Can The ACC Match the 2011 Big East?
The Big East was constantly regarded as one of if not the best conferences year in and year out regarding college basketball. However, since the conference was torn to shreds and the ACC grabbed Pitt, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Syracuse the Atlantic Coast Conference has been the undisputed king of college basketball. This year they are undoubtedly the best conference so far, holding 5, AP Top 25 teams including 2 in the Top 5 (as of now), and 5 more receiving votes. For comparison the Big East had 4 Top 25 teams, and 3 receiving votes. The question I have this year is not are they the best conference this year, but can they become the best conference of all time.
Big East Bids
Pittsburgh (1), Notre Dame (2), UConn (3), Syracuse (3), Louisville (4), West Virginia (5), Cincinnati (6), Georgetown (6), St John's (6), Villanova (9), Marquette (11). That's 11 of the league's 16 teams in the national tournament, including the future national champion.
Potential ACC Bids
Locks: Duke, North Carolina, Virginia
Safely In: Syracuse, NC State, Louisville
Bubble (IN): Florida St., Pitt, Virginia Tech, Miami
Bubble (OUT): Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Notre Dame
Just Try To Win A Conference Game: Boston College
In conclusion I don't think the ACC will get the historic total of 11 teams as the Big East did nor do I think they will produce the champion (I'm a firm Kansas believer), but its very possible one of my locks or Louisville is cutting down the nets in March, but either way I believe the Big East will always have the best season in college basketball history.
