When the Atlantic Coast Conference began talks about expanding the basketball schedule from 18 conference games to 20, Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell was not a fan of the idea.

Going to 20 games meant the Tigers would lose two non-conference games. Why was that so important to Clemson? Well, when you play in the toughest basketball conference in the country you want to get as many wins as you can against out of conference foes because it not only helps your win total but it raises your RPI as well.

Yes, playing two more ACC games will raise Clemson’s RPI, but the probability of winning both of those games is less likely in most years than winning two non-conference games.

However, let’s be honest here, did you think Clemson had much say in the matter when it comes to basketball.

Historically, basketball has never been the Tigers’ sport. Granted, it has had a few good years here and there, and in the last 15 years Clemson has garnered more respect conference wide than it had the previous 48 years, but when it comes to basketball it is what it is – North Carolina and Duke call the shots and they have earned that right.

When UNC and Duke said they were in favor a 20-game ACC schedule, other basketball schools such as Syracuse, Louisville, NC State and Wake Forest followed suite. Clemson and Florida State, traditionally known as football schools, gave their opinion opposing the idea, and though heard, their opinions were widely ignored and the league, as expected, passed the proposal of expanding to a 20-game ACC schedule.

Why did I bring this up? It’s simple really, when it comes to something that affects basketball in the ACC then North Carolina and Duke should have first say in the matter. They are the two main reasons why the conference is well respected around the country when it pertains to basketball. The conference owes them that respect.

When something such as changing the ACC football schedule from eight games to nine comes up, the conference in return should listen more to what Clemson and Florida State have to say than those schools in the Triangle.

ESPN has publicly said if it was not for Clemson’s and Florida State’s success in football over the last five years, the World Wide Leader in Sports would not have signed its new deal in helping the ACC launch its own television network in 2019.

As you know, ESPN has asked the conference to either expand its conference schedule to nine games while playing one game against a Power 5 non-conference opponent, or keep it at eight games and require all conference teams to play at least two games against Power 5 non-conference opponents.

Obviously because of their in-state rivalry games against SEC foes, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville are in favor of the 8-plus-2 model.

According to ESPN, even Duke is in favor of the 8-plus-2 model, and all the teams mentioned above have already scheduled multiple games against Power 5 non-conference opponents for years on out.

“I am an eight-plus-two guy. That is what I have been since I got the job. That is pretty much what we have been as a program,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said following Tuesday’s practice. “We are going to play South Carolina every year and then I love to be able to go play another Big Boy, if you will, and measure up.”

Given the ACC’s perception as a basketball conference, it benefits Clemson and Florida State more to play teams like Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State when it comes to the College Football Playoff than playing another ACC game against a team like Virginia.

There is also the factor of wanting to play seven home games every year that comes into play, and if a ninth ACC game is added, it gives Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville no choice but to end that that second game against a Power 5 non-conference opponents. So that means no more games against Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M.

Teams like North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Miami, Virginia and Boston College want to move to nine games because they want play more games against teams in the other divisions instead of having to schedule two Power 5 non-conference games. Also keep mind, ether way, these teams will easily be able to keep the luxury of scheduling seven home games every year regardless of how the schedule is set up.

Even on years when they have to play at Notre Dame, which the ACC requires, it will not affect their scheduling. So basically, these schools want to have their cake and eat it too.

I understand ESPN wanting to make sure the television network they will invest so heavily in has better matchups than Boston College playing at UMass or NC State hosting William & Mary or Old Dominion. I get that.

The 8-plus-2 model is a win-win for everybody. So NC State man up and play real competition outside the ACC for a change and stop trying to snowball your way into playing Duke and Virginia every year to make it look like you have played somebody.

Let’s be honest here. If the basketball schools had more of a say in changing the basketball schedule from 18 to 20 games, then shouldn’t Clemson and Florida State have more of a say when it comes to football because without Clemson and Florida State, the ACC would be just like the American Athletic Conference, just a bunch of basketball schools trying to make it to basketball season every year.

I hope the ACC’s other athletic directors keep that in mind when they vote in October.