They would have completely conquered the northeast with that. Realignment isn't about hoops but UConn vs Cuse in hoops is that big game in the NY and New England area. Maybe they could still make that happen.[/QUOTE[/
Miami left the Big East for the ACC in July 2003. In the late 2003, 2004 time period, the Big 10 was not thinking about moving east for teams. The ACC wanted a school south of Tallahassee, Miami ( fed up with Tranghese ) fit the bill. Syracuse ( because of Boeheim ) was torn between the football faction at their school ( that wanted to go with BC to the ACC) and the Basketball factions under Boeheim that wanted to stay with Tranghese and the BE. The ACC saw the BE falling apart after the loss of Miami and saw their opportunity to expand their reach from Florida to Maine, along the Atlantic Coast. So they became pro active to attain that goal. The Big 10 later got what they wanted, ie NY, NJ, DC metro market by adding Maryland, Rutgers. There has never been any serious consideration by Big 10 School Presidents ( nor Delaney ) of adding Syracuse to the Big 10, at any time. Syracuse , a private school, is a good fit for the ACC, and that's why both the ACC and Syracuse came to a mutual agreement for ACC invite and subsequent membership.