference.

This could bode well for the Canes as strength of schedule will go up and with the conference stronger, more teams will get the invite to the Big Dance and if UM could pull a few upsets along the way, it won’t take as much to get a tournament bid.

Yes, the conference schedule will be ferocious and a February trip to New York may bring on a bout of hypothermia, but it’s still a great move for Miami basketball. It will help recruiting, too, which could always use a boost.

Another reason to like the move – and would embrace UConn and Rutgers if they were invited – for those Miami transplants with northeastern roots. Those of us folks relate more to a Syracuse or Pittsburgh more than we do Tobacco Road and Atlanta. That’s not to say there hasn’t been some fun had on road trips to Raleigh or Greenville (where we stay when Miami plays Clemson). I just personally feel more at home above the Mason-Dixon Line and I know there are many in that same camp.

What they say about needing to go north from Miami to go south is really true. Give us piccadillo, corned beef or a cheesesteak and we’re good. Maybe us decide between eastern or western Carolina bar-b-que and we’re baffled.

A former Canes donor once told me he knew things were a bit off when they started serving bar-b-que at Hurricane Club events instead of bagels and lox or deli platters.

The new-look ACC will be a good thing, but then again, had they told me that Miami was back in the old Big East sans West Virginia, I’d have been happy. Then again, doesn’t seem like anybody wants the ol’ Mountaineers these days. Maybe the MAC will take them.

IN OTHER NEWS : Don’t forget to joint us Thursday night for another great addition of allCanes Radio. Platon of ProCanes.com will again be sitting in and we’ll have former Canes defensive back Mike Rumph on hand, as well. We’ll be back at The Titanic and the show kicks off at 7pm ET and we’ll have tons of prizes to give away.

Great food deals at Titanic, as well – starting with $10 for ten wings and a pint of beer. You can’t beat it. Bring your friends, bring your family and bring your Cane-loving self. Looking forward to seeing you.

Lastly, a big congratulations to Canes305. allCanesBlog.com has been chosen the Best Sports Blog in South Florida by the editors at CBS Miami. I know I’ve been a part of this amazing site for a few years now, but C.B. is the guy who deserves the attention. This blog is his vision and he’s been at it for a long time.

I’ve loved his writing ever since he was doing his thing on the message boards back in the day, so to C.B., a big kudos my friend. Amazing work that will continue for years to come, I’m sure.

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