Major, High-Major, The Big Six, BCS Conferences, or my most common backhanded phrase, The Rich Conferences…whatever you want to call them, there are 6 conferences that garner the majority of the attention of the national media when it comes to college hoops, and we all know why that is. I am not about to (in this post, at least) offer any opinion on the motives or validity of these conferences and their stranglehold on the nation’s attention, but, since they are the most visible, it only makes sense to start with them in this little preview series this week. We will also add in the two conferences that would most likely step into the limelight if room was ever made for them in this Part One.
THE ATLANTIC TEN
Fallout from the Queen City Brawl
We will start with a little self-serving here. It is no secret for which team I root – the Temple Owls – so, when I say that the A-10 is a “major” conference, I do so more hopefully than with any real belief. But, that being said, there is little argument to be made that, outside of the 6 “rich conferences,” the A-10 is consistently the best league in the nation, by just about any measure.
Prior to the now-infamous brawl between cross-town rivals, Cincinnati and Xavier, this conference looked like it might be a fight for second-place. But, the two schools have gone in very opposite directions since the fight, and XU may be “gangsta,” but they sure haven’t responded well to, literally, getting punched in the mouth. The Musketeers, finishing off the drubbing of the Bearcats, were looking like a potential Final Four team, but since then have struggled mightily, included hitting their low point this weekend with a loss to Hawaii. While, it’s still probably safe to say that Xavier (9-3, 64 RPI) is the class of this conference, it is no longer easy to say that they will run away with the conference, especially because any slip would open up room for a couple other solid teams to walk right through.
Temple (7-3, 26), objectively, has the second most talent in this conference and should be a tournament team. A head-scratching loss to Bowling Green, aside, the Owls have navigated a good (but not great) non-conference schedule, headlined by wins over Wichita State and Villanova. With Dunphy always showing improvement, the Owls are definitely one of the main contenders to the crown this year.
While Temple and Xavier have been good, the two most impressive A-10 teams through the non-conference have probably been teams that not many people gave much credence to before the season started. Phil Martelli’s St. Joe’s Hawks (9-3, 22) and Rick Majerus’s St. Louis Billikens (11-1, 52) seem to have established themselves as clearly the favorites for the other two bye spots in the A-10 tournament. Though, neither team has an eye-popping win (unless you count Villanova, who has lost to both teams), but they should contend for the A-10 title this year alongside the two perennial favorites. And, UMass (10-3, 86), is the only team other than St. Louis to register double-digits wins thus far.
Another surprise this year has been Charlotte (7-3, 125), who was supposed to be somewhere near the cellar, but have navigated a somewhat decent slate. St. Bonaventure (6-5, 97), Dayton (9-4, 49), Duquesne (6-5, 88), and Richmond (7-6, 90) have all been relatively disappointing, but should all present tough road tests to anyone in the conference.
The biggest disappointment this year has been Rhode Island (1-11, 272), who have been one of the worst teams – not only in the A-10, but in all of Division-I.
OVERALL: This conference is still Xavier’s to lose, but if they decide to lose it, there are a few teams other than Temple (St. Louis, St. Joe’s, even UMass), that might just take it.
THE BIG TEN
Simply the Best
In my humble opinion, there is absolutely no debate about what the best conference in the country is this year. It’s the Big Ten…hands down. Any way you slice it, the Big Ten is the best – they have power at the top that can play with anyone in the country, and they are incredibly deep, from top to bottom.
It all starts, obviously, with the team that is legitimately in the national title conversation – the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1, 21 RPI). Thad Matta has a loaded team that has to be on even the shortest of lists for potential championship squads. The only thing that could stand in the way of this team and a #1-seed is the brutal conference in which it plays. I would say that even a 2-loss conference record would be a hell of a season in Columbus, considering the tests they will have on a nightly basis in the Big Ten.
The story of the season, from a national level even, might just be Tom Crean’s Indiana Hoosiers (12-0, 48). The pride is back to Assembly Hall, as the Hoosiers got through their non-conference slate unbeaten, including a thrilling win over then-#1 Kentucky. We will know right away, though, what this team is made of, as their first three conference games (starting tomorrow night) are Michigan State on the road, followed by home games against Ohio State and Michigan. 1-2 would be a decent start even for this undefeated team.
