After a one-year hiatus, the NCAA Tournament will finally return. The COVID-19 Outbreak halted last year’s tournament but this year, the NCAA has persevered and is ready to once again have the most exciting time of the year for basketball fans, March Madness. Although there will only be 25% of fans allowed in the tournament stands this season, the tournament still looks to be just as exciting as it was in prior years Before the NCAA Tournament starts though, the top six conferences in the country will host their conference tournaments. From New York to Las Vegas, here is who is going to win the conference championship, from the best conferences in College Basketball.
ACC
Greensboro NC (March 9-13)
This year has definitely been a down year for the conference. In 2019, seven teams made the tournament with three of them being one seeds. This year, there are only three teams comfortably in the tournament with a few more on the bubble. Virginia was able to secure their third regular season title in four years, just barely edging out last year’s winner Florida State. Virginia will be upset in the semifinals by Clemson where they will meet Florida State in the Final with the Noles coming away with the victory.
Winner: Florida State Seminoles
Big 10
Indianapolis, ID (March 10-14)
Unlike the ACC, the Big 10 is having a very strong year. Three teams such as Regular Season Champion Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State are all in contention for a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament while Iowa has National Player of the Year favorite Luka Garza on their side. Michigan will not be able to defend their Regular Season crown, as Ohio State will defeat them in the fourth round where they will advance to the title game to defeat Illinois and Ayo Dosunmu to win the Conference Tournament Champion.
Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes
Big 12
Kansas City, MO (March 10-13)
Like the Big 10, the Big 12 is also having a very strong year. Seven teams are projected to make the tournament, with Baylor winning the regular season, only suffering one loss the entire year. The Bears led by Jared Butler, have gotten back to the way they were playing prior to their Covid pause and will defend their Regular Season title in the Big 12 Tournament and may just be the best team in the nation.
Winner: Baylor Bears
Big East
New York, NY (March 10-13)
The Big East has been essentially a two-team race. Creighton and Villanova are the only teams that look to have a deep NCAA Tournament run. Villanova took the Regular Season title but lost their star Collin Gillespie for the season. The Wildcats will not be able to defend their Regular Season title as they will lose in the Big East Final to an improving Connecticut team, who have won six of their last seven, led by junior R.J. Cole.
Winner: Connecticut Huskies
Pac-12
Las Vegas, NV (March 10-13)
The Pac-12 was a battle this year. The main challengers for the Regular Season title were UCLA and USC, before Oregon led by Chris Duarte swooped in, and won their second Regular Season title in a row, tying with USC. The Ducks will not be able to defend their Regular Season title, losing to UCLA in the semifinals. From there, it will be a battle of the LA teams, UCLA vs USC where the Trojans led by Evan Mobley will win their first Conference Tournament title since 2009.
Winner: USC Trojans
SEC
Nashville, TN (March 10-14)
The SEC has been confusing to say the least. Kentucky, arguably the most successful college basketball program finished near the bottom of the SEC, while Alabama who has the most successful college football program but the opposite in basketball, finished first in the conference. The SEC Tournament will be very competitive, as Arkansas, Florida, LSU and Tennessee will all seriously challenge the Crimson Tide. Alabama will defend their regular season crown, and will win their first SEC Tournament since 1991.
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide