Tudor: TV gets final call on ACC hoops schedule

ACC basketball coaches usually get their way, but an expanded conference regular-season schedule is inevitable.

An increase from the current 16-game slate to 18 may not be voted in by athletic directors and faculty reps during this week's spring meetings in Florida.

But as much as the 12 coaches prefer the status quo, television officials want additional inventory. In a stronger economy, the coaches probably could prevail indefinitely. But with school budgets tight and current TV contracts expiring after the 2010-11 season, the coaches eventually will be told schedule expansion is no longer a point of debate.

Even with extra conference games to offer, the ACC is facing a challenge on TV negotiations. Advertising revenue is down across the board and some dependable corporate backers either are gone or strapped. Wachovia, Circuit City and General Motors were big spenders on college sports when the last round of TV contracts were signed.

At the core of the push for an 18-game schedule is regional TV audience ratings. While ratings are consistently high for North Carolina and Duke regardless of their opponents, the viewer market for most nonconference games among the other 10 schools is soft.

Clemson, a preseason top-25 pick by some last season, played eight non-ACC games that were not even included in the league TV package. Other than a game against Illinois in the ACC vs. Big Ten Challenge, the Tigers didn't have another non-league game on any of the ESPN outlets. Nine N.C. State non-league games were omitted from the TV lineup.

By forcing the coaches to play two more conference games each, the ADs (and TV) will at least create more marketable games. It's not that a Clemson vs. State game is going to be of interest to the big three networks, but it will do better in regional ratings or on ESPN-Something than Clemson vs. Hofstra or State vs. Lipscomb.

The coaches generally contend that 18 league games will lead to worse overall records and a bigger logjam in the middle of the conference standings. They're correct on both counts. But that's the price of expansion in a weak economy.

The irony is that expansion was all about football, where the eight-game conference schedule may never change. Most of the ACC basketball coaches at the time were against adding new league members. In part that was because they feared 18, then 20 and maybe 22-game conference schedules would follow.

Don't bet against it.

-- Caulton Tudor, (Raleigh) News & Observer

Q&A with John Swofford

The ACC begins its spring meetings today on Amelia Island in Florida. Here are excerpts from an interview conducted last week with ACC commissioner John Swofford about the meetings:

Q: Does the economy give Charlotte a better chance at gaining ACC championship events because it’s close to the geographic center of the conference?
A: It’s hard to answer. Actually looking at next year, other than the baseball (from Boston to Greensboro), there wasn’t a lot to move. That was one that was obvious and had a significant savings to it, and the Red Sox were understanding and very cooperative with us. And hopefully that’s a postponement and some day we’ll be able to make that work at Fenway, and in the current economic times we felt that was the right thing to do to come here. We were fortunate to have an excellent minor league park to come to in the home city of the conference. The football championship, of course, is already coming to Charlotte (in 2010 and 2011). For the time being, I think there is a focus on championships in more centrally located venues, whether it be on campus or whether it be off campus. And we’ll just have to see as we move forward beyond the current situation. I think what we want to do is what’s appropriate and what’s right and what positions us well for next year. And see how all of this plays out, and how much time it takes for the economy to strengthen and come back.

Q: Your TV rights package (with ABC/ESPN in football and Raycom Sports in basketball is ending (after 2010-11). When do you begin asking for bids on that? My guess is. . .you’d wait and see if the economy turns around a little bit so people would feel like they have more money to spend.
A: I think we just have to constantly gauge this moving forward. Contractually, with our current rights holders, which are Raycom in basketball and ABC-ESPN in football, those negotiations would come about no later than the next spring. If both parties wanted to alter that and all parties were agreeable to it, it’s alterable. Right now what we are trying to do is really step back and look at potential models and ways of doing our television that would give us our best distribution opportunities and maximize the dollars.

Q: Is everybody still comfortable with eight conference games (in football) or are you going to look at nine conference games again?
A: We took a look at that a year ago with this meeting. And there did not seem to be any real strength to considering nine games, so I read that at this point in time that our schools re comfortable with an eight-game league schedule.

Q: How about 18 (conference) games in basketball?
A: We will have some discussion about it. We’ve already settled for the next two years, we will remain at 16, so any, even discussion about that would relate to the 2011-12 season would be the first that we would even consider that for.

Q: You guys will look at that as a possibility for 2011-12?
A: I think so, and as a possibility. I don’t say that because I think that’s where it’s headed, because I don’t, necessarily. And I would emphasize to fans that any discussion about it is three years off from being reality. Even if it went in that direction.

