WRAL Sports Fan

Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

If the B1G Ten were to come calling, would one of these schools leave the ACC without the other? Does it work both ways? That is, would one of them be more willing to split up than the other if the B1G Ten only wanted one of them?

I'd prefer serious comments, without the usual trolling. Is this question unthinkable, or did I just think it?

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

If the B1G Ten were to come calling, would one of these schools leave the ACC without the other? Does it work both ways? That is, would one of them be more willing to split up than the other if the B1G Ten only wanted one of them?

I'd prefer serious comments, without the usual trolling. Is this question unthinkable, or did I just think it? 

- Posted by Ken D.

Roy will run from Duke the first chance he gets even if it means UNC goes to the Sunbelt Conference if that's still around. They could get a fresh CLEAN start there.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

I think if push comes to shove, both would go the way of the B1G Ten. The picture of four super conferences is aligning and, personally, I just think Duke and UNC's academic side pushes them towards the B1G Ten rather than the SEC.. I found this article that lays it out pretty well. Obviously, the way everything falls will depend on the very question you posed. What will become of UNC and Duke.

http://outkickthecoverage.com/the-sec-and-big-ten-will-have-16-members.php

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

If the B1G Ten were to come calling, would one of these schools leave the ACC without the other? Does it work both ways? That is, would one of them be more willing to split up than the other if the B1G Ten only wanted one of them?

I'd prefer serious comments, without the usual trolling. Is this question unthinkable, or did I just think it? 

- Posted by Ken D.

First, with all of UNC's academic improprieties of late I think they'd be a long shot at the Big Ten. They don't look kindly on that kind of stuff. Second, it's all about the $$$. Traditional rivalries don't mean much these days. If one gets an invite and the other doesn't, it'll be sayonara.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

I think UNC would head to the SEC, Dook to the Big 10 in basketball and Conference USA in everything else.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

Duke is extremely comfortable in the ACC. As a well-endowed private University with a very heafty tuition fee just to attend, there isn't a need to seek out new money from their sports programs by leaving the conference. UNC is state funded and needs the sports revenue to stay afloat without pricing themselves out of the educational market. With the financial stresses the government (both state and federal) are under, those funding dollars will dwindle. UNC may not have a choice in the matter. Duke, as a one sport school (it is what it is), is just fine where they are. So no! They are not joined at the hip nor will they go trotting off together, hand-in-hand, to greener pastures.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

Since football is driving this thing I think it is entirely possible that Duke may find itself left behind after all of this. The basketball program is one of the best in the country but is it, along with Duke's outstanding academic status, enough to get it an invite to the Big10? I think there is a strong argument that it isn't. They could end up in an ACC with football teams more at their level. I can't see UNC-CH passing up an invitation to the Big10 because Duke doesn't get to go too. I would think the Big10 would want the other team to come from a different TV market. UVA or GT are as academically strong as Duke, stronger in football, have larger alumni bases, and offer valuable additional territory.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

If they weren't in the same conference, could they maintain their rivalry (see Clemson - South Carolina, and FSU - Florida) or would they drift apart? Would both basketball programs be as good without the conference rivalry?

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

i don't think you'll see any other big names leave their conferences. i think all the fball heavy weights are cemented in their conferences. the nxt thing to happen is schools will start to negotiate their cuts out of bcs bowls and ncaa bball tourney.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

With all the cheating and scandals going on UNC already has 1 foot in the door for the SEC.

RE: Are Duke and Carolina joined at the hip?

With dook's football program trending upward, the SoCon is giving them a serious look.