Adding Texas would elevate any conference.
Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

The first games have yet to be played in the Pac-12, the supersized Big Ten and the minimized Big 12, yet the winds of conference realignment are blowing again.

If Texas, Oklahoma and friends agree to the form the Pac-16 it would be the best move commissioner Larry Scott could make.

That is, unless you are an Arizona Wildcat or ASU Sun Devil.

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You had to see it to believe what Derrick Williams did without seeing it.
Photo Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

One-thousand-one…one-thousand-two…one-thousand-three…one-thousand-four…one-thousand–

That’s how quickly things can change in March.

One call, one hero, one (or two) no-calls, and one ticket to the Sweet 16 for the Arizona Wildcats.

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The Pac-10 got its heart broken.

The western conference made a play for the prettiest girl in town. There was a lot of flirting and she seemed really interested but at the end of the day she went back to her old boyfriend (who just lost his job and was accused of cheating on her).

The Texas Longhorns are staying in the Big 12 and the remaining ten schools have re-pledged their allegiance. The Pac-10 will put on its tough-guy face and say it never really cared about Texas and was just using her anyway.

After the he said/she said stuff dies down the Pac-10 will move on. Here’s a look at what could be next:

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The Pac-10 is no more.

Right this moment it’s the Pac-11, or – if you’re so inclined – Paco Once.

But there will be a 12th team. The only question is if four more teams join on top of that.

After three decades of standing still the Pac-10 has started moving at breakneck speed. In a December conference commissioner Larry Scott said, “We’re hard-pressed to really see how you improve upon the structure of the Pac-10 as it is with five sets of natural rivals in four states.”

In February Scott said, “We’re looking at (expansion) very seriously.” But talks weren’t supposed to heat up for six to 12 months.

Larry Scott: Sports commissioner or evil genius?

On June 6 the Pac-10 gave Scott “the authority to pursue any possible expansion, while not committing the conference to adding any more schools.” Four days later Colorado was officially a member and the rumors of a 16-school super conference were swirling in full force.

How did we get here? And do we want to go where we’re apparently heading? Let’s break it down.

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