Perhaps the new network launching in two months will pull the ACC up alongside and past the other four power conferences financially.

One thing is certain — the league isn’t lacking for on-field performance. Granted, the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12 have all had their moments on big stages since last summer.

For the ACC, it’s arguably as good as it has ever been.

The gap to the SEC in football was closed significantly earlier this decade, though that battle tends to now be a year-to-year tussle in one ring between Alabama and Clemson, and in the other ring by each league’s “everybody else” — the SEC remains hard to topple in that one.

Clemson, for now, does reign supreme. Dabo Swinney’s crowd is doing it on the field, in the facilities arms race and in the NFL Draft. Take your pick for where the merit of best program measure is, but the truth is everyone wants to be champion.

That’s an ultimate position for which there is but one.

And the ACC has a few of them. In addition to Clemson football, Virginia men’s basketball, Florida State women’s soccer, North Carolina women’s field hockey and Duke women’s golf are national champs.

Within that is a trend to spread it around. Clemson has two national football championships and Florida State one since 2013 (three of the last six), and national titles have been won in men’s basketball three of the last five years by Virginia, North Carolina (2017) and Duke (2015).

That’s twice in three years the league has ruled in football and men’s basketball the same year, a feat it accomplished in 1990-91 (Georgia Tech football, Duke basketball) and 1981-82 (Clemson football, Carolina basketball).

The two big drafts had plenty of league flavor this spring as well. In the NFL Draft, the ACC had seven of the first 18 picks. The league is steadily making solid gains.

In Thursday’s NBA Draft, the ACC set a new league standard with five of the first 10 picks and six lottery picks. The 10 first-rounders tied a benchmark. Challenges have come and gone since the common draft commenced in 1966, but the ACC remains the standout over time and over recent time.

In the last six years, the ACC’s 42 first-round picks easily outdistance the SEC’s 29, the Pac-12’s 25 and the Big Ten’s 19.

For basketball talent, there is no better proving ground than the ACC. And that includes inside competition and nonconference opponents.

These eyes, for example, never left Tobacco Road this winter, didn’t see every home game on it, and still saw 13 of the first 27 chosen Thursday.

An illustration of just how strong the league is lies in Luke Maye, the All-American from Charlotte who averaged a double-double and went undrafted. He signed with Milwaukee, kind of like walking on and having to earn your way.

Remember when? He’ll be fine.

Thursday was a heck of a night for the ACC. Duke was a big part, of course, what with Zion Williamson going first, R.J. Barrett third and Cam Reddish 10th. Duke has seven top-three picks in the last six years; that’s more than the Pac-12 (four), Big 12 (two), SEC (two) and the Big Ten (one).

Now if the league can just get those financials to balloon like that with this new network launch. It means more than just lining pockets — it means being able to retain coaches not only in main revenue sports but Olympic sports as well, and it means being able to do things with facilities.

How important is it? The Pac-12 is considering investors for a private equity stake to help it bridge the money chasm.

On the courts and the fields, the ACC is better than most and as good as any.

Considering its financial gap to the SEC and Big Ten, it’s success is arguably an even more remarkable accomplishment.

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_alanwooten-1.jpg

In addition to the two trades listed in the graphic, picks also traded were the 20th to the 76ers, 24th to the Celtics, 27th to the Clippers, 30th to the Pistons, 33rd to the Celtics, 42nd to the Wizards, 44th to the Nuggets, 50th to the Jazz, 56th to the Nets and 58th to the Jazz.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019NBADraft.pdfIn addition to the two trades listed in the graphic, picks also traded were the 20th to the 76ers, 24th to the Celtics, 27th to the Clippers, 30th to the Pistons, 33rd to the Celtics, 42nd to the Wizards, 44th to the Nuggets, 50th to the Jazz, 56th to the Nets and 58th to the Jazz.

The Associated Press
Duke’s Zion Williamson had an emotional moment with his mom, Sharonda Sampson, on Thursday then had her tag along as he greeted fans at the draft.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_duke-williamson-draft-062519.jpgThe Associated Press
Duke’s Zion Williamson had an emotional moment with his mom, Sharonda Sampson, on Thursday then had her tag along as he greeted fans at the draft.

The Associated Press
Duke’s Zion Williamson (1), defending N.C. State’s Markell Johnson (11) during the first half Feb. 16, was the No. 1 choice in the NBA Draft on Thursday by the New Orleans Pelicans.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_duke-state-2-021919.jpgThe Associated Press
Duke’s Zion Williamson (1), defending N.C. State’s Markell Johnson (11) during the first half Feb. 16, was the No. 1 choice in the NBA Draft on Thursday by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Alan Wooten can be reached at 910-247-9132 or awooten@bladenjournal.com.