The ACC Has the Best Basketball Conference in the Nation: NOT the Big East

Every time I turn on the TV lately, I hear about "the best conference in college basketball." I believe it's on ESPN 2 during breaks or commentary for their Big East games. Regardless of what station you turn to, however, it seems that the entire nation thinks the Big East is the best basketball conference this year.

Boy, are they wrong.

In my opinion, you determine the merit of a conference, in any sport, by the depth of quality teams. Just like you would never say the Horizon League is the best in the nation because of No. 4-ranked Butler (RPI Rankings), you should not say that the Big East is the best conference because they have a few (and I stress few) more teams at the top.

Assuming you regard the RPI ranking system as the best (and I do, considering come tournament time that's what is used to determine who gets to the Big Dance), here's a look at the REAL best conference in the nation FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

As you probably can't see above (sorry, limitations of this site I suppose - or the more likely limitation of the author), the ACC has a whopping 83.33 percent of its conference in the top 80, while the Big East has only 68.75 percent.

Not good enough?

The ACC also has 75 percent of their teams ranked 71st or higher in the nation, while the Big East has only 56.25 percent. That's a big difference because that 18.75 percent means the Big East would need three more teams to eclipse the 71 ranking. You think St. John's is up to the task?

The Big Eas(y)t has a long way to go before they reach the prowess of the ACC.

Hopefully this article will circulate to the "experts" at ESPN, and they will stop using terms like "the best conference in the nation."

I doubt it, but one can dream.