ACC
-Florida State is certainly not an elite team in the conference, but their definitely in the top four or five. They have the ability to eke out close games late, as they did last week against Georgia Tech and on Saturday against Boston College in Chestnut Hill. Georgetown was just too much for Duke on Saturday, but there should be no shame from the Blue Devils faithful for a loss like that. It probably means that the conference champion probably won’t be getting a number one seed this year.
Big 12
-There should be no argument against Kansas being the top team in the country after Saturday night. Texas melted in Manhatten but the Jayhawks embraced a tough run from their rivals, beating Kansas State by two in OT behind 18 and 11 from Cole Aldrich. One team that may not be ready for the bright lights is Texas, who fell at home to Baylor in OT behind 27 from Tweety Carter. Damion James had 20 and 19, but this was a huge win for the Bears. The selection committee will remember this win. The committee will also remember Missouri’s 95-80 home win over OK State, and Texas A&M kept their at-large hopes alive after beating Texas Tech at home.
Big East
-Syracuse is due for a loss after playing horribly in a one point escape at DePaul. They gave the Blue Demons and Georgetown big leads early only to come back. Next time they may not be as fortunate. Georgetown showed how they can be a big time national power with a brilliantly balanced attack in their win over Duke. They need to show more of that in the tournament. Louisville really needed that win in West Virginia to cement their status as a tournament team, something Notre Dame may have to forget about after their one point loss at Rutgers. That was brutal as the Scarlet Knights got their first conference wins at the Irish’s expense. Cincy is also on the bubble and Cashmere Wright came up big with 24 in a win over Providence and Marquette dealt UConn a big blow by winning on the road. It was another setback for Pittsburgh after falling at South Florida, who always seems dangerous at home because they’re a long trip for the rest of the teams in the conference.
Big Ten
-Michigan State has a three game lead in the conference standings after handing Northwestern a death blow to their NCAA hopes. Illinois needed a buzzer beater to defeat Indiana, and their 6-3 conference record bodes well for them come March. Ohio State showed today that they’re a top 10 team when healthy, shooting 63 percent in a rout of Minnesota. William Buford, one of the Buckeyes’ many weapons, scored 26 in the win.
Pac 10
-Everyone is around .500 in conference play, including UCLA. The Bruins are obviously having a down season but they’re 5-4 in conference after winning at Oregon State. Washington, Oregon and Arizona State were also winners, but the Sun Devils seem like the only tournament lock as of now.
SEC
-Kentucky showed Vanderbilt and the rest of the league who’s boss after an 85-72 win behind 21 and 10 from DeMarcus Cousins. South Carolina is making a nice tournament resume for themselves after edging a feisty Georgia team and Alabama could basically call off their season after falling to Auburn. Tennessee showed a lot of heart coming back from 10 down against a young and hot Florida team to break their two game losing streak in Knoxville over the Gators. No shame in losing that one for Florida. That kid Chandler Parsons has icewater in his veins for Billy Donovan.