Let’s go back to 5 with 2016.
My ranking below and Candidates:
1 ACC
2 Big 12
3 Big 10
4 Big East
5 SEC / PaC / American / other Wcc
ACC: 2017 and 2019 banners with UNC and UVA is tough to beat. My default choice is the ACC hwre. Very Rough 2021 (2020 sadly didn’t happen ) but 2016-2019 hands down best best league in the tournament in the final four every year. Really been Deepest league every year except 2021.
Big 12: 4 of 5 last tournaments was in the final four back to OU 2016. All different teams. Tech played for it all 2019. KU would have won it 2020 (undisputed #1 team) and was the Baylor of 2021. Baylor hangs it 2021. #1 Conference RPI every year except 2021 with the Big 10.
Big East: if it wasn’t for Villanova, wouldn’t be in the list. 2021 the league was great with adding a rising uconn and the rise of georgetown again. But they really hinge on Nova winning 2 of the last 5 national titles. 2016 and 2018. Creighton has become an top 15-20 consistent program but hasn’t done much in the tourney. Really no one has out of the Big East lately except Nova.
Big 10: last but not least. It’s really been Michigan and Sparty carrying the torch in the tournament. Big 10 smoked the ACC in the challenge this year. Michigan was in the natty in 2018. Sparty in final four 2019. Excellent league and #1 RPI in 2021 and was the “regular season champ” but flaked terribly in tourney. Deep league with Buckeyes, illinois, Maryland, Iowa and Wisconsin all up there.
My ranking below and Candidates:
1 ACC
2 Big 12
3 Big 10
4 Big East
5 SEC / PaC / American / other Wcc
ACC: 2017 and 2019 banners with UNC and UVA is tough to beat. My default choice is the ACC hwre. Very Rough 2021 (2020 sadly didn’t happen ) but 2016-2019 hands down best best league in the tournament in the final four every year. Really been Deepest league every year except 2021.
Big 12: 4 of 5 last tournaments was in the final four back to OU 2016. All different teams. Tech played for it all 2019. KU would have won it 2020 (undisputed #1 team) and was the Baylor of 2021. Baylor hangs it 2021. #1 Conference RPI every year except 2021 with the Big 10.
Big East: if it wasn’t for Villanova, wouldn’t be in the list. 2021 the league was great with adding a rising uconn and the rise of georgetown again. But they really hinge on Nova winning 2 of the last 5 national titles. 2016 and 2018. Creighton has become an top 15-20 consistent program but hasn’t done much in the tourney. Really no one has out of the Big East lately except Nova.
Big 10: last but not least. It’s really been Michigan and Sparty carrying the torch in the tournament. Big 10 smoked the ACC in the challenge this year. Michigan was in the natty in 2018. Sparty in final four 2019. Excellent league and #1 RPI in 2021 and was the “regular season champ” but flaked terribly in tourney. Deep league with Buckeyes, illinois, Maryland, Iowa and Wisconsin all up there.