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Post by PittLU on Dec 9, 2005 12:13:11 GMT -5
I know that with LU's location and huge VT and UVA followings, that there may be a bias here, but I wanted to open it up to debate of the best college basketball conference.
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Post by PittLU on Dec 9, 2005 12:25:50 GMT -5
My vote is for the Big East. In the current AP top 5 (I know that means nothing this early on, but it something to go by) - the Big East has #3-5 (we inherited #5 Louisville). #6 is BC which was a Big East team last year. I know that the ACC has 6 teams in the top #25, but after Duke, you have a school you inherited at #6 and the next ranked school doesnt show up until #20 Wake Forrest (over rated every year).
The ACC acquisition of Miami and UVA may have been great for football, but drags you down in hoops (men and womens).
Big 12 - You have Texas Oklahoma and Okie State and all of them are always tough at tourney time
Big 10 - Illinois lost too much, and Izzo is insane with his non-conference schedule. Look for MSU around the Final Four. Top to bottom though, the Big 10 is weak.
SEC - Kentucky is always tough, but this may be a down year for them. Florida usually disappoints at tourney time. It will be interesting to see what Alabama does other than beating the perennial mid major power house Winthrop.
PAC 10 - Give Howland some more time at UCLA, but that conference always gets smoked at tourney time.
Overall, the Big East rules, followed by the ACC (sponsored by D1ck Vitale).
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Post by LUconn on Dec 9, 2005 12:59:02 GMT -5
It all depends on if you're talking best conference top to bottom, or a top heavy conference with some of the best teams in the country. In years past I've always thought that the best conference from top to bottom was the Big East (it seemed any team could hang with the top dogs) while the ACC had a bunch of top 15 schools but the rest of the conference was on par with the SoCon. This year however, the Big East has 16 schools and the one's at the bottom are looking pretty pathetic so far. I'll wait until the end of January before I can make an opinion really. But here are my thoughts on how the conferences normally pan out from year to year.
Big 12 - Usually has at least 1 or 2 top 15 teams but the second teir of teams is usually not very good. This year is shaping up to be a little more diverse so far however.
Big 10 - Every year it's billed as a top 3 conference and ever year it seems to disappoint. Although they did have a fine showin the in the tourney last year.
SEC - Known as a football conference but they usually have some pretty tuff squads. Scattered throughout the top 25 these teams don't win as much as they should but they normally play everybody close. Very physical teams.
PAC 10 - Always sucks. East coast bias blah blah blah. A couple of pac teams get so over hyped every year because they're such a sexy pick and every year they blow. I do agree though that Howland is on the right track but he is a fool for leaving pitt.
[I'd like to make a pot-shot observation: The Big East sent their 2 worst teams, as in every year worst teams, over to the ACC and both of those teams finished right in the middle. Take from that what you'd like]
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Post by PittLU on Dec 9, 2005 13:34:43 GMT -5
Nice observation in you "pot-shot".
I agree with your Howland obersvation. He could have been a legend at Pitt, but he left to go home. There was a story at his press conference that when Howland was a kid, he used to be in bed and sneak the radio under his pillow to listen to UCLA games. He made the statement that UCLA was his dream job and only place he would leave Pitt for. You cant fault a guy for going home to his dream job.
I agree that the Pac 10 is overhyped, but I think that the ACC is as top heavy as they get. They get all of their hype from Duke, UNC and Wake. Maryland was the last non-tobacco row team to win it all from the ACC, but my question is why is everyone all over Wake? They always fade at tourney time! When is the last time they ever made a serious run? ACC Chamionships look nice, but dont get you the hardware everyone plays for.
Rant: Heaven forbid you get a chance to watch a good ACC vs. non-ACC matchup and D1cky V is calling the game. I swear he gets kickbacks from the ACC for mentioning how great they are since he is ALWAYS on thier bandwagon.
I think I am becoming an ACC hater.
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 9, 2005 15:53:54 GMT -5
Its tough to rate conferences in Early December with most major programs lining their schedules with cupcakes to assure themselves of tourney at-large bids. At least Izzo, Olsen and Barnes have the courage to schedule real games before getting into conference play.
That said, right now it looks like Big East & ACC are probably the top two with the Big XII, Big Ten & SEC pretty much a wash.
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Post by bigsmooth on Dec 9, 2005 17:58:45 GMT -5
sly, other than iowa, texas has played weak teams, but i do agree that the big east and acc are the best with the big east being #1 right now. this comment by LUconn is about the most ridiculous comment i have ever seen"while the ACC had a bunch of top 15 schools but the rest of the conference was on par with the SoCon." maybe you should look at the middle of the road big east teams. i have no problem saying the big east is better this year b/c they are, but comparing the middle of the acc to the socon is just a napoleon complex by a big east homer!
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 9, 2005 20:11:22 GMT -5
UT should've faced Kentucky if they hadn't lost in the Guardian Classic. West Virginia isn't chopped liver. And anytime you schedule Duke out of conference, you are stepping up. Oh yeah, they have Tennessee, Memphis and Villanova still to come on the schedule.
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Post by bigsmooth on Dec 10, 2005 9:18:46 GMT -5
i was referring to your schedule thus far. if's and but's about playing kentucky. i will give you a bit on west virginia based on them going to the dance this year. tennessee??? c'mon sly, even as a respected media member here in the firehouse that is a big stretch. they are not a good SEC team.
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 10, 2005 9:54:30 GMT -5
I know they don't exactly have a stellar rep after Buzz was a bust. But take a look at how they've mowed through the cupcakes on the schedule thus far.
Hook Em
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Post by LUconn on Dec 10, 2005 12:03:11 GMT -5
Duke
UNC
Wake is good every 7 years
Maryland looked like they were going to be an annual contender but they can't recruit
NCSU can beat good teams sometimes
FSU is bad
Clemson is baaad
Miami is bad
VT is bad
GT had a couple good years but looks like they're back to form
BC will be back to being bad
UVA is bad
I didn't get so down on the conference until recently either. I think it's after having married into a family full of UNC and Wake fans that it's bothered me. When I first met them I don't think they'd ever heard of Uconn. Oh you know the team who's 1st championship wasn't even 2 years old at the time. But it's very typical of this area. The media acts like no other conference exists around here. I'm bitter, but it's definatly no Napolean complex.
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Post by bigsmooth on Dec 10, 2005 14:50:02 GMT -5
every media outlet is biased towards the teams in their area. maybe you should live where you can get your big east biased media and feel right at home ;D
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 10, 2005 15:49:07 GMT -5
Trying following a team not from the east coast. And UConn gets much more attention than it deserves in general from a certain operation in Bristol.
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Post by ATrain on Dec 10, 2005 15:56:44 GMT -5
#1 Duke just beat #2 Texas 97-66...I'd say the ACC is definitely the best conference...and I'll admit, I'm definitely an ACC homer.
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Post by LUconn on Dec 10, 2005 16:57:25 GMT -5
What? how does this one game settle it?
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Post by The Dude on Dec 17, 2005 17:56:30 GMT -5
ACC is the best conference hands down.
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Post by LUconn on Dec 18, 2005 16:37:22 GMT -5
Thanks for your input. You make a good point.
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