The 12-0 Hoosiers have completely overshadowed the phenomenal non-conference performances of pretty much the entire rest of the conference. Wisconsin (11-2, 25) and Michigan State (11-2, 20) have been as impressive as just about anyone in the country and are clearly second-weekend contenders this March. Illinois (11-2, 44) and Michigan (10-2, 54) are also among the nation’s best.
That’s SIX teams that are probably among the nation’s 20 best. And, we’re still not done. Even though the Minnesota (12-1, 17) lost its best player (Trevor Mbakwe), the Gophers enter conference play with the best RPI. Northwestern (10-2, 37) and Nebraska (8-3, 105) both return nearly their whole squad from teams that were very much in the bubble talk last year. While, on the flip side, Purdue (10-3, 69) lost just about as much as anyone in the country, but still returns a ton of talent, including the tragic figure of Robbie Hummel. That is TEN teams that can play with anyone in the country all in the same conference. Not even the 16-team Big East can run 10-deep the way the Big Ten can.
OVERALL: I think Ohio State is one of the most likely to win 6 straight tournament games and hoist a banner this spring, but it might be just as tough to win six straight conference games this year, with the likes of Michigan State, Wisconsin, and upstart Indiana among this 10-team (plus PSU and Iowa) juggernaut of a conference.
THE BIG EAST
Top Heavy…But VERY Heavy
All the talk around the country about the Big East in recent years has centered upon the raw number of teams that they have gotten into The Dance. And, yes, it is very impressive to qualify 11 teams among the country’s 65/68 best. But, let us not lose sight of the fact that the conference is disgustingly large and the bottom of it is, well, disgusting, at times. Well, this year, while the divergence may be even greater, the guys at the top are very, VERY good. In fact, ready for this?!? FIVE of the TOP NINE teams in the most recent RPI are in the Big East…wow!
The defending champs, UConn (10-1, 4 RPI), lost their best player in Kemba, but return a TON of talent and added, arguably, the best freshman big man in the country. Several national experts have pegged UConn as a potential repeat champion, and it’s hard to argue their chances. However, they may not even be the best team in their own league. The nation’s #1 team right now is Syracuse (13-0, 1), and they look every bit of a #1 team in the land. They are very well-balanced and experienced and, even though they have yet to leave the state of New York, save once, they look mighty good in the early going.
So, with the ‘Cuse and the defending champs at the top of the conference, there is a big slip from there, right? Wrong. Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals (12-0, 6) are still undefeated, despite a tough non-conference slate and a roster of unknown guys. Marquette (11-1, 9) has been a regular in the nation’s top 10 all year, and Georgetown (10-1, 43) has surprised just about everyone with their ridiculously hot start and arrival in the top 15. Pittsburgh (11-2, 70) has lost two home games to teams from bad conferences, but they, at least, were to VERY GOOD teams from bad conferences (Dan Monson’s Long Beach State team and Bobby Hurley’s Wagner squad). And, the Panthers still have Austin Gibbs.
Villanova (7-5, 85) and West Virginia (9-3, 35) have both had their moments of struggles, but are both very talented teams, while on the other side, Providence (11-2, 114), and – dare I say it – DePaul (9-3, 163) both look like they might be a lot better than most people expected. And, Seton Hall (11-1, 7) is #7 in the RPI…yes, NUMBER SEVEN.
And, then there is Cincinnati (9-3, 192). Ironically, before the brawl (and subsequent suspensions), the Bearcats looked like they might be headed straight for the NIT – at best. But, since the fight, they seem to have really rallied around one another and played as well as even the most optimistic forecaster could predict.
OVERALL: There probably won’t be a better battle for the top of a conference nation-wide than the Big East. The winner of the UConn-Syracuse battle for Big East supremacy should be a #1-seed in the Big Dance (if not both), and don’t count out Louisville or even Marquette from potential #1-seed discussions.
THE SEC
Under the Radar…Yet Very, Very Good
This conference likely will not get the public discussion that the Big East, Big Ten, or even the god-awful ACC will get this year, but it is every bit as good as any league in America.
