Storylines to follow in the six major conferences
Who will emerge in the ACC? Ohio State on top in the Big Ten? and more on how conference play will shape March this year
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As we enter the New Year, conference play has gotten underway across the country. The way things shape up in each of the major leagues will have big implications on March, and determining who the true title contenders are in a season that has so far been full of upsets. Here’s a look at the biggest storyline in each of the six major conferences:
ACC: Which teams will separate themselves as the top tier?
The first week of ACC play brought plenty of thrills with Clemson upsetting Virginia Tech, Duke upsetting NC State and Florida State upsetting North Carolina all on the opening day of conference play. Notre Dame also scraped by Miami, and Virginia Tech edged out a win over North Carolina to round out the weekend. After the first week of results, the ACC currently has three teams in the AP top-10, and five in the top-25 (with Florida State sitting righto outside the poll).
The number of top teams should make for plenty of excitement in conference play, but it’s likely a team or two will separate themselves from the pack. Finding sustained success in a league as deep as the ACC this season, should bode well for a team come March. The team that finishes on top is likely to be considered a title contender come tournament time.
Big East: Can anyone challenge UConn?
Despite being without Azzi Fudd (right knee) and Aubrey Griffin (COVID), UConn dominated in what should have been one of their toughest conference games of the season at Creighton. Still, the Big East has had four teams (Creighton, Villanova, Marquette and St. John’s) in and out of the AP Poll alongside UConn this season.
While the battle between those teams, as well as Seton Hall and DePaul, should be fascinating - the question that will have the biggest implication beyond the opening rounds in March is if any of these teams can hang around with UConn. Creighton is the clear frontrunner for second place, after playing a very tough non-conference schedule. If the Bluejays, or someone else, can separate themselves in conference play, we could possibly see two Big East in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament again.
Big Ten: Ohio State on top
Unlike in the ACC, it feels like we’ve already started to see some of the separation in the Big Ten. Ohio State is undefeated on the season, third in the AP poll, and currently in sole possession of first place in the conference standings at 4-0. Second place is a five way tie between teams at 3-1 in conference play so far.
Notably, losses for both Indiana (vs. Michigan State) and Iowa (vs. Illinois) have come against programs that aren’t a part of this year’s top tier of the Big Ten, making the one game separation for Ohio State look a little wider. Additionally, the Buckeyes pulled off a win over Michigan despite being without Jacy Sheldon and Madison Greene. Greene is unfortunately out for the season, but Sheldon is week-to-week.
What could throw a wrench in Ohio State coming out on top? Indiana has been without their fifth-year senior Grace Berger since the Thanksgiving holiday. Should they get Berger back soon, the Hoosiers could challenge for a conference title.
Big 12: Don’t count Texas out yet
With sophomore star Rori Harmon missing time due to a foot injury at the start of the season, Texas faltered against a tough schedule to start out their 2022-23 campaign. The Longhorns quickly tumbled from their preseason No. 3 ranking to out of the AP poll all together.
Since Harmon’s return, Texas is 8-1, with their lone loss coming to a good South Florida team in the sophomore’s second game back. Since the Longhorns have won seven straight, including an impressive 46-point win over Kansas State to start conference play. Iowa State may rightfully be the favorite to win the Big 12 right now, but Texas may have figured enough out with Harmon back to be in the mix.
Pac-12: The race for second place
Stanford is the overwhelming favorite to win the Pac-12. The race for second place, however, is much more interesting. Utah, UCLA, Arizona and Oregon are all ranked among the top-20 in the latest AP poll and should provide plenty of exciting matchups out west.
UCLA might be the favorites to take home the second place spot. The Bruins played South Carolina closely in their non-conference slate, and their only other loss so far came without senior star Charisma Osborne (shoulder injury). It will also be interesting to see how Utah, one of just five remaining undefeated teams, fairs against tougher competition than they’ve seen thus far this season.
SEC: How good is LSU?
There’s currently just two SEC teams in the top-25, with reigning national champions South Carolina as the runaway favorites to take home the league title. With no one else challenging at the top of the league, one of the biggest questions in the conference becomes just how good is undefeated LSU?
The Tigers are currently seventh in the AP poll, at 14-0, but the Tigers’ strength of schedule leaves plenty to be desired (to say the least). LSU’s opponents’ average margin per 100 possessions this season is -5.8, which ranks 302nd out of 361 Division I teams per Her Hoop Stats. The Tigers did prove something with their 25-point win over a good Arkansas team - but the February 12th matchup with South Carolina should be fascinating.