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Non-Conference College Basketball Conference Power Rankings

By Mike Ferguson

Dec 3, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) attempts to moves the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Vitto Brown (30) at the Kohl Center. Duke defeated Wisconsin 80-70. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) attempts to moves the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Vitto Brown (30) at the Kohl Center. Duke defeated Wisconsin 80-70. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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An early look at the 10 best conferences in college basketball

The start of conference play and the New Year are just around the corner. For college basketball fans, the 2014-15 season has gotten off to an exciting start. Popular early season tournaments like the Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge, Maui Invitation, Diamond Head Classic and ACC/Big Ten Challenge are in the past and it’s beginning to show which conferences are the best in America. As the start of league play gets set to come into full swing, we rank which conferences have proven the strongest thus far:

1. ACC

It’s true that the ACC is a bit top heavy, but it’s hard to deny that the conference is the best in the country. Led by second-ranked Duke, the ACC has three of the nation’s top 10 teams and six ranked schools overall. Teams like Syracuse and North Carolina have not been as good as advertised, but that’s been compensated for with early overachievers like Miami, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. The ACC also has the country’s most elite group of coaches with Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim, and Rick Pitino.

2. Big XII

One of the big early surprises this season is how good the Big XII has been as a basketball conference. The league has four teams in the top 15 and five ranked overall. Texas’ resurgence has certainly helped the Big XII’s image, but eight of the conference’s 10 teams have one loss or fewer.

3. Big Ten

This may not go over well in the homeland, but the Big Ten has become a basketball conference. Each of the league’s 14 teams have a record above .500 and the Big Ten was able to go 8-6 against the ACC in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Michigan has been a big early disappointment, but that’s been countered by unexpected hot starts from Penn State and conference newcomer, Maryland. The Big Ten has just three ranked teams, but the conference is again one of the deepest in the country.

Dec 9, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) celebrates during the first half against the Utah Valley Wolverines at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) celebrates during the first half against the Utah Valley Wolverines at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Pac-12

Third-ranked Arizona leads a Pac-12 conference that again will have a number of teams vying for a NCAA Tournament bid. The Pac-12 joins the ACC as the only conferences to have two teams still undefeated. There is a significant drop-off after the Wildcats, but Washington, Utah and California are all very good basketball teams. The Pac-12 has just three ranked teams, but looks to be very deep for a second year in a row.

5. Big East

Contrary to the belief of football fans, the Big East does still exist and it plays pretty good basketball. Villanova looks to be the early class of the conference, but St. John’s, Seton Hall, Butler, Xavier, Providence and Creighton are all pretty good teams as well. None of the league’s 10 teams currently have a losing record.

6. SEC

Most believe the SEC has the best team in America in Kentucky, but outside of the Wildcats, the league may be in the midst of one of its worst seasons in a long time. The Wildcats are the only ranked team in the conference. LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M have made some early noise, but the league has been hurt by traditional powers like Florida and Missouri struggling. Against other major conferences, the SEC has played mediocre at best.

7. Atlantic 10

The A-10 conference looks to again be stricken by parity, but early on, the league has been largely unimpressive in non-conference games. Not a single team from the conference is currently ranked and Virginia Commonwealth may have the strongest resume to this point.

Nov 14, 2014; Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie talks with guard/forward Daniel Hamilton (5) after a play against the Bryant University Bulldogs in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. UConn defeated Bryant 66-53. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2014; Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie talks with guard/forward Daniel Hamilton (5) after a play against the Bryant University Bulldogs in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. UConn defeated Bryant 66-53. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

8. AAC

After a solid year last season that produced the national champion, the American Athletic Conference has been a big disappointment early on. Tulane is off to an 8-1 start, but has yet to notch a real impressive victory. Cincinnati at 7-2, may be the league’s best team, but traditional powers like defending national champion Connecticut and Memphis are just a combined 9-8 this season.

9. Mountain West

Colorado State sits atop the conference at 10-0, but the Rams have still yet to beat a legitimate opponent. San Diego State is the conference’s only ranked team while schools like New Mexico and UNLV have still yet to garner a real impressive victory.

10. West Coast Conference

As usual, Gonzaga is the class of the West Coast Conference, but at the top of the league, there are a number of teams that may have legitimate NCAA Tournament shots. BYU and Saint Mary’s are among them, but the Gaels’ win over Creighton is the most noise that’s come from a team other than Gonzaga early on this season.

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