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

Mar 11, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view of T-Mobile Arena before the start of a Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinal between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view of T-Mobile Arena before the start of a Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinal between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Marcus Santos-Silva Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Marcus Santos-Silva Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Tech

Adding Gonzaga would be a splash, but getting Texas Tech, and perhaps a few other Big 12 teams, would be a tidal wave. Specifically, the Red Raiders are projecting in a very good direction in recent years, especially on the basketball side of things. With Texas and Texas A&M both in the SEC, the Pac-12 becomes a solid destination for the Red Raiders, and perhaps for rivals like Baylor and TCU as well down the road.

On the basketball side of things, the Pac-12 almost needs someone like Texas Tech in the league, with the Red Raiders being one of the best schools in the toughest conference in the nation. The Red Raiders were just in the title game in 2019 and new coach Mark Adams still has this program in fantastic shape for the near future. It’s weird conceiving a new rivalry between Arizona and Texas Tech but it basically works.

If the Big 12 starts to fall apart, Texas Tech is one of the schools the Pac-12 should grab first, especially now that rival Texas is leaving. Their addition would get the conference that first step into Texas. With Baylor and TCU out there, it would likely not be the only step if the Big 12 truly did come undone. However, it’s also a smart move for basketball, and the Pac-12 could sure use some firepower in that sport after losing all that prowess and history with UCLA.