Big Ten - Overall Best Conference

ksturg · #1 11-21-2009, 08:23 PM

Been around here for a while, mostly just to look for picks and try to make money. Lot of good posters on this site, but I am going against the majority and letting everybody know that the Big Ten in my mind is the best conference overall in the nation this year.

Bash me if you want, I will defend them all year until the tournament is over and will take my lumps if needed, I won't hide like Bisket.

Muckslinger · #2 11-22-2009, 09:07 PM

IOWA may be the worst team in college basketball

be47320 · #3 11-22-2009, 09:26 PM

going to strongly disagree here

ksturg · #4 11-23-2009, 07:24 AM

Looks like Andy Katz of ESPN agrees with me, very surprised, this is part of an article from his blog.

In league rankings, power shifts to the Midwest
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | Print Entry
Ranking the conferences is always going to be a debate without a real winner.

What matters most to someone is open for discussion. For me, I look at the possible No. 1 seeds and the number of potential NCAA tournament teams. It's still a prediction at this point, but I'll give it a shot …

1. Big Ten: Michigan State and Purdue start the season as potential No. 1 seeds. Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan should be nipping at their heels with Northwestern not that far behind. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Penn State are possible NCAA tournament teams as well. That brings the count to nine teams that enter the season thinking they can make the field. That's nine of 11 members.

2. Big 12: The race between Kansas and Texas should be one of the best in the country. Both teams can win the Big 12 and national titles. The Jayhawks and Longhorns may be the deepest teams in the country, too. Oklahoma and Kansas State seem like locks to make the field. Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Texas A&M and Missouri should all be in the mix to challenge for bids, putting eight of 12 in play for an NCAA berth.

3. ACC: This shouldn't come as a shock, but North Carolina and Duke are likely going to be 1-2 in the league -- and with the nonconference schedules they play, will be in position to challenge for a top-two seed. Then there is a drop-off, with the rest of the league wide open. Georgia Tech has the talent to challenge for the title, and being the only team in the league to play Duke and Carolina twice means the Yellow Jackets will have a chance to affect the race in their favor. Maryland, Boston College, Clemson, Wake Forest, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech are all starting the season believing they can make the NCAA tournament. That's 10 of the 12 teams in the league that are in play for bids. That could be a generous number, and it probably won't be more than seven, but the competitiveness from 1-12 has greatly improved.

4. Big East: The league may not have a top-seeded team in 2010 after getting three last season (Louisville, UConn, Pitt), but the strength of the league from 1-16 has gotten better. The bottom of the league has risen up with Seton Hall and St. John's having a real shot at an NCAA bid. West Virginia should be the favorite, despite Villanova's high ranking. But the Wildcats, Connecticut, Georgetown, Syracuse and possibly Louisville will be in play for bids. So, too, should Notre Dame, with the possible player of the year in Luke Harangody. Cincinnati, with maybe the freshman of the year in Lance Stephenson, and Seton Hall are sleeper teams that could also rise up into the top four in the league. And never discount Pitt under Jamie Dixon. Toss in the Red Storm as the only team that returns all five starters, and the Big East has 11 of its 16 teams thinking NCAAs.

NightCap424 · #5 11-23-2009, 09:45 AM

I agree....

There are a lot of injuries in the Big Ten from top to bottom and yet most the teams are holding strong in the preseason. Just because the Big Ten emphasizes defense, they get bashed!

upinya83 · #6 11-27-2009, 10:07 PM

lol

NightCap424 · #7 11-27-2009, 10:09 PM

Big Ten teams losing to quality opponents.....based on last year's statistics and who teams have coming back. MSU losing to Florida and Minnesota potentially losing to Portland isn't a disappointment as far as competition goes. They both faced quality opponents with nothing to lose....

NightCap424 · #8 11-27-2009, 10:48 PM

Bad day for ranked Big Ten teams....yikes

Bisket · #9 11-27-2009, 10:52 PM

big east is king so far

TNell · #10 11-28-2009, 12:59 AM

Big Ten, Big EAst and ACC are almost interchangable. Think the Big Ten is probably the deepest from Top to bottom..... but not saying they are the strongest. The top of the ACC and Big EAst can matrch the top of the Big Ten I think.

Romanowski · #11 11-28-2009, 01:00 AM

big ten is boring basketball

MCP313 · #12 11-28-2009, 02:16 AM

I dont understand why college teams feel affiliated to their conference as opposed to pro teams who cant stand the other teams in their division.

Why is that?

I like people saying the BIG 10 is strong because that only makes my teams case stronger (Michigan) if they do well in conference play but I could truly care less how the other teams do and quite frankly really dont care for Ohio St and Michigan St.