Q: What are your thoughts on it?
A: I’m very comfortable with where we are now. It’s serving our league well. Our coaches are very comfortable with it. There are pros and cons either way. From a pure business decision there are some reasons to look at 18, but then you could lose some very attractive intersectional games that are of superb value to the television packages. We’ve got three of the six major conferences that are at 18 and three that are at 16. And right now it is very difficult to tell from an NCAA selection standpoint if it makes a difference or not. There’s not a history there that really tells us much on that at this point in time.

- Ken Tysiac

ACC to consider 18-game league slate for 2011-12

Men’s basketball coaches and administrators will discuss the idea of an 18-game Atlantic Coast Conference schedule next week at the league’s annual spring meetings on Amelia Island in Florida.

In a telephone interview this week, ACC commissioner John Swofford said he’s comfortable with the current 16-game conference format. He said that even if the ACC approves an increase to 18 games, it wouldn’t take effect until the 2011-12 season - after the league’s current TV deals expire.

“It’s serving our league well,” Swofford said of the 16-game format. “Our coaches are very comfortable with it. There are pros and cons either way. From a pure business decision there are some reasons to look at 18, but then you could lose some very attractive intersectional games that are of superb value to the television packages.”

The idea of playing 18 conference games has been unpopular with the ACC’s coaches. They have said more ACC games would strengthen schedules that already are difficult.
They have cautioned that adding two extra conference games might cause them to drop some marquee nonconference series with quality opponents.

“In the past, the coaches haven’t been in favor of it,” N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler said of the 18-game format.

Fowler predicted that the matter will be discussed but won’t come to a vote next week because the earliest an 18-game schedule could begin is 2011-12. The ACC meetings start Monday and will conclude Wednesday.

Swofford said the jury still is out on whether an 18-game schedule helps conferences get more teams into the NCAA Tournament field. Statistical analyst Jerry Palm of collegerpi.com said an 18-game conference schedule doesn’t help teams raise their RPI, which is a tool the Division I men’s basketball committee considers in selecting the tournament field.

The RPI, or Ratings Percentage Index, is a mathematical formula that ranks teams based on a combination of winning percentage and strength of schedule. Palm said the increased schedule strength created by adding conference games is more than offset by an accompanying decrease in winning percentage.

“The general effect (of an 18-game conference schedule) in terms of the RPI is going to be negative,” Palm said.

Teams in the Big East, Big Ten and Pac-10 currently play 18-game conference schedules. The principal argument in favor of an 18-game format is adding games that are more attractive to fans and television executives, who might pay more money for a stronger product.

But if ACC teams add two conference games and drop their marquee nonconference games, there wouldn’t be much value added for fans or television.

“I think an 18-game schedule is a plus,” said Ken Haines, president and CEO of current ACC TV rights holder Raycom Sports. “It would make our scheduling a little easier as long as it wasn’t at the expense of high-profile nonconference games. It remains to be seen whether it would make it more valuable.”

Pack, Devils, Heels score high in APR

The three Triangle-area men’s basketball teams that capture the nation’s attention are among the national leaders in the classroom according to NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released Wednesday afternoon.

N.C. State led all ACC men’s basketball teams with a score of 995 out of a possible 1,000. The APR measures the total progress toward graduation of athletes on each team at each Division I schools. A 925 is considered a passing score.

School athletics officials said N.C. State’s strong showing in the classroom is partly due to coach Sidney Lowe’s efforts to keep players in school after he took over for Herb Sendek in 2006.

Coaching changes often are followed by an exodus of players who transfer to other schools, but that didn’t happen at N.C. State.

“I think academically when Herb left they were in pretty good shape, and Sidney has done a good job of trying to maintain kids in school,” said N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler.

The men’s basketball teams at Duke and North Carolina scored 989 on the APR. The three Triangle teams were the only men’s basketball teams in the ACC to receive public recognition awards from the NCAA for their high APR scores.

North Carolina’s honor comes a month after the Tar Heels won the NCAA title with a win over Michigan State in the national final in Detroit.

“It further shows for us that we’re doing things the right way and that across the board we’re pretty competitive in playing, and now this is just another measure that shows that we’re doing the right things academically,” said North Carolina sports information director Steve Kirschner.

Also receiving public recognition in men’s basketball were Davidson with a perfect score of 1,000 and Winthrop with a 986. South Carolina was among 42 Division I men’s basketball teams to receive a scholarship penalty for a low APR.

The Gamecocks were penalized one scholarship as one of four SEC men’s basketball teams to receive penalties. Georgia Tech, which lost two scholarships, was the only ACC men’s basketball team penalized. - Ken Tysiac

Congress hails UNC Tar Heels

The Tar Heels are being praised on the floor of the U.S. House.

North Carolina's Congressional delegation unanimously cosponsored a resolution honoring the men's basketball team of UNC-Chapel Hill, which won the NCAA championship.