It starts with Kentucky (11-1, 23 RPI), who is as talented as any team in America and is among what I consider the “High-Five” of title contenders (along with UNC, Ohio St., UConn, and Syracuse). I would not dispute anyone who says that this is the best team in the country. But, there are at least two teams in the SEC that might give UK a run.
Florida (10-2, 40) is back and oh-so-talented this year. They have played a brutal non-conference slate and beaten several really solid teams. Mississippi State (12-1, 59) is also incredibly talented, but were always just too enigmatic to count on. Well, it looks like the great Coach Stansbury may have figured out the puzzle here, as the Bulldogs are in the discussion of national elite.
Then, there are a couple teams that have had some disappointing non-conference slates, but nothing that would sway you from saying they will be SEC contenders. Vanderbilt (8-4, 38) was a preseason Top-10 team, but has really struggled – even at home. But, they haven’t killed themselves with losses and still have the talent to push even the Wildcats for best in the SEC. Alabama (9-3, 19) also has a TON of talent and the best RPI in the conference.
While, not really in the title talk here, teams like Georgia (7-5, 81), LSU (9-3, 58), Ole Miss (9-3, 33), and even the post-Pearl Tennessee Volunteers (5-6, 257) can rise up and beat anyone on a given day.
OVERALL: Kentucky is one of the best teams in America and, therefore, should win this conference, but there should be a really interesting jockeying for the other byes in the SEC tournament, as 4 outstanding teams will fight for 3 spots – Florida, Mississippi St., Alabama, and Vandy.
THE BIG XII
When the Big Dog Appears Down, Don’t Count Out the Pack
Even though their play on the court has given just about zero indication of a step backwards, the national perception is quite clear on the Kansas Jayhawks (8-3, 30 RPI) and their “down year.” Well, first of all, that is not necessarily true, as KU has had a brutal non-conference slate and performed rather well throughout, and second of all, just because the conference’s banner program may appear down, let us not discount just how good the rest of this conference is this year.
Only the Big East can boast a pair of unbeaten teams like the Big XII can. And, while the Big East’s unbeatens (Syracuse and Louisville) have gotten a TON of respect, it seems the unbeatens in the Big XII are still looking for theirs. Missouri (12-0, 51) and Baylor (12-0, 10) are the quietest pair of undefeated teams in a major conference that I can remember. And, it’s not like they have played cupcake schedules. They have both been tested and passed every single test with flying colors. These are – CLEARLY – two of the best teams in the country and should really battle it out all year to survive a pretty tough conference.
Kansas State (10-1, 24), like their in-state rivals, seem to have been forgotten simply because everyone “thought” they would take a step backwards. Well, the Wildcats topped off a sparkling non-conference schedule with three dominating performances en route to the Diamondhead Classic Title this weekend in Hawaii. This team is good and is only getting better. Similarly written off after a 2-2 start, the Texas Longhorns (9-3, 73) reeled off 7 straight wins (including @UCLA and Temple) before losing @UNC last week. Even the two early losses weren’t atrocious – a 5-point loss to Oregon State and a 3-point loss to N.C. State.
And, let us not forget that the Big XII coaches picked Texas A&M (8-3, 234) as their preseason favorite (along with KU) to win the league this year. And, despite 3 losses (and a really, really ugly RPI), it might be too quick to write off the Aggies.
And we haven’t even mentioned an Oklahoma (9-1, 36) team that has pounded an admittedly soft schedule.
OVERALL: There are two very impressive unbeatens (Mizzou and Baylor), neither of which were picked by the coaches to win the league, based on returning talent (Kansas and Texas A&M). Throw in a red-hot K-State team and a potentially dangerous Texas team, and you’ve got yourself almost no off-nights in the Big XII.
THE ACC
Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen
This conference used to be the class of the country, without a doubt. Now, they are only essentially holding on to their “major” conference label on the strength of two programs and a whole lot of other hollow reputations.
But, there will always be Tobacco Road. North Carolina (11-2, 11 RPI) and Duke (10-1, 2) will be forever connected in the minds of sports fans, despite their intense hatred for one another. But, together, they are jointly holding up an otherwise mid-major level ACC.
The only other team that can really call themselves among the nation’s best could be Virginia (10-1, 29), who have really bought into the great coaching of Tony Bennett and look like a serious player on the national stage again. Cross-state rivals, Virginia Tech (10-3, 56) are also have a decent year so far, considering they had to replace their entire starting lineup.
Florida State (8-4, 50) was supposed to compete for the league title this year, but have not really shown anything that would live up to that. Miami (7-4, 62) and N.C. State (8-4, 61) at least have somewhat decent records against somewhat decent competition, but teams like Maryland (7-3, 108), Wake Forest (8-4, 100), and Clemson (7-5, 226) have barely squeaked by (and not always) some really, really inferior opponents. For example, the Terrapins of Maryland might be 7-3, but they were dangerously close to losing to the likes of UNC-Wilmington, Florida Gulf Coast, Mount St. Mary’s, Florida International, and, most recently, Radford. None of those teams are even in the upper half of their own really poor conferences (many are at the bottom), and every one of them stayed within single-digits of the Terps IN THE COMCAST CENTER.
OVERALL: This is a really, really bad version of the ACC, but that shouldn’t take anything away from the elite teams on Tobacco Road and the great job that Tony Bennett is doing at UVa. This is a 2-team race with a clear #3 and then a lot of pretty bad teams.
THE PAC-12
It’s Almost Embarrassing
As bad as the ACC is this year, they are not even close to the worst of the “Big Six.” This conference wasn’t good as the Pac-10 and then added two more dregs to make up the new Pac-12. And, a bad conference got even worse…
I don’t really know where to start because I don’t see a tournament team among these guys, but I guess the two best teams here are Arizona (9-4, 53 RPI) and Cal (10-3, 65), though neither look all that good at all. Granted I’m a little bias because I love the 49ers, but I think that Long Beach State might win this conference. Stanford (10-2, 98) was pretty impressive in the preseason NIT, but the talent is a little thin. Oregon (9-3, 83) should have the talent, but the results aren’t really there. UCLA (7-5, 184) and Washington (6-5, 107) probably have the two most talented rosters, but have both seen a slew of head-scratching losses. I guess Oregon State (10-2, 129) is the most surprising of the bunch, but do we really think that they are any good?
And, don’t get me started on Arizona State (4-8, 221) and the dreadful, dreadful Utah (3-9, 307). The Utes are 307th out of 344 D-I teams in RPI, just behind the 2-10 team out of the MEAC, Bethune-Cookman, and the 1-10 team out of the Great West, TX-Pan American. The closest “major conference” team is St. John’s at 275.
OVERALL: This conference is pretty bad…and it’s hard to imagine why, as there really is a lot of talent and some really talented coaches. But, it is bad. This is, at least right now, clearly a one-bid league – and that will go to the tournament champion. I guess I’ll take Cal, if I’m picking because I like Coach Montgomery, but I don’t feel good about it at all.
CONFERENCE USA
How Do You Spell “Disappointment?” Here’s a Hint: It Starts With M-E-M
A preseason Top Ten team, who returned everyone from last year and has a roster budding with talent, and yet the Memphis Tigers (6-5, 66 RPI) have seemingly sleepwalked through their non-conference schedule. Still the class of this conference, on paper, the Tigers are probably still the favorites to win it, but they have left themselves almost no margin for error. Oh, and by the way, why have we all of a sudden decided that Josh Pastner is this genius coach? The other day I heard people running off a list of names of coaches that might break Coach K’s record and they included Josh Pastner. Are you kidding me??? Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you’re good…(sorry for the tangent…back to C-USA).
And, Memphis isn’t the only C-USA team that has caused those “in the know” to think they might not really be all that knowing – on both sides of the ledger. First, the good – Tulane (11-2, 161) and Rice (8-4, 169) have both put together pretty impressive win totals, albeit against pretty soft schedules. And, Southern Miss (10-2, 3) to have an RPI of 3, after being picked to finish 6th in the conference is a huge shock.
On the other side, UTEP (6-6, 164), Tulsa (5-7, 193), UAB (3-7, 167) are currently 10th, 11th, and 12th in the conference, despite all being picked in the top half of the league this year.
The two teams that were picked to possibly challenge Memphis and might actually do so are Marshall (9-2, 39) and UCF (8-3, 87).
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks
for the post. I will certainly return.