NCAA Men’s basketball action is at a fever pace and every game counts as we are in the thick of the stretch run towards March Madness. The best teams from every major conference are fighting for a top seed come tournament time and the rest of the nation’s Division 1 teams are battling it out for an invitation to the dance. The following is a brief review of the top two or three teams in each of the major conferences along with a few teams to watch from the Mid Majors.
ACC
The race for the ACC title is really heating up as there are three teams 1 ½ games or less behind conference leader, Duke. The #6 Blue Devils (Coaches poll) are currently 9-2 in conference play and 21-4 overall. They have won four straight including a big 77-56 win over Maryland (17-7, 7-3 in the ACC) in their last game. After a 92-85 victory over Boston College and a 75-64 win over Georgia Tech, Wake Forest (18-5, 8-3 in the ACC) has moved into the rankings at #25.
Big 12
#1 Kansas continues to roll, winning 11 straight to take their record to 25-1 overall and 11-0 in conference play. Kansas State has moved up to #7 and is currently 20-4 overall and 7-3 in the conference. #17 Texas has lost three out of five to fall to 20-5 and 6-4 in the Big 12. Baylor is ranked #22 and is 19-5 overall, 6-4 in the conference as well. #23 Texas A&M became the fifth Big 12 team in the top 25 with an overall record of 18-7, 7-4 in the Big 12.
Big East
With #3 Villanova’s 75-84 loss last night to Connecticut, the Wildcats fall to 22-3 on the year and 11-2 in the Big East. #5 Syracuse is currently tied with them atop the conference at 11-2 (24-2 overall). These two teams meet later this month in a game that could very well decide the title. #8 West Virginia is 2 ½ games back at 8-4 (19-5 overall) along with #21 Pittsburgh (8-4, 19-6 overall). In their last game, the Panthers beat the Mountaineers in a 98-95 overtime thriller. #10 Georgetown is still in the thick of things at 8-5 in conference play and 18-6 overall.
Big 10
There is currently a log jam amongst the top teams in the Big 10. #4 Purdue is 9-3 (21-3 overall) is a ½ game back of #11 Michigan State and #12 Ohio State, who have identical records (10-3 Big 10, 20-6 overall). These two teams face each other in a crucial match-up this coming Sunday. #16 Wisconsin (19-6 overall) and unranked Illinois (17-9 overall) are one game back at 9-4.
PAC 10
With no teams currently ranked in the top 25, it is looking like more and more that the winner of the conference tournament may be the only team from the PAC 10 to make it into the NCAA tournament. California still leads the conference at 9-4 (17-8 overall) with Arizona State just one game back at 8-5 (18-8 overall).
Mid Majors
With their convincing 80-61 win over St. Mary’s, Gonzaga (21-4 overall, 9-1 in the WCC) is back in the top 10 at #9. Butler (23-4 overall, 16-0 in the Horizon) has won 15 straight and is currently ranked #13. The MWC has two teams in the top 25; #14 BYU (23-3, 8-2) and #15 New Mexico (23-3, 9-2). #20 Temple is currently 20-5 overall and 8-2 in the A-10. Northern Iowa (22-3, 13-2 in the MVC) dropped to #24 after a 59-68 loss to Bradley.
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