NCAAB · 1 year ago

Ranking College Basketball’s Power Conferences: Big 12’s Reign

David Connelly

Host · Writer

6. Pac-12
Unfortunately, in its final season of existence, the Pac-12 will go out with a whimper. With Colorado, Washington State, and Oregon firmly on the bubble, this league only has two teams that would make the field today in Arizona and Utah. And with two recent losses for the Utes, is there any chance we could be looking at a one-bid power conference this season? It would be the first time in college basketball history since at-large bids were invented in 1975.
1. Big 12
The Big 12 is undeniably the best conference in college basketball, and it has been for some time now. The league has finished first or second in KenPom's aggregated adjusted efficiency metric for a decade straight and is on its way to another first-place finish in 2023-24. The addition of BYU and Houston has made it even more robust, and it's looking like they could send up ten teams, easily the most among any conference in the country.
2. Big East
The Big East is back and better than ever in 2023-24. Following a bit of a lull after the conference's drastic realignment, the past few years have been the best for the new Big East. This year's success and a multitude of juicy storylines have heightened the conference's drama. UConn looks like a national title favorite, while Marquette and Creighton could reach the second weekend and beyond. Georgetown and DePaul weigh down the conference's overall metrics, but this is a deep enough league to earn the second spot.
3. SEC
If you want to discuss conference depth, look no further than the SEC. Depending on where you look, the league has eight and sometimes nine teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament. This one is a close call with the Big East, but this conference has come a long way from the bottom of this list as it's continuing to shed its name as a "football conference."
4. Big Ten
The Big Ten is on a slightly down year with a shaky middle pack of the league. While Purdue, Wisconsin, and Illinois are pulling their weight, mediocre teams like Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, and Iowa aren't doing much nationally to get them on the map before March. Add in a low cellar with Michigan, Rutgers, and Penn State; this becomes one of the more top-heavy leagues in the sport.
5. ACC
North Carolina and Duke's high standing always makes for a fun ACC season, but the rest of the league has been abysmal. There's a realistic chance we only get three or even two teams from the league into the NCAA Tournament. It would be the lowest representation in March Madness since the 1999-2000 season when the league only had nine teams.
6. Pac-12
Unfortunately, in its final season of existence, the Pac-12 will go out with a whimper. With Colorado, Washington State, and Oregon firmly on the bubble, this league only has two teams that would make the field today in Arizona and Utah. And with two recent losses for the Utes, is there any chance we could be looking at a one-bid power conference this season? It would be the first time in college basketball history since at-large bids were invented in 1975.
1. Big 12
The Big 12 is undeniably the best conference in college basketball, and it has been for some time now. The league has finished first or second in KenPom's aggregated adjusted efficiency metric for a decade straight and is on its way to another first-place finish in 2023-24. The addition of BYU and Houston has made it even more robust, and it's looking like they could send up ten teams, easily the most among any conference in the country.

Ranking College Basketball’s Power Conferences: Big 12’s Reign

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