Pac-12 Basketball: 10 potential candidates for expansion after losing USC and UCLA

Utah State

Any number of schools east of the Mississippi could be added to the league, but the last focus for today is yet another MWC school in Utah State. There are a number of reasons why the Aggies would be a great get for the Pac-12, though honestly, geography plays the biggest part. That being said, there’s certainly reason to believe the Aggies could compete in basketball from the get-go.

The Aggies recently had a very successful run under former coach Craig Smith, who ironically now in the Pac-12 at Utah. The program is heading in a good direction overall the last half-decade, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the momentum will hold up. This was once the best basketball school in the WAC a decade ago, and after years of winning the MWC it certainly seems like they can do some damage in the Pac-12.

Much like with Colorado State, this becomes something of a fight, as Utah State would join “big brother” Utah in the Pac-12, and you have to wonder how the Utes would react to that. If the Pac-12 does want to raid the MWC for new members, then Utah State is certainly one of those members with solid history and intriguing potential. A natural rivalry with Utah sounds great, but at the same time, this wouldn’t exactly expand the footprint of the conference, which might be exactly what expansion would be about.

We’re finished with our closer look at ten potential candidates for the Pac-12 to consider in the coming weeks. It’s important to note that this all depends on the current schools not also jumping ship, which may happen sooner than the Pac-12 can act. Still, who do you think the Pac-12 should target to bolster their membership?