Now that we’re officially in the Sweet 16, here are our rankings of the best conferences still alive and kicking.
We are officially in the Sweet 16 portion of March Madness, and we finally get to get a much-deserved break from all of the craziness that transpired in week one of the NCAA Tournament.
High seeds fell, no-name schools prevailed, and a tournament hierarchy that, despite some close calls, stayed intact for decades was officially turned on its head. Yep, that is a great summary for those who missed out on a week full of heartbreak and joy.
So, now that we’re in the home stretch of one of wackiest tournaments we have ever seen in our lifetime, it’s time to do a quick ranking of the best conferences still alive and kicking. Keep in mind, this is our opinion, so, don’t come searching for us with pitchforks or tiki torches; and, if you think we’re wrong, throw your own rankings down in the comment section.
1. ACC — Teams Remaining: 4
When the tournament first began, many were up in arms over why the ACC was able to get eight teams into the Big Dance, especially when other, more deserving teams were left out in the cold of the NIT.
After the madness of week one, many may be re-thinking their stance on college basketball’s best conference. Yes, Virginia and Miami proved to be frauds, North Carolina slept in against Texas A&M, and NC State simply didn’t belong in the tournament; but, Duke now has a strong road to San Antonio, Syracuse and Florida State are looking like a dark horse Cinderellas, and Clemson is better than what we all thought.
Case in point, as long as the ACC is in, they are the best conference running.
2. Big 12 — Teams Remaining: 4
Give it up for the Big 12!
Who would have thought that this conference would have four teams make it to the Sweet 16? In fact, the conference made a little history, as their four teams in the Sweet 16 tied a conference record previously set in 2002.
Kansas and West Virginia were pretty much favored to keep moving on, but Kansas State and Texas Tech are both surprises; and, both of those teams could get to the Elite Eight as Texas Tech can match up with Purdue and Kansas State can easily pull off an upset over a young and inexperienced Kentucky team.
3. SEC — Teams Remaining: 2
There is one team that really isn’t a surprise to be here in the Sweet 16 and one that is kind of a shocker from the SEC.
The team that no one is really surprised to be here are Kentucky. Despite their inexperience, they have John Calipari, who can coach an AAU team to the Final Four if he could. They could be in some trouble, though, against a hungry and confident Kansas State team, though, but still, they have Calipari, so you can never couth the Wildcats out.
Texas A&M, on the other hand, is a shocker. They way they dispatched North Carolina should scare the daylights out of Michigan in the Sweet 16, and, to be honest, they should be considered a dark horse to get to the Final Four.
No kidding.
4. Big East — Teams Remaining: 1
The reason why they’re ranked this high is that Villanova is still in it, and now that Xavier and Virginia have both bit the dust, they have to be considered the team to beat in the tournament.
At last, this year’s edition of March Madness has lived up to its name, and they could easily get tripped up by a scrappy, defensive-minded West Virginia team. Though we’re tempted to say it isn’t likely, the way this tournament has gone, anything is possible.
5: Missouri Valley, Mountain West, and West Coast — Teams Remaining: 1 of each
We’re going to lump all of them in here because we didn’t think we would see teams from these three conferences dance in the Sweet 16.
Loyola long ago replaced the departed New Mexico State as the Cinderella of the tournament, Nevada is the Cardiac Kids, and Gonzaga shouldn’t be a surprise to be here but feels like they are. Loyola and Nevada are playing each other in the Sweet 16, so one of those teams are guaranteed a spot in the Elite Eight, but Gonzaga may be on their final game as they will run into a highly-confident Florida State team.
6. Big Ten — Teams Remaining: 2
We know what some people are thinking. Why is the Big Ten last?
Simply put, their road to the Final Four is a tall order. Michigan arrived in the Sweet 16 because a Houston player forgot to play the inbound pass, and we’re not so sure they will be able to get past a strong Texas A&M team.
Despite Purdue being a No. 2 seed, you have to believe that, in most people’s minds, they were not a lock to get to the Final Four, that they were destined to have their run end in the Sweet 16. Judging by their opponent, an overlooked Texas Tech squad, that prophecy may be fulfilled.