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ESPN Senior Writer- Senior college basketball reporter.
- Joined ESPN in 1999.
- Graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
UConn president Susan Herbst is aggressively pursuing membership in the ACC to become the 15th or 16th member institution in the conference, according to a source with direct knowledge of UConn's situation.
According to the source, Herbst was having conversations recently but in light of Pittsburgh's and Syracuse's defections from the Big East, the talks have accelerated in the last 48 hours.
In a statement earlier Sunday, Herbst said that although UConn was "a proud charter member of the Big East" the school was staying "actively involved in discussions with our counterparts from around the country to ensure the successful long-term future of our university's athletic program."
Earlier Sunday, ACC commissioner John Swofford said the league was comfortable with 14 schools but not philosophically opposed to expanding to 16.
Both Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and North Carolina coach Roy Williams have told ESPN.com that they would endorse the ACC expanding to 16 teams comprised of two eight-team divisions.
Andy Katz covers men's college basketball for ESPN.com. Joe Schad is ESPN's college football reporter.