The College Basketball season is underway, and let's break down the power conferences and who has the best chances to cut down the nets in March Madness.
SEC
The SEC had the most schools make the tournament in CBB history last March, with 14; they had two 1 seeds and two 2 seeds. Auburn and Florida both made the final four, but they are not as good as they were last season, with Florida losing a lot of their production, including the clutchest man in March history, Mark Clayton. Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl would retire a month before the season started sending them into a spiral. In the preseason poll they had 6 ranked teams.
Alabama comes back after losing Mark Spears to the NBA with Labaron Philon expected to pick up the production from Spears, Auburn transfer Aidan Holloway dropped 20 plus in his debut for the Tide.
Despite losing Clayton, Florida brings back Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh from the title team last year. Head Coach Todd Golden will have to figure out a way to win down the stretch like they did last March.
Kentucky has preseason SEC POTY in Utega Oweh, the Wildcats are reloading with experience and are expected to finally make a deep March run after the last few years have been disappointing to say the least.
Tennessee brings in the number six player in the class Nate Ament who dropped 25 in his debut, the 6'10 forward will join an experienced group of guys and a well-coached team as they try to contend.
John Calapari and Arkansas are favorites to win the SEC and rightfully so. They return the most production in the country and have almost zero weaknesses in the interior, if they can shoot the ball, watch out for the Razorbacks.
Missouri had a big turnaround but they retunr their two best players in Mark Mitchell and Anthony Robinson, if they can click they are a sneaky team.
Almost no one had a bigger than Aubrun, Tahadd Pettiford was the only player on the team to return from last season and losing your coach will sting, the Tigers have the talent to be a good team, but the question is will they click.
My Pick to win the SEC: Arkansas
Big Ten
The Big Ten has not won a national title since Michigan State in 2000, the conference has had seven teams make the championship game, but is yet to get over the hump, this year, things might be different, having top heavy teams like Michigan and Purdue, along with having depth with teams like Illinois, UCLA, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, this might be the year the Big Tengets it done.
Michigan brought in the number one player in the transfer portal in Yaxel Lendenborg and the nation's leading assists leader in Elliot Cadeo. Dusty May and company are expected to make a ton of noise this season after having the best transfer class and winning the Big Ten last year.
Purdue was the number one ranked team in the preseason polls and rightfully so, after making the elite 8 last year and bringing back last years national player of the year in Brayden Smith along with their two other best players, it seems the Boilermakers are poised to finally win a title.
Michigan State and Tom Izzo are always expected to make a deep tournament run. They return Jeremiah Fears and Coen Carr, as always under Izzo they will have a great defense, if the offense can play consistent, watch out.
My Big Ten Pick: Michigan
Big East
The Big East is one of the premier conferences in the sport. UConn wining back-to-back titles brought them back from the dead seemingly.
UConn and St. Johns were the only threatening teams in the Big East last year and it will most likely be that way again. Pitino and St Johns lost a lot of production from last season but they will still be in the mix of things. UConn and Dan Hurley bring in Solo Ball and are the number 3 team in the country, will UConn go back to the promise land?
Teams like Creighton, Georgetown, Marquette, and Providence can make a lot of noise.
My Big East Pick: UConn
Big 12
The big 12 was moments away from winning what would be the third different team in the last five years to win a championship.
Let's start with the runners up, Houston and Kelvin Sampson were heartbroken last season. They return Emmanual Sharpe and Milos Uzan, who will be in player of the year conversations. Houston is always a team with a gritty defense, but will that keep up with other teams.
Texas Tech is led by Jt Toppin the reigning Big 12 player of the year, they have an extremely deep roster with great shooters, and they always have a great defense. The Red Raiders are going to be very dangerous come tourney time.
BYU has the number on player in the class of 2025 coming in AJ Dybansta. They also have Richie Saunders the leading scorer from last season returning and the addition of Rob Wright coming from Kentucky will elevate this offense a huge amount. If Dybansta can quickly adjust to the college level, watch out for this team.
Arizona already has a season defining win as they beat the defending champs Florida, on opening night. Koa Peat and Brayden Burries are two top freshman joining returning star Jalen Bradley. If the young talent gels with the experience the Wildcats will be poised to make noise.
As long as Kansas is coached by Bill Self they will always be a contender in this conference. Five Star Daryn Peterson is expected to take a huge role in thus Kansas team.
Iowa State and Baylor are experiencing big turnarounds, but they are always formidable opponent for anyone.
My Big 12 Pick: Texas Tech
ACC
Duke, Louisville. Two contenders and everyone else is really the story of the ACC this season.
Duke brings in Cam Boozer a projected top five draft pick Duke always has the talent and coaching to win, but they have not won a title since 2015, After losing the entire starting lineup last year, how quickly will this young team connect.
Louisville is headlined by Mikel Brown and Ryan Cromwell, with returning piece and their added pieces, will their young coaching staff be able to put this team together to contend for a title.
North Carolina is a blue blood and they will always be good. After barley making the tournament last season they raise questions about who their go to option is in a crowded offense. They have the talent as always, but they will need to establish an identity if they want to contend in the ACC.
Wake Forrest returns their three top scorers and has a great coaching staff, they are a sleeper to come in and win the conference.
My ACC Pick: Louisville
Who do I think will make the final four?
Its always hard to pick the final four teams at the beginning of the season especially with no bracket but if these teams were on opposite bracket sides I would take them.
Purdue
Michigan
Texas Tech
UConn