College Basketball Preview Part 4: Power Conferences

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.

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.

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.

>Summit League result dissapoints but may offer best opportunity

Let me first say that I am not happy with the outcome of the Summit League tournament title game. I have never been a fan of North Dakota State and never even pretended to like conference Player of the Year Ben Woodside.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could call me somewhat of an Oakland fan (I know Dane, you don’t have to say anything.)

I think Oakland was the perfect team when it comes to the conference. They have a terrific, experienced coach in Greg Kampe, a stellar quick point man in Jonathan Jones, a lights out shooter in Eric Kangas, a high energy post in Keith Benson and the intangible guy in Will Hudson. Around ALL of that, they also have stellar freshman Drew Maynard and a defensive juggernaut in frosh Blake Cushingberry. Not to mention senior Dan Waterstradt, who was out of this world in the opening round against IPFW.

That to me is the perfect prototype for a Mid-Major and I, as a fan of basketball, would have been proud to have that team represent the Summit League in this year’s field of 65. But I also know the conference’s best chance at winning a tournament game comes in the form of NDSU.

This Bison team is everything that Cinderella could hope to be. They are from a smaller conference, in their first full year of NCAA Division I eligibility. But at the same, with a record of 26-5, they are not exactly too far off the radar. After winning the conference tournament, NDSU had a chance to win a game in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

That is something that neither Oakland or even defending league champion Oral Roberts would do.

So I feel bad for Oakland, but know that sans-Kangas and Waterstradt, they will all be back to power through the conference next year. Not to mention, their best player Derrick Nelson didn’t even play this year.

And for NDSU, they may not be the team I wanted to see advance, but they are the Summit’s best chance. Even before the field of 65 was announced this past Sunday, people all around college basketball were calling on the Bison to be the potential upset special this post-season. That seemed to die down some when they drew defending National Champions Kansas.
But I don’t see why.

Kansas as an opponent does not change all of the good things that NDSU brings to the table and to me, they will still be the ‘Cinderella’ team when all is said and done. More importantly, even a single win by them will given instant credibility to the league.

Hope the Bison don’t let down.