College basketball conference rankings: The big, bad Big East is back, baby

A near repeat of last weekend’s wacky outcomes has once again caused some changes among the college basketball conference rankings this week.

1. Big East

Is this an overreaction? Probably. However, the Seton Hall Pirates remain one of the best teams in the nation and the Creighton Blue Jays have shown no signs of slowing down either. Even Villanova’s loss to the Providence Friars could be painted in a glass half full mindset, Ed Cooley’s team has now won four straight games with three of them coming against ranked opponents.

For a team that was on the bubble not that long ago, their recent play should be a big boost in their favor when the committee selects the field for the upcoming NCAA Tournament in a couple of weeks.

2. Big 12

While we continue to show a lack of love for the impressive play of the Kansas Jayhawks — kudos for not getting into a second brawl against Kansas State by the way — the conference took a hit this week due to the one-time number one team in the country coming back down to Earth.

The Baylor Bears lost another game after facing off in a top-three battle against Bill Self’s team in Waco. This time around it was against a struggling TCU that hasn’t been the force many foresaw when Jamie Dixon first took the job. They followed that up with barely getting by a scrappy Texas Tech team. So, because Baylor no longer looks like a sure bet for a number one seed in the big dance, the entire conference gets hit with a demotion.

3. Pac-12

West Coast college basketball is back! Well more aptly, fun things are happening in the Pac-12 again. Mick Cronin is on the verge of coming in during his first season and snatching away the conference regular-season trophy from mainstays like Sean Miller and Dana Altman.

Ever since the UCLA Bruins went to Tuscon and got a win they’ve looked like a completely different team. The buy-in is there and their point guard, Tyger Campbell has played mistake-free basketball on a more consistent basis. If the play on the court isn’t your cup of tea, moments like Bill Walton throwing Liberty University under the bus and refusing to say anything nice about Notre Dame and Digger Phelps is worth tuning in for.

4. SEC

Could the West Coast bias be migrating down south? Not if the Kentucky Wildcats have anything to say about it. They look like a team that should be expected to reach the Final Four during March Madness. Nick Richards continues to dominate in the pain and Immanuel Quickley is doing his best Devin Booker and Tyler Herro impersonation in the last few games.

Sprinkle in the defense of Ashton Hagans and a future lottery pick in Tyrese Maxey and John Calipari has himself one of his better teams in recent memory. Around the league, teams like Auburn and LSU aren’t holding up their end of the bargain enough to move this group up to one of the first three spots in these rankings.

5. Big Ten

Maryland versus Michigan State 2: Electric Bugaloo was far from electric as the Spartans won while holding the lead from tip-off to the final buzzer. Just like Anthony Cowan took the Terrapins into East Lansing and made sure his team came out victorious, Cassius Winston led things for Tom Izzo’s crew.

Don’t look now but Michigan State is starting to look like the team many thought they would be when the season began. We all know Izzo’s teams are always made for March and they even showed a Leap Year doesn’t throw off their groove. In a season that has lacked a dominant team, it looks like a perfect opportunity for the Spartans to come and kick a few teams down a well on their way to cutting down the nets for the first time in two decades.

6. American

Memphis is doing all it can to force the committee’s hand on Selection Sunday. After losing three straight games by a combined 11 points to South Florida, Cincinnati and Connecticut, Penny Hardaway ed his team to four straight wins, including a resume-boosting victory over the Houston Cougars.

The Tigers are 6-1 in their last seven games and have another chance to get a big win on Thursday when the Wichita State Shockers come into town. Those three teams, Houston, Memphis and Wichita State are going to be the flag bearers of this conference going forward — especially when Connecticut ditches for the Big East next season — so their play is going to help move the needle for this conference now and in the future.

7. ACC

Are they the worst conference in college basketball? No, but they are far from the best, which they have been for the last few seasons. Yet, this is a different year in college basketball as the persistent upsets have shown. In case you need any more reminding of how bizarre things are, look no further than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The only teams they’ve defeated in conference play are Notre Dame, Miami and North Carolina State (twice). Meanwhile, the Duke Blue Devils continue to sputter towards the finish line and Clemson just took down the Florida State Seminoles. Things are as close to upside down in the ACC as they’ve ever been and it doesn’t feel like things will turn around much now that it is March.

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.