With less than two weeks left in the regular season, 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 Duke Blue Devils are making a late season run with wins in eight of their last nine games. They have an overall record of 23-4. With a conference record of 11-2, they lead Maryland (19-7, 9-3) by 1 ½ games and Virginia Tech (21-5, 8-4), who they just beat 67-55 by 2 ½ games in the conference. They are currently ranked #5 (Coaches Poll) and are the only ACC team that is still in the top 25.
Big 12
With their 81-68 win over Oklahoma last night, the Kansas Jayhawks clinched the Big 12 regular season title. The number one ranked team in the country is now 27-1 overall, 13-0 in the conference. Kansas State has moved up to #6 in the polls with an overall record of 22-4, 9-3 in the Big 12. Texas’s (21-6, 7-5) up and down season continues but they are still ranked #21. Ranked #23, Texas A&M (19-7, 8-4) is the final Big 12 team in the top 25.
Big East
With only a few regular season games left on the schedule, the Big East title is still up for grabs. #4 Syracuse is 25-2 overall and 12-2 in the conference. They currently have a one game lead over #8 Villanova. The Wildcats have lost their last two games and are now 22-4 overall and 11-3 in the Big East. Pittsburgh (21-6, 10-4) is currently ranked #16 and two games back. #7 West Virginia (21-6, 10-5) just lost to Connecticut and are 2 ½ games back. #13 Georgetown (18-7, 8-6) is four games back.
Big Ten
After losing three straight games in early January, Purdue has turned things around with nine straight wins. They are 23-3 overall and 11-3 in the Big 10. Currently ranked #3 in the nation, they have a ½ lead over #9 Ohio State and #14 Michigan State and a legitimate shot at a number one seed in the NCAA tournament if they can win out. Both the Buckeyes and the Spartans have identical 21-7 overall records and are 11-4 in conference play. #19 Wisconsin is 1 ½ games back of the Boilermakers with an overall record of 20-7 and a 10-5 record in the Big 10.
PAC 10
With only one team in the PAC 10 guaranteed a spot in the Dance, right now California (18-9, 10-5) and Arizona (19-8, 9-5) appear to be the top two candidates in the conference. USC (16-10, 8-6) is 1 ½ back and Washington (18-9, 9-7) is two games back.
SEC
With a huge two point 58-56 win over #20 Vanderbilt last Saturday, #2 Kentucky has a two game lead in the conference at 11-1 and is 26-1 overall. The Wildcats should definitely be a number one seed in the NCAA’s if they win their final four regular season games. The Commodores are 20-6 overall and 9-3 in the SEC. #17 Tennessee (20-6, 8-4) and Florida (19-8, 8-4) are three games back.
Mid Majors
Three mid major teams are stacked in the middle of the top 25 rankings. Butler is ranked #10 with an overall record of 25-4 and a perfect 17-0 record in the Horizon conference. BYU is #11 and is 25-3 overall and 10-2 in the Mountain West. #12 New Mexico leads the Mountain West by ½ game at 11-2 and is also 25-3 overall. #15 Gonzaga is 22-5 overall and 10-2 in the WCC. Temple is ranked #18 and is 22-5 overall and 10-2 in the A-10. Northern Iowa is 24-3 overall and 14-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. They moved up to #22 after their 71-62 “bracket buster” win over Old Dominion last Saturday.
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