VT (even if that may be true) because I am not in the room when they are developing the schedule. I do think that ESPN would prefer to have certain match-ups on certain days and so the ACC will accommodate ESPN's request. For example I doubt you will find a year (or too many years) when Duke, UVA, UNC, L'ville, or Syracuse will go a season where they don't play another marquee team at home on the weekend. I guess you can include Notre Dame in that group now.

In the case of Clemson and VT, both schools don't have their fanbases centrally located close to campus. Given that the ACC prides itself on being "the best basketball conference in the country," then I would think its pride would take a hit if ESPN is televising a game between Duke vs. Clemson or VT during the week and Clemson's/VT's arena is not full especially if both teams are ranked. I know the ACC can't predict if Clemson or VT will be ranked at the time the game is played. However, I would think their pride would still take a hit if Clemson/VT wasn't ranked and their arena was only 50-75% full.