U.S. Rep. David Price, an alumnus and a professor at rival Duke University, saluted President Obama's "bipartisanship" in picking UNC on his bracket while employing a former Duke basketball player.

Another alum, Rep. Brad Miller, took a gibe at Price, noting that he has taught "at a nearby institution of lesser reputation."

"I wanted to make sure there was somebody here with absolutely unmixed loyalties who could speak in favor of this resolution," he said.

He praised the school's academic standards for athletes, noting the graduation rate for the basketball team is high.

Congress considered the resolution for 24 minutes.

Rep. Mike McIntyre, who got bachelor's and law degrees from UNC, said that Williams' coaching sent a "strong message" that "dreams, dedication and determination" lead to success.

"God bless the Tar Heel boys," he said.

Rep. Bob Etheridge, who played basketball at Campbell University, said the student athletes were calm under pressure.

"For people who have played basketball, you can really appreciate what it takes, the pressures that are on those young men," he said. "I don't know of any greater pressure that a young person can have."

The team also earned praise from Rep. Michael Castle, a Delaware Republican; and Rep. Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican.

A vote on the resolution was postponed because there was no quorum.

-- Ryan Teague Beckwith

(First posted in the "Under the Dome" blog)

Heels' Ellington signs with agent Tellem

Former North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington has signed with agent Arn Tellem in preparation for the NBA draft, Ellington's father confirmed Tuesday.

The player's father, Wayne Sr., said Ellington was on his way to Los Angeles - where Tellem's agency is located - on Tuesday.

Ellington was named the most outstanding player as a junior at the Final Four last month after North Carolina defeated Michigan State to win the NCAA title.

Tellem's extensive NBA client list includes former North Carolina players Antawn Jamison and Sean May.

-- Ken Tysiac

ACC plays catch-up in hoops recruiting

With summer recruiting about to heat up, basketball coaches at ACC schools have a lot of work to do.

Five of the top 11 players on scout.com’s top 100 list for the Class of 2010 have committed to schools. None is headed to the ACC. Jared Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas have chosen Ohio State, Tristan Thompson picked Texas, Jeremy Richmond chose Illinois and Perry Jones picked Baylor (insert Dwon Clifton joke here).

The top ACC commitment is from Kinston wing Reggie Bullock, who’s rated No. 14 and committed to North Carolina. Duke also has a top-20 commitment in guard Andre Dawkins of Virginia Beach, Va., who’s at No. 18.

Scout.com’s No. 12-rated prospect, Raleigh Word of God Christian Academy forward C.J. Leslie, recently withdrew his commitment from N.C. State, though he’s still considering the Wolfpack.

The good news for the ACC is that it already has commitments from three top-50 point guards – Kendall Marshall of Arlington, Va. (North Carolina), Ian Miller of Charlotte (Florida State) and Ryan Harrow of Marietta, Ga. (N.C. State).

And there still is plenty of high-level uncommitted talent out there for the ACC to chase. The list is led by forward Harrison Barnes of Ames, Iowa, who is the top-rated player in the nation and still is considering Duke and North Carolina.

But there’s no doubt that the ACC has some catching up to do after several early commitments after the Big Ten and Big 12 got out to a fast start among the elite prospects for 2010.

-- Ken Tysiac

Heels to visit White House on May 11

Barack Obama played pickup with North Carolina's basketball team during his campaign.

He correctly picked the Tar Heels to win the NCAA championship in his bracket. Now he will have a chance to congratulate them in person.

According to a school media advisory, North Carolina will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president on Monday, May 11. Visiting the White House to meet the president is a common reward for NCAA championship teams. - Ken Tysiac

Davidson junior spearheads anti-malaria drive

Scott Fowler writes in his "Scott Says" blog:

"Here’s a nice story: Davidson junior guard Bryant Barr is spearheading a charity event to raise money for "Nothing But Nets," an organization dedicated to preventing malaria in Africa by providing anti-mosquito bed nets for families to sleep under."

Read more about Barr's effort in Fowler's blog.

-- Staff

Miami forward Graham to try football

First, Greg Paulus. Now, Jimmy Graham. Who's next, Cheick Diakite?

Graham will try in follow in the footsteps of Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow. The Miami basketball player will play tight end this fall for the Hurricanes.

Like Greg Paulus, Graham has a year of eligibility remaining in football after playing basketball for the previous four years. Unlike Paulus, Graham will stay at his current school.

A 6-8 and 255 pounds, Graham has the size to do some damage on the gridiron. The Goldsboro native has less experience than Paulus, a high school All-American in football, though. Graham only played one year of high school football.

Graham averaged 4.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a senior. He started nine games.

-- J.P. Giglio