NCAA Basketball: Ranking the best conferences

Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Ryan Boatright (11) celebrates with the trophy as CBS announcer interviews guard Shabazz Napier (13) after the Huskies beat the Kentucky Wildcats in the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 29, 2014; Dayton, OH, USA; University of Dayton students react as their Flyers attempt a late comeback against the Florida Gators during the Elite 8 tournament game at the University of Dayton RecPlex. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports /

#8 – 6: Tossing Bricks From Way Downtown

#8 – Atlantic 10:

Top 25 Teams – 2
Top 10 Teams – 0

Biggest plus – Dayton Flyers
Biggest minus – Too many weak links

A conference that used to be loaded to the gills with mid-major talent and big time coaches. Now only Dayton and Saint Louis carry the torch for this once powerful basketball league. Dayton is likely to continue their impressive run of good seasons and deep tournament runs, and Saint Louis (as always) will be a quality team. if UMass and St. Joe’s could find their swagger again, this could still be a very competitive conference, but for 2014-15 the A-10 still consists of a lot of doormats.

#7 – Big East:

Top 25 Teams – 2
Top 10 Teams – 0

Biggest Plus – League reputation
Biggest Minus – Unstable membership

It’s disheartening to see this former big time conference reduced to the shambles it has become. What was once the envy of the Eastern Seaboard in terms of hoops has now become a laughable shadow of the once powerful Big East. There is still a lot of mid-major firepower in the conference, with Creighton and Butler within their ranks. But Georgetown and St. John’s are the last remaining bastion of a dominant group of teams.

#6 – American Athletic Conference:

Top 25 Teams – 2
Top 10 Teams – 1

Biggest Plus – Defending National Champions, Connecticut Huskies
Biggest Minus – Unstable membership

A group of teams that looks more like the sports version of an amoeba, this ever-changing conference has the potential to join the ranks of some of the top conferences (the defection of Louisville isn’t going to help), and much will depend on the stability of the conference membership. Right now, defending national champion Connecticut is a huge draw for the conference, and Cincinnati and Memphis also bring a lot of credibility. If Temple can return to their form of old, and one of the other up-and-coming programs – South Florida, UCF, Houston – can break through, then the AAC could find themselves becoming a power player.

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