Texas forward Jericho Sims (20) and North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) tip off for the start of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Maui Invitational, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
If you were to ask Bill Walton which conference is the best in college basketball, he would say the Pac-12. If you ask Jay Bilas, he would respond with the ACC. Jon Rothstein would just say how happy he is to have college basketball back.
Everyone has different opinions, especially when it comes to which conference is superior in college basketball. No one is wrong, no one is right. However, in the span of three weeks, some conferences are settling in at the top of division one.
There is no right answer to which conferences are better than others, or which stands out the most in college basketball. However, there are some leagues that are noticeably superior to others. Here’s our attempt at rating the top 10 conferences in college basketball. If you disagree, we would love to hear your changes to the list.
But without further ado, the top 10 conferences in college basketball this 2020-21 season thus far:
10. Mountain West
Favorites to Win: San Diego State, Utah State, Wyoming
Dark Horse: Nevada
SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 07: Head coach Steve Fisher of the San Diego State Aztecs helps cut down the net in celebration of their co-champion title of the Mountain West Conference after the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Viejas Arena on March 7, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent C. Horner/Getty Images)
9. A-10
Favorites to Win: Richmond, Saint Louis, Davidson
Darkhorse: VCU
KINGSTON, RI – JANUARY 31: VCU Rams guard Nah’Shon Hyland (5) dribbles the ball up court during a college basketball game between VCU Rams and Rhode Island Rams on January 31, 2020, at the Ryan Center in Kingston, RI. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
8. WCC
Favorite to win: Gonzaga. That’s it. That’s the list.
Darkhorse: San Francisco and St. Mary’s
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: The Gonzaga Bulldogs huddle on the court before the men’s Jimmy V Classic college basketball game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and West Virginia Mountaineers on December 2, 2020, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
7. Pac-12
Favorites to win: Arizona State, Oregon, Washington State
Darkhorse: Stanford
TEMPE, AZ – FEBRUARY 22: Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley talks to a referee during the college basketball game between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arizona State Sun Devils on February 22, 2020 at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
6. American
Favorites to win: Houston, Wichita State, SMU
Darkhorse: Memphis
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 27: Houston Cougars guard Quentin Grimes (24) is congratulated during a timeout after lighting up the court with 17 first half points during the men’s basketball game between Boise State Broncos and Houston Cougars at the Fertitta Center on November 27, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
5. SEC
Favorites to win: Tennessee, Missouri, Florida
Darkhorses: Arkansas and Georgia (and Kentucky pending whether or not they get back on track)
ATHENS, GA – JANUARY 15: Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) and coach Rick Barnes watch from the bench area during a stoppage in play during the first half of of a the Georgia Bulldogs game versus the Tennessee Volunteers on January 15, 2020, at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, GA. (Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
4. ACC
Favorites to win: Virginia, Duke, North Carolina
Darkhorse: North Carolina State
RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 27: North Carolina Tar Heels forward Garrison Brooks (15) and North Carolina Tar Heels guard Leaky Black (1) celebrate a win during the 2nd half of the NC State Wolfpack game versus the North Carolina Tar Heels on January 27th, 2020 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
3. Big East
Favorites to win: Creighton, Villanova, Xavier
Darkhorses: Marquette and Seton Hall
NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 12: Creighton Bluejays forward Christian Bishop (13) reacts during the second half of the college basketball game between the Seton Hall Pirates and the Creighton Bluejays on February 12, 2020 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
2. Big Ten
Favorites to win: Wisconsin, Iowa, Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan State
Darkhorse: Purdue
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Cliff Omoruyi (5), Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ron Harper Jr. (24), Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Paul Mulcahy (4), Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Montez Mathis (10) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Dean Reiber (21) during the college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on November 27, 2020 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway,NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1.Big 12
Favorites to win: Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech
Darkhorse: Oklahoma
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Kansas Jayhawks guard Christian Braun (2) goes in against Kentucky Wildcats forward Isaiah Jackson (23) for a dunk during the men’s Champions Classic college basketball game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Kentucky Wildcats on December 1, 2020, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Again, if you disagree with our list, make sure to comment any changes you would make. Who do you think will win each conference? We want to hear. I wish everyone a happy holiday season and a very happy and safe 2021 with plenty of college basketball.
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No way! The Big Ten is #1 by far! They’ve got 9 teams in the AP Top 25.