Ranking 10 possible Pac-12 expansion candidates in men’s basketball
At this point it is basically impossible to know what the Pac-12 will look like in 2024. UCLA and USC will be gone, we know that much, but will the conference add two new members by then? Will the Big-12 pick off the four corner schools? Will Oregon and Washington find a way into the Big Ten? Will an agreement be in place with the ACC to create a coast-to-coast super conference?
While we wait to see if the conference of champions can find a creative way to stay afloat in an era dominated by television dollars, let’s take a look at ten of the most likely options for the Pac-12 to add via expansion – and specifically how those additions would impact things on the men’s basketball side.
It’s no secret football, and market size, are the two biggest factors when evaluating individual programs and their viability in the Pac-12. However, losing UCLA is a tremendous blow for a conference that has very little footprint in men’s basketball right now, and making an addition (or two) that helps the Pac-12 make more noise in March wouldn’t be the worst thing.
Here is a look at 10 programs to consider for expansion; eight which were mentioned in this article as expansion options, as well as two more dark-horse candidates should Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff try to get a little spicy.
UTSA Roadrunners
Syndication: El Paso Times
Current Conference: Conference USA
Media Market: San Antonio, Texas (No. 31)
Current MBB record: 9-21
Current KenPom rank: 300
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 232
Fresno State Bulldogs
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: Mountain West
Media Market: Fresno, California (No. 55)
Current MBB record: 10-18
Current KenPom rank: 149
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 107
Colorado State Rams
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: Mountain West
Media Market: Denver/Fort Collins, Colorado (No. 16)
Current MBB record: 13-16
Current KenPom rank: 107
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 100
Boise State Broncos
Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: Mountain West
Media Market: Boise, Idaho (No. 101)
Current MBB record: 22-7
Current KenPom rank: 27
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 96
Nevada Wolfpack
Syndication: Reno Gazette Journal
Current Conference: Mountain West
Media Market: Reno, Nevada (No. 104)
Current MBB record: 22-7
Current KenPom rank: 32
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 91
SMU Mustangs
Syndication: The Commercial Appeal
Current Conference: AAC
Media Market: Dallas, Texas (No. 5)
Current MBB record: 10-19
Current KenPom rank: 174
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 88
UNLV Rebels
Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: Mountain West
Media Market: Las Vegas, Nevada (No. 40)
Current MBB record: 17-11
Current KenPom rank: 87
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 82
San Diego State Aztecs
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: Mountain West
Media Market: San Diego, California (No. 27)
Current MBB record: 23-5
Current KenPom rank: 16
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 69
Memphis Tigers
Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: AAC
Media Market: Memphis, TN (No. 51)
Current MBB record: 21-7
Current KenPom rank: 37
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 26
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Current Conference: WCC
Media Market: Spokane, WA (No. 73)
Current MBB record: 25-5
Current KenPom rank: 10
KenPom Program rank (last 25 years): 6
