[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U3lLnpIVwI&w=560&h=315]
Now that Syracuse has lost two straight games in the ACC, the Orange are no longer atop the conference standing and are in jeopardy of not winning the league.
Syracuse of the ACC and Creighton of the Big East are both trying to become the second team after Arkansas in 1992 to win a major league in their first year as a member.
But as college basketball heads toward March Madness, the ACC isn’t the only league up for grabs.
While Kansas (12-2 in the Big 12) appears to have their conference wrapped up and Florida (14-0) is headed to the SEC title, the American, Big East and Big Ten are all closely contested
The Player of the Year race in several of those leagues could also come down to the wire.
Here’s a brief look at the leagues in question:
ACC
Top 4 in Standings:
1. Virginia (14-1)
2. Syracuse (12-2)
3. Duke (11-4)
4. North Carolina (10-4)
Analysis: After starting the season 25-0, Syracuse has now dropped two in a row to Boston College and Duke. This week they play at Maryland on Monday and then at Virginia on Saturday. Virginia, meantime, plays two of their final three at home. The regular-season league champion could well come down to that game on Saturday.
Bracketology: Joe Lunardi currently has five ACC teams in the NCAA Tournament, with Syracuse as a No. 1 seed, Duke as a 2 and Virginia as a 3. North Carolina and Pitt are both 7 seeds.
Player of the Year Candidates: Tyler Ennis, Syracuse; C.J. Fair, Syracuse; Jabari Parker, Duke, Lamar Patterson, Pitt.
AAC
Top 4 in Standings:
1. Cincinnati (13-2)
2. Louisville (12-2)
3. SMU (11-4)
4. Memphis (10-4)
Analysis: On Saturday, defending NCAA champion Louisville pulled even in the conference loss column with Cincinnati as a short jumper by Russ Smith with 2.2 seconds left gave the Cardinals a 58-57 decision at Fifth Third Arena. Larry Brown and SMU are hanging around after completing a season sweep of UConn on Sunday.
Bracketology: Lunardi currently has five AAC teams in the NCAA Tournament — Cincinnati, Louisville, SMU, Memphis and UConn — with Cincinnati the highest at No. 4.
Player of the Year Candidates: Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati; Shabazz Napier, UConn; Russ Smith, Louisville
BIG TEN
Top 4 in Standings:
1. Michigan (11-3)
2. Michigan State (11-4)
3. Wisconsin (9-5)
4. Iowa 8-5
Analysis: Michigan completed a season sweep of Michigan State with a 79-70 win in Ann Arbor on Sunday in which Nik Stauskas went for 25 points. Despite losing Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mitch McGary, John Beilein’s club is now in position to win the league title.
Bracketology: Lunardi has six Big Ten teams in — the above four plus Ohio State and Minnesota — with both Michigan and Michigan State as No. 3 seeds.
Player of the Year Candidates: Keith Appling, Michigan State; Devyn Marble, Iowa; Nik Stauskas, Michigan.
BIG EAST
Top 4 in Standings:
1. Creighton (13-2)
2. Villanova (12-2)
3. Xavier (8-6)
4. Marquette (8-6)
Analysis: Creighton beat Seton Hall on Sunday to move a half game ahead of Villanova in the standings. The Bluejays dominated Villanova in their two head-to-head meetings and appear poised to win the Big East regular-season title in their first year in the league, thereby becoming just the second team since Arkansas in ’92 to do so.
Bracketology: Lunardi has six Big East teams in with Creighton as a No. 2 seed and Villanova as a 3. St. John’s is among the Last Four in, but needs to keep winning. Providence and Georgetown are both in Play-In games.
Player of the Year Candidates: Doug McDermott, Creighton.
