So with the fringe conferences out of
the way, Cinderellas potentially appointed, it is time to look at the
top 10 power conferences, the ones we will see on TV and the ones
that really have the best chance to do the most damage this year.
So here are those conferences in order
from weakest to strongest:
ATLANTIC 10
This conference suffered more than any
with the realignment at the top of the college sports heap. That
said, Juvonte Reddic is going to the NBA, but not before he leads VCU
to another NCAA Tournament with Coach Shaka Smart. While there will
be some strong teams in this conference, I don't see anybody here
contending with VCU. Saint Louis will also be tournament bound again,
but have to replace a lot of production from Kwamain Mitchell. Behind
these two teams, anyone could finish anywhere in my opinion.
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| Is there any more respected coach these days than VCU's Shaka Smart? |
WEST COAST
Hmmm....let me see....Gonzaga. Gonzaga
wins, they always win, they always will win. They sandwich the rest
of the league with the best point guard and the best big man with
Kevin Pangos and Sam Dower. Gerard Coleman has the potential to be
the best freshman and really help the Zags dominate. Behind him,
Tyler Haws at BYU could throw a wrench into things as he really is a
versatile scorer, and Saint Mary's will continue to be a thorn in
Gonzaga's side.
MOUNTAIN WEST
With UNLV raided for talent (two top
players transferred, the best player went number one in the NBA
Draft), this is clearly New Mexico's league. Kendall Williams will
win the Player of the Year again and has a fringe chance at being an
All-American, possibly depending on the Lobos' run come March. Behind
him, New Mexico also has the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in
Alex Kirk to help their dominance. UNLV may still be strong with Khem
Birch, and Boise State is going to put up a lot of points as well.
PAC-12
There is every chance in the world that
Aaron Gordon at Arizona could surpass all of the other super freshmen
in the country and that alone makes the Wildcats the top contender in
this league. Brandon Ashley is phenomenal too and their 1-2 punch
makes Arizona the easy favorite. Spencer Dinwiddle could have
Colorado as a tournament team too, maybe their best team ever. And,
UCLA's revival doesn't end with the exit of Shabazz Muhammed, because
Kyle Anderson is explosive and Jordan Adams could just be insanely
dominant if he can get and stay healthy for the entire season.
SEC
OK, so I have to give in to the
Kentucky hype to a degree here because no team should be close to the
Wildcats with Julius Randle leading the way. As much as the freshmen
are hyped, Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein are huge returners
for Kentucky. Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Missouri are also
tournament bound teams, with the Gator's Patric Young, a 6'9''-240
pound senior center as a dominant inside presence.
BIG 12
Kansas will lead the way for one reason
and one reason only: Andrew Wiggins. More hype, just like the SEC and
Pac-12 favorites. Wiggins' biggest issue is that he doesn't have the
help that Gordon and Randle have. Without that help, there is a good
chance that Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart leads his Cowboys past
Kansas to the top of the conference. Smart is fantastic and one of
the toughest guys in all of college basketball to guard. Baylor is
also continuing a big surge as a program and need a good year to
bring in some key recruits that they are after.
 |
| Marcus Smart is such a dynamic scorer, there is a chance that highly touted Andrew Wiggins at Kansas will have nothing for him. |
AMERICAN
A fun new conference (kind of?) will be
dominated by Louisville. Losing two key players doesn't change their
depth. Russ Smith is the best player in the league and Wayne
Blackshear is also back. How Kevin Ware plays, back so quickly from
that gruesome leg injury, could help the Cardinals to a second
straight National Title. UCONN will be the secondary team with
Shabazz Napier at the helm, but the undersized senior will need some
help behind him. If Cincinnati can avoid punching people, they can
also make a deep run.
BIG EAST
This is an interesting conference where
any of the top 5-6 teams could be king. I give Creighton the nod
because Doug McDermott is one of the best scorers and players in the
entire country. Nobody in this league, possibly in college basketball
will stop him. He gets great help in Grant Gibbs as well. Behind
them, flip some coins to see where Marquette, Butler, Georgetown,
Villanova and St. Johns finish.
BIG TEN
Indiana is the name that pops up in
everyone's mind again when talking about the Big Ten, and that is
great. But Coach Tom Crean has so much to replace in top-5 pics
Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller. Can anyone fill those shoes? Yogi
Ferrell is a dynamic scorer, but what about his consistency? Can Evan
Gordon really do anything to help the Hoosiers? My guess is, Indiana
falls dramatically. Part of that is because Michigan State, behind
Gary Harris and Keith Appling, is potentially the best team in the
conference. Michigan is a good team behind them, who like National
Title game co-stars Louisville, lost a lot but bring a lot back.
Mitch McGary is so strong inside for the Wolverines. Ohio State could
thrive if they can find the scoring to replace Deshaun Thomas.
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| Behind Gary Harris, this may be coach Tom Izzo's best chance at another National Title for Michigan State. |
ACC
Three of the better teams in the league
are brand new in Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. But it is some
of those old-faithful ACC teams that dominate. Duke should run away
at the top behind freshman Jabari Parker and a lot of returners from
a strong team of 2012-2013. Behind them, North Carolina has a lot of
pressure on them to win without PJ Hairston, who could be gone for
any amount of time. The expansion doesn't slow down Virginia either,
who have Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell to make this perhaps the best
Cavalier squad ever. Of the newbies, look for Syracuse to have enough
depth to stay as a contender, especially with CJ Fair scoring almost
at will.
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