With the NFL season finished, sports fans are looking for another to hold their attention. College basketball season is well on its way, and, in typical fashion, there have already been many upsets and fluctuation atop the AP Top 25. With more than six teams already having been ranked number one, there’s no telling what may develop with the NCAA tournament. This year, records have been broken: the top five teams have had more losses combined than ever before and a team who had never been the nation’s top-ranked team has accomplished just that. The Villanova Wildcats are currently ranked number one in almost every poll after losses by previously top-ranked Oklahoma and number two North Carolina this past week. As the next month begins to unfold and conference play begins to conclude, many teams will begin their quests to become the top dog in college basketball. It is near impossible to tell which team will win it this year, but we looked at each major conference closely and took a team who can make a push for glory.

Big East:

There’s no doubt that the Big East has not been the powerhouse it used to be.  However, this year it has proven that it deserves to be considered a power conference in college basketball. The team with the best odds to cut down the nets in Houston this spring would be the number one team in the country, Villanova. Although the Wildcats have not had the best experience in the tournament (as Villanova has not made it to the Sweet Sixteen since 2009), the team looks to show the country its true strength this year. Nova has a well-balanced offensive attack, unlike old Villanova teams that  shot threes at high volumes. Rather, they boast front-court experience in Daniel Ochefu and Darryl Reynolds, both of whom have had their share of big games. Not only are they versatile offensively, but they also are in the top ten defensively only allowing 61.0 points per game.  With a well balanced team, could this be the year for them?

Pac-12:

The team that has really stood out in the Pac-12 is Oregon. In the past, it has typically been Arizona or UCLA earning all of the glory in the Pac-12. Now, it is the Ducks. Currently ranked ranked eleventh, the Ducks have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with. Winning nine of its last ten games, Oregon tops the Pac-12 standings and, if all goes well in the next month, Oregon should receive a good seed in the tournament; factor in the scoring of Dillon Brooks (16.9 ppg) and Elgin Cook (13.6 ppg) and the Ducks can make a deep run during March Madness.

Big Ten:

Many coaches have made their mark with their ability to produce in big games and in the Big Dance. Tom Izzo is one of those coaches, and has his Michigan State Spartans ranked eighth in the country. Regardless of what seed Michigan State is come March, they always seem to be a dangerous force in the tournament, coming off of a Final Four run last year as a four-seed. Izzo is known for getting his team far into the tournament and the Spartans look primed for another deep tournament run. With the leadership of Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes, will this be the year coach Izzo brings the Spartans all the way?

On the other side of the Big 10, Melo Trimble and the Maryland Terps look to make a deeper run this year as they are much more efficient on the offensive side of the ball. After being knocked out by the Mountaineers of West Virginia in the “Round of 32” last year, the Terps will look to go far into the Dance as a result of its core having past March experience augmented by freshmen sensation Diamond Stone.

Big 12:

The Wooden Award is given to the player of the year in college basketball. Buddy Hield of Oklahoma, to this point, has done all he can to bring home that hardware and more. Hield, the top scorer in power conferences has shown dominance on both sides of the floor averaging 25.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting above 50% from the three-point line. Most nights he is enough to beat teams on his own, but he is surrounded by an experienced core of Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard, and Ryan Spangler. Unless there is a team out there who can guard Buddy Hield, Oklahoma will be a tough out in March.

Another team that always stands out is Kansas, a team that has been competing with the Sooners for the Big 12 title throughout the season. After being knocked out in just the “Round of 32” last year by in-state rivals Wichita State, the Jayhawks look to carry momentum on offense this year to go far and maybe earn  a spot in the Final Four.

SEC:

The SEC, in recent years, has not been known for having many strong teams in basketball other than the perennially star-studded Kentucky Wildcats. This year is no exception. With only two teams ranked in the Top 25, the SEC has few teams who will make the tournament compared to the other power conferences. Out of those few, the one who has the best shot of winning it all is Texas A&M. This does not seem to be the year for the Wildcats, as Kentucky is a very young team without the size or skills of teams past. Texas A&M, however, does boast experience with seven of their fifteen players as seniors. They seem to have the experience needed to make a push in the Big Dance.

ACC:

The final team here is one that has been very successful in past regular seasons: the Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia has been a defensive stalwart this season, per usual, only allowing 60.1 points per game, ranking fifth in all of college basketball and second in major conferences, behind only Louisville, which is ineligible for post-season competition this year after issuing a self-imposed ban. If defense wins championships, then the Cavaliers should have a decent chance of making it to Houston.

On the other hand, offensive teams like Duke, Notre Dame, and North Carolina will not make it easy on the Cavaliers. While both Duke and Notre Dame did not get off to the starts they desired, they seem to be finding their consistency on offense, which will prove to be a dangerous factor when heading into March. Both teams rank among the top five in NCAA offensive efficiency this year which proved to be a key component in their respective deep runs last year. While Notre Dame lost to Kentucky in the “Elite 8” last year, Duke went on to win the National Championship and look to do more of the same on offense.