Power 5 Conference Tournament Breakdowns

By Andrew Musur on March 11, 2015

Wednesday marked the start of all power five conference tournaments. There is a lot on the line as teams have one final shot to leave a lasting impression on the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

With so many of the best teams in college basketball playing over the next couple of days, it’s essential to look at these tournaments in greater detail.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Dates: March 10 through March 14

Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

Regular Season Champion: The University of Virginia, 28-2 (16-2)

The Skinny: Back in January, I ranked the ACC the second best conference in all of the country. At the time, the conference had 11 of its 14 teams in the RPI top 100. The ACC also claimed something no other conference could say: it had two teams in the RPI top 10, Virginia and Duke.

However, that statement no longer holds true, as the Big 12 currently ranks two RPI top 10 teams, with Baylor recently sneaking in. But the ACC really outdid itself over the six weeks since that article was written.

The conference saw Duke and Virginia towards the top of every college basketball poll week after week. The Cavaliers and Blue Devils currently sit at 3 and 4 in ESPN’s latest RPI ranking. The conference also kept its depth with 10 teams reaming in the top, and six in the top 50.

Breakdown: There is so much to look forward to coming from the ACC conference. For starters, can Virginia continue their dominance with the return of stud Justin Anderson.

Anderson went out back on February 7, when he broke his finger. The Cavaliers won seven straight after Anderson’s injury, before losing their season finale at Louisville. I think this is one of Tony Bennett’s best teams at Virginia, so I expect a good showing from the Cavaliers.

Along with Virginia, N.C. State, North Carolina and Miami all strike me as teams that easily could pull off a run. The Hurricanes are in desperate need of a win to boost their tournament resume, so a refuse-to-lose attitude is how Miami has to play.

There will be good games and there will be upsets, so when it’s all said and done … I’m going with Virginia.

Pick: Virginia

Big 12 Conference

Dates: March 11 through March 14

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Regular Season Champion: Kansas University, 24-7 (13-5)

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The Skinny: In one of the most competitive Big 12 seasons in several years, five teams finished ranked in the AP top 25. Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Baylor and West Virginia led the way as the Big 12 proved to the country it could go toe-to-toe with anyone out there.

Can Kansas win both the regular season and conference tournament championship? We will find out.

Breakdown: The biggest concern for me going into the Big 12 tournament was whether or not Kansas would be able to compete with such a depleted team. The Jayhawks lost Cliff Alexander due to NCAA issues and are still without star, Perry Ellis.

Each player’s return date is still uncertain. I don’t think the Jayhawks will have enough to make a run at the Big 12 tournament championship. My sleeper has to be Baylor. The Bears have been one of the most aggressive teams in the country.

With only two losses against teams ranked outside of the RPI top 50 (Illinois RPI 60, Kansas State RPI 83), Baylor has proven they can and will compete with just about anyone you throw at them. Don’t be surprised to see the Bears running the conference tournament table.

Pick: Baylor

Big Ten Conference

Dates: March 11 through March 15

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Regular Season Champion: University of Wisconsin, 28-3 (16-2)

The Skinny: The Big Ten was dominated by one team this year: Wisconsin. The Badgers were able to scorch teams with their hot shooting. Wisconsin ranked 22nd (48 percent) nationally for team field goal percentage this season. The Badgers were an entire two games ahead of second place, Maryland.

Breakdown: If it hadn’t been for a fluke loss at Rutgers and a slow start at Maryland, Wisconsin would be undefeated in Big Ten play. The Badgers have manhandled Big Ten competition and I expect them to do the exact same thing come conference tournament time.

Obviously, winning three games in three days is not easy for anyone, but the Badgers should be just fine. Player of the year candidate Frank Kaminsky has been on quite a stretch.

Over Kaminsky’s last seven games he has averaged 22 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. The senior understands this will be his last run in the NCAA Tournament, so I anticipate we will see a very hungry Wisconsin team.

Pick: Wisconsin 

Pac-12 Conference

Dates: March 11 through March 14

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Regular Season Champion: The University of Arizona, 28-3 (16-2)

The Skinny: The Pac-12 has had a really down year, as only three teams truly competed for a Pac-12 regular season championship. Not only was the Pac-12 weaker than usual, it also was very top heavy. Arizona and Utah were teams that dominated conference play. Oregon joined Utah and Arizona in terms of dominance late in the season, but besides those three there was no depth in the Pac-12.

Breakdown: I think any of the top three teams in the Pac-12 have a shot at a conference tournament title, but Utah stands out as the one to watch. The Utes did finish the season on a lackluster note losing three of their last five games.

However, Utah plays team basketball. A very talented team, the Utes have no problem knocking down shots. Senior Delon Wright has had to step up countless times this season. Wright will do whatever he can to help his team get a W. I’d love to see an Arizona vs. Utah championship game, because I think Utah would finally get their revenge on the Wildcats.

Pick: Utah

SEC Conference

Dates: March 11 through March 15

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Regular Season Champion: University of Kentucky, 31-0 (18-0)

The Skinny: Well there has been one really big thing in the SEC this season: Kentucky. The Wildcats have been kings of college basketball all year, and held it together to finish the regular season without a blemish, a perfect 31-0. With the potential of five teams getting bids to the NCAA Tournament from the SEC conference, the competitiveness will be at an all-time high.

Breakdown: It’s so hard to pick against Kentucky. The Wildcats have proven time and time again that they can figure it out and pull out wins. Kentucky is talented, long and athletic. The Wildcats rank in the top 45 in the country for points per game (74.6), rebounds per game (38.3), assists per game (14.8) and field goal percentage (46.8).

Kentucky is a team I do not want to try and take down. I’m not rooting for Kentucky, but a 40-0 season would be something else.

Pick: Kentucky

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