Conference Outlooks
The conference races are just beginning to heat up right now, with tight races in many of the power conferences.
ACC
The ACC is the best conference in the country, which shows in their tight conference race. Virginia leads the conference, with two losses less than any team (they have lost just 1), but 4 teams have three losses. Duke has looked great recently (HUGE win over Notre Dame), Notre Dame is a top 5 or 10 team at their best, Louisville is another top 10 team who beat UNC a week ago, and North Carolina won 6 straight before losing to UVA and Louisville, but have wins over Ohio State (D'Angelo Russell!!!) and Louisville, among others. The rest of the conference is a step behind (and a LARGE step), but these 5 can hang with anyone in the country.
My pick:
1. Virginia
2. Duke
3. Notre Dame
Big 12
Kansas suffered a major setback this weekend with a loss against Oklahoma State (disappointing to say the least), but still hold a solid lead on the conference. Iowa State is just one game behind, and every other team after that has at least 4 losses in conference!!! As I have said in previous posts, the Big 12 is just crazy, partly because of the small size, but also because of it having 80 % quality teams (8 of 10). KU is the favorite, but any team could come give them a run.
My pick:
1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Iowa State
Big East
The Big East has been a BIG surprise this year (no pun intended), led by Butler and Villanova. 'Nova is the favorite, but Butler is just a half game behind, Georgetown has been a surprise, and Providence has been led by Kris Dunn's 15.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.5 APG, and LaDontae Henton's 20.4 PPG and 5.8 RPG.
My pick:
1. Villanova
2. Butler
3. Providence
Big Ten
This race might be the most exciting, despite Wisconsin having such a commanding lead. Wisconsin has just 1 loss, and 6 teams lie behind them, each with 4 losses in conference play. Indiana definitely has the easiest schedule left, but Iowa and Ohio State have been playing great, and Maryland is still in second despite not playing well as of late.
My pick:
1. Wisconsin
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana
PAC-12
Arizona and Utah are battling at the top, and I think Utah has the edge, especially because Arizona has lost to Oregon State (Gary Payton, Jr.!!!), and lowly Arizona State and UNLV. Behind those 2, the conference is VERY weak, with Oregon State being the next best team. Delon Wright should lead the Utes to their first PAC-12 title.
My pick:
1. Utah
2. Arizona
3. Oregon State
SEC
This one is the easy choice, Kentucky is clearly number one. Unless John Calipari retires, and their entire lineup gets hurt, Kentucky should win the conference. Actually, scratch that, Kentucky could still probably win the conference without Coach Cal and their starting lineup. Texas A&M, Arkansas, Ole Miss and LSU lead an underrated next tier of the conference.
My pick:
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. LSU
ACC
The ACC is the best conference in the country, which shows in their tight conference race. Virginia leads the conference, with two losses less than any team (they have lost just 1), but 4 teams have three losses. Duke has looked great recently (HUGE win over Notre Dame), Notre Dame is a top 5 or 10 team at their best, Louisville is another top 10 team who beat UNC a week ago, and North Carolina won 6 straight before losing to UVA and Louisville, but have wins over Ohio State (D'Angelo Russell!!!) and Louisville, among others. The rest of the conference is a step behind (and a LARGE step), but these 5 can hang with anyone in the country.
My pick:
1. Virginia
2. Duke
3. Notre Dame
Big 12
Kansas suffered a major setback this weekend with a loss against Oklahoma State (disappointing to say the least), but still hold a solid lead on the conference. Iowa State is just one game behind, and every other team after that has at least 4 losses in conference!!! As I have said in previous posts, the Big 12 is just crazy, partly because of the small size, but also because of it having 80 % quality teams (8 of 10). KU is the favorite, but any team could come give them a run.
My pick:
1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Iowa State
Big East
The Big East has been a BIG surprise this year (no pun intended), led by Butler and Villanova. 'Nova is the favorite, but Butler is just a half game behind, Georgetown has been a surprise, and Providence has been led by Kris Dunn's 15.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.5 APG, and LaDontae Henton's 20.4 PPG and 5.8 RPG.
My pick:
1. Villanova
2. Butler
3. Providence
Big Ten
This race might be the most exciting, despite Wisconsin having such a commanding lead. Wisconsin has just 1 loss, and 6 teams lie behind them, each with 4 losses in conference play. Indiana definitely has the easiest schedule left, but Iowa and Ohio State have been playing great, and Maryland is still in second despite not playing well as of late.
My pick:
1. Wisconsin
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana
PAC-12
Arizona and Utah are battling at the top, and I think Utah has the edge, especially because Arizona has lost to Oregon State (Gary Payton, Jr.!!!), and lowly Arizona State and UNLV. Behind those 2, the conference is VERY weak, with Oregon State being the next best team. Delon Wright should lead the Utes to their first PAC-12 title.
My pick:
1. Utah
2. Arizona
3. Oregon State
SEC
This one is the easy choice, Kentucky is clearly number one. Unless John Calipari retires, and their entire lineup gets hurt, Kentucky should win the conference. Actually, scratch that, Kentucky could still probably win the conference without Coach Cal and their starting lineup. Texas A&M, Arkansas, Ole Miss and LSU lead an underrated next tier of the conference.
My pick:
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. LSU
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