The ACC on Wednesday will announce that it has signed a "two-year contract" with Barclays Center to hold its men's basketball tournament there in '17 and '18, according to sources cited by David Teel of the Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS. Barclays Center has hosted the A-10 Conference tournament the last two seasons. That arrangement was scheduled through '17, and "in exchange for the A-10 exiting a year early, the ACC has agreed to regular-season games between the leagues, also at Barclays." Many ACC coaches and ADs prefer Madison Square Garden's "history and Manhattan address to Barclays," but the Big East "remains contracted with MSG, and with the ACC eager to play in New York as soon as possible, Barclays in Brooklyn was the only option." Dueling N.Y. tournaments "will create interesting competition (tension?) between the ACC and Big East" (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 3/24).
VALLEY FORGING: The WICHITA EAGLE reports the Missouri Valley Conference is "looking for a title sponsor" for its men's basketball tournament, on top of its search for a new host city, and a "city-sponsor package may be attractive." The MVC lost State Farm as a title sponsor in '12. MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin said, "We are aggressively pursuing title sponsor candidates. We have some markets that are very aggressively pursuing securing one or more events from us." Wichita State Senior Associate AD/External Operations Darron Boatright said that the MVC "is right to check out options." He added of Scottrade Center, where the tournament is currently held, "We would agree this facility is looking a little tired. St. Louis has been a fantastic host. It’s obvious St. Louis was the best (site) for a long time, and maybe it still is. I’d like to see this facility get updated in some areas." Elgin earlier this month said that K.C. "is an attractive option." However, Las Vegas "is not as attractive." Boatright said that Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall "isn't a fan of the Vegas atmosphere." But Elgin said that MVC ADs suggested that the conference include Las Vegas "in the process" (WICHITA EAGLE, 3/24).
