March is just around the corner, and the competition is really starting to heat up in college basketball. Teams are fighting for high ranks and top seeds come Selection Sunday, so it is starting to be pretty obvious who will be in and out of the postseason.

Bleacherreport.com has compiled a list of eleven teams who are a tough pick for the tournament, teams that may or may not have even a shot to make it even though they were top picks at the beginning of the season. These teams have around 17 wins and 11 losses each on average, and they are mediocre in their individual conferences.

I see a lot of teams on their list that I personally think have a big shot in the tournament. They have a somewhat solid record and have consistent victories against non-conference teams and multiple plays that will most likely be ranked at the top of them all by the end of the tournament. Plus, they have a history of showing up in the Big Dance year after year, although that is not always a shoe-in for the future—does anyone remember North Carolina being in the tournament in 2010? No? That’s because they actually were not there for once.

Some teams listed, however, most likely do not have a chance on Selection Sunday. I do not think Cincinnati, for example, has a good chance at overcoming tenth-ranked Marquette and South Florida with a 9-5 record in the Big East already. I also do not see the Mississippi State Bulldogs headed to postseason play either, especially with a 6-7 SEC record and not finishing out their scare against Kentucky last week. And it is obviously a surprise to see Connecticut on this list – the defending champions of 2011! These teams may give quite the fright against top ranked ones, but in the end, it is all about winning the game, not just freaking the opposing team out for a few minutes.

We won’t be learning of these teams’ fate until Selection Sunday, but until then, it is all about their fight back into being top contenders for the tournament, so the games in the next few weeks will no doubt be incredibly exciting.

Photo courtesy of MidwestSportsFans.com

In our first two pieces, College FootBlog ranked the third through the sixth ranked BCS conferences from the 2009 season (see link). In this three-part breakdown, we analyze the results from each conference from the 2009 college football season, and we also give an outlook for the upcoming 2010 season.

Without further adieu, here are our top two BCS conferences from our Power Rankings.

2.  Big East

2009 Recap: There was a time when analysts argued if the Big East should even have the right to an automatic BCS bid for its champion.  That is no longer the case.  Most people left the Big East for dead when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College left for what was believed to be the greener pastures of the ACC.  While the ACC has fallen from respectability, the Big East has consistently raised the bar over the last three years.

Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard was one of the most explosive players in college football in '09 (google images)

The Big East went 4-2 in their bowl games, and this was despite Cincinnati’s loss to Florida in the Sugar Bowl (which, coincidentally, was a horrible match up by the selection committee).  We are all aware of what Tony Pike, Zach Collaros and Mardy Gilyard did for the Bearcat offense, but the Big East was much ‘Bigger’ this season, and it was the second-deepest conference in the nation.

Dave Wannstedt has Pitt back on the national scene and they gave Cincinnati all they could handle in a stunning 45-44 loss that was one of the best (if not the best) college football games all season.  Overall, the Panthers finished with ten wins on the year, West Virginia and Rutgers racked up nine wins and USF and UConn each pulled in eight victories on the year.

2010 Outlook: Coaching changes could have a significant effect on the Big East next season.  The Departure of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly for Notre Dame and the firing of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt will put a lot of pressure on new head coaches Butch Jones and Skip Holtz.

The good news is that each of those two programs will have a proven quarterback.  Cincy did not lose a beat when Tony Pike was lost temporarily due to injury because of the great play of Zach Collaros.  And USF will have leader Matt Grothe back next fall, but they now have a proven back up in BJ Daniels.

The issue for the Bulls is going to be replacing future NFL defensive ends George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul.  Pitt will have to replace quarterback Bill Stull, but running back Dion Lewis will take a lot of pressure off the new starter at QB.

Overall, it will be difficult to keep the #2 Power Ranking in 2010, but the coaching and talent will continue to gain well-deserved respect from college football.

1.  SEC

2009 Recap: As much as some fans would like to see a changing of the guard, the SEC simply will not allow that to happen.  All the SEC did this season is send ten of their twelve teams to bowl games, and they won six, which included the Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship.

When the dust settled, the SEC combined for a whopping 97-59 record in ’09, making it by far the deepest conference in the country.  Led by Alabama’s national championship team and the Florida Gators, whose only loss came at the hands of the Crimson Tide, the SEC once again imposed its will on the rest of college football.

Mark Ingram's punishing running-style led the Tide to the BCS Title (google images)

With the one-two punch of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and freshman Trent Richardson, Bama’s smashmouth running game and defense was in stark contrast to Florida’s spread attack and Arkansas’ pass-happy scheme, but each was effective all season.  Georgia was disappointing but still finished the year with eight wins, capped off with a 44-20 drubbing of Texas A&M.  LSU and Ole Miss finished with very respectable nine win seasons as well, and both are looking to have even better years next season.

2010 Outlook: Look for much of the same with the SEC dominating college football.  Flordia will have a bit of a rebuilding year after the loss of Tim Tebow and likely NFL first rounders, LB Brandon Spikes, TE Aaron Hernandez and CB Joe Haden.

The scary part is that the other top teams could be and should be even better this fall.  That includes ‘Bama, who returns the running back tandem of Ingram and Richardson, but they also return WR Julio Jones and QB Greg McElroy.

Head coach Gene Chizik will look to build on the momentum he created at Auburn, and with Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead, the SEC could possibly have a pair of first round quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Just to recap, College FootBlog’s 2009 BCS Conference Power Rankings are as follows:

1. SEC
2. Big East
3. Big Ten
4. Big 12
5. ACC
6. Pac 10

Please feel free to post your own power rankings and give your feedback.  Also, look for College FootBlog’s analysis of the recruiting season in a couple of weeks.

Image: Devin Ebanks shoots over a USF Defender
After a heart breaking loss to Notre Dame on Saturday, No. 9 West Virginia mended their pain against South Florida on Wednesday.
In what first looked like another dissapointing loss the Mountaineers were able to come back from an 11 point deficit early in the first half. WVU went on a 16-4 run over five minutes to eventually take a one point lead, it lead USF by two, 32-30 at the break.
Coming out of the locker room the game was a complete different story. West Virginia stepped up its defensive effort while kicking their offense into high gear.
Devin Ebanks had a comeback game after not hitting a single shot against Notre Dame. The junior from Long Island City, NY netted 17 points against USF while grabbing 11 rebounds.
In what the television announcers dubbed a battle of Jones supremacy neither failed to dissapoint. South Florida’s Dominque Jones and West Virginia’s Kevin Jones have been stars for their respective teams this year. USF’s Jones greatly surpassed his points per game average of 18.6 scoring a game high 28. WVU’s Jones was riding a 14 game streak of scoring in double figures. That rally ceased by Jones scoring just nine.
Joe Mazulla has had a roller coaster ride during his career with West Virginia, it seems now that he is settling into his new role as 6th man. The point guard was originally a starter last year but was injured early in the season. After surgeries and rehab the Johnstown, RI native was set back even more after a series of team suspensions.  Looking past the off the court obstacles has allowed Mazulla to focus on why he is at WVU in the first place, to be a quality Division 1 basketball player.
Mazulla came off the bench to provide 23 quality minutes. He scored just four points but also grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists. He looked comfortable on the court while playing impeccable defense.
This upcoming Saturday will be a landmark day for West Virginia basketball. For the first time since 1960 two top ten teams will square off in Morgantown. No. 6 Syracuse comes to town looking for a big win in front of a hostile crowd. The game will tip off at noon and will be televised on ESPN.
photo credit: AP