King of the Konference (Part 1)

Chef's Log: 12/29/08

With only a few days left in 2008, conference play kicks off like a quick firing propane grill. It is now when college hoops actually begins. We've gotten but a mere taste of the dishes to come up until now. There will be no more excuses, no more weak non-conference schedule talk, and no more escape hatches. You're now in it to win it, sink or swim. We'll find out which conferences are good, and which teams are better. And soon after that, we'll find out which are best. Now to the cutting board, let's briefly breakdown the top conferences.

ACC: While I believe the Big East is the most prolific conference this season, we'll start with the conference with the consensus top team in the country. The ACC holds potential tourny teams UNC, Duke, Wake, Clemson, Miami, Maryland, VaTech, FSU, and BC. Out of these 9 hopefuls, I believe that at most 7 will dance this march, but more likely 6. More indepth breakdowns will be held for a later post, but here are my seed predictions. UNC #1, Duke #1/#2, Wake #5/#6 (which I know people expect better, I think they're gonna fall back), Miami #5-#7, Clemson #7/#8, Maryland #10/#11, VaTech & FSU & BC on the bubble. Will two squads get one seeds? They'd both have to rarely lose in conference play and only beat each other. But I actually think that's possible. Will more than 7 ACC teams dance? I highly doubt it with the caliber of the Big East and the increasing presence of the Big Ten. How will the ACC do come tourny time? Truthfully, I think only UNC will make a legitimate run and serve as a safe lock as a Final Four contender. Duke has been an iffy dancer as of late, but I think they're team is better than the past. Either Elite 8 or bust for Coach K's Blue Devils. Other squads, Wake, Clemson, Miami... sorry not this year. 1 or 2 and done for you boys.

Big East: This will have to be the abridged version due to the overwhelming depth and presence of this year's teams. I'll go out and say that this is the most dominating the Big East has ever been. They're like a viscous stew; filled with intricate ingredients and spiced to perfection with harmonious and contradicting flavors. Let me start out and say that it is not unfeasible that the Big East could see 3 teams in the Final Four. Will it happen? Probably not, but it is definitely not unlikely. 2009 potential tourny teams include UCONN, Pitt, Lville, ND, Cuse, Marquette, Nova, Gtown, WV, Cincy, and dare I include Prov & SH. Out of these teams, I predict the first 9 will go dancing. If there's a 10th, I predict Cincy while many are still sticking with Prov. As powerful as the conference is, I don't think 10 teams will dance unless something drastic occurs in the Big East Tourny. However, the 9 teams that will dance will do more than dance, they'll sizzle! Predicted seeds: UCONN #1/#2, (The Huskies are still putting the pieces together so they could take a few knocks and fall to a #2 seed. But the talent is definitely there.) Pitt #1/#2, Lville #2/#3, (I really believe Pitino will bring his boys to fruition.) ND #3, Cuse #4-#6, Gtown #4, Marqu #5, Nova #7, WV #8, all others on the bubble, if that. Which teams could make the Final Four? Any 3 of the following teams could meet UNC in Detroit: UCONN, Pitt, Lville, ND, Cuse, Marq. I think the first four are a bit more likely, but all 6 of these teams have shooters and big men. Marquette is probably the most underrated of these teams. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a D-Wade-like run this March with the unsung heroes they have. UCONN has to make sure they play to their potential, not simply skate by whomever they're playing against. Pitt has it all, but they have a bad tourny reputation. Lville & ND are sleeping volcanoes ready to erupt with big men and shooting presence. Look for the Big East to sprinkle across your bracket sheets this march like Parmesan cheese over a good dish of pasta.

Coming soon, King of the Konference Part 2 (featuring breakdowns of the Big 12, Big 10, Pac 10, and SEC)

~Naked Chef