Conference Breakdowns Part 1 The Majors

The Majors

With the mid-season draft fast approaching, and conference play under way, I thought I would look at the conferences, potential tourney teams and potential draft picks.

The Majors (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac 10) are worth 7 points for winning the regular season and 5 points for winning the conference tournament.

Big East - The BEAST

9 teams could potentially go to the Big Dance. All nine are owned by players. Could a tenth team go? Providence at 4-2 in the Big East, 12-6 overall? I would say not unless they win the tournament. The Big East will be a blood bath, Notre Dame and Villanova have lost 3 games already. Marquette and Louisville have managed to go 5-0 so far, but that won't last. UCONN, Pitt or Louisville have to be considered the favorites at this point to take the regular season and/or the conference tourney, but it is anyone's guess at this point. Providence would be a risky pick for the expansion draft if you want another Big Dance team but they will get plenty of chances to score some big points against 4 Top 10 teams.

ACC - Nothing to See Here, Move Along

North Carolina was supposed to run away with this season but now that they have proven to be mortal even the ACC is up for grabs. Duke, Wake, North Carolina are shoe ins for the Tourney and the favorites to win the ACC for sure. Miami, Clemson and Florida St are looking like they are tourney bound but I don't think any one of these three have shown that they are killer teams. Clemson and Florida St. especially have not a lot of showcase wins. What about Virginia Tech (Boaris) who just knocked off Wake Forest? Or Boston College (Gunz) who beat North Carolina at NC? Boston College at 2-3, 12-6 overall doesn't have a strong enough case yet, but Virginia Tech could make a strong case with a few more big wins and both teams will have the opportunity to get them. Maryland is worth considering for the expansion draft just for the opportunity to score against Top 10 teams but they are likely NIT bound barring some big big wins.

Big Ten - Seven Dancers?

Illinois (4-2, 16-3) and Michigan (3-4, 13-6) are the two "woops" in the Big 10, as in someone should have picked them. Gunz gets the "Crystal Ball" award for taking Minnesota (4-2, 16-2). These three teams may well be joining Michigan St, Purdue, Wisconsin and Ohio St in the Big Dance. But then again, why Michigan given Penn St (4-3, 15-5)? Better wins, thats why. The Big 10 just doesn't have a Powerhouse Team like the Big East and ACC. Michigan St coulda but the loss at home to Northwestern...? Nonetheless I think Michigan St (Babblemur) is the favorite to win the regular season but the conference tourney will be a crap shoot. Expansion draft teams: Illinois and Michigan for sure. Penn St... nah.

Big 12 - Sooners or Later

Shitty pun, I know, but Oklahoma (4-0, 18-1) has turned into the best second round pick anywhere for Boaris. Preseason favorite Texas (ProgressMedia) will still challenge for the Big 12 championship, and Kansas (Jaybird) and Baylor (NotaTurtle) are likely locks for the NCAA tourney. Texas A&M (Akaoni) entered conference play with a 13-1 record and has gone 1-3 since. Still Tourney bound? Oklahoma St (HippieD) was a gamble pick that seems to be paying off, especially if they can survive the rest of the season and make it to the NCAA as predicted. Look for six teams tourney bound from the Big 12, and OSU and Texas A&M are going to have to beat back free agents Missouri (3-1, 16-3) and Nebraska (2-2, 12-5) if they want in. Which of course is a nice segue to the expansion draft: Missouri and Nebraska should both be given consideration, with Missouri as a very strong option.

Pac 10 - Still a Major Conference, Really

Okay, for some unexplained reason EIGHT teams from the Pac 10 were picked by players. Of the two that weren't, one (California) just happens to be on top of the conference standings, making the Pac 10 a big WTF. Here is what is clear: UCLA (Turtle), Washington (Akaoni), Arizona St (Babblemur) and California (Unclaimed team) are locks for the NCAA, and will be fighting it out for the conference tourney and regular season champ. Oregon (Musa) and Arizona (Progress) should be jettisoned as useless teams. Stanford (Boaris), Washington St. (Musa) and USC (HippieD) are NIT bound unless they get some big big wins and finish in the top 3 or 4. For the expansion draft California should be a top pick (unless you have UCLA, ahem, Turtle).

SEC - Fluster Cluck

9 of these 12 teams were drafted. The three that weren't are Georgia (0-3, 9-9), Auburn (1-3, 11-7), and South Carolina (2-2, 13-4). I guess the gamecocks might be worth drafting... But seriously, of the nine teams picked out of the SEC is there any chance that more than 5 will go to the Big Dance? But which five? Or will there be six? I think the SEC is really hard to judge. Tennessee (Musashisan), Kentucky (Boaris) and Florida (Akaoni) should be in, and ought to be in the running to win the SEC. Mississippi St (Boaris as well) looks like a contender, and what is up with LSU (CEO) who is now 3-1, 15-3 overall, but with a weak schedule. Arkansas (Gunz), if they start winning conference games, could fight their way into contention as well. Alabama (Jaybird), Ole Miss (Turtle) and Vandy (ProgressMedia) may have to win the SEC Tournament to go dancing. I think there is no clear front runner in the SEC. As for the expansion draft - well, there is always South Carolina...

So in summary, for expansion draft consideration I would include from the Majors:

California (Pac 10)
Illinois (Big 12)
Missouri (Big 12)
Michigan (Big 10)
South Carolina (SEC)
Nebraska (Big 12)
Maryland (ACC)
Providence (Big East)

Looks like we'll all be digging into the mid majors and below for our expansion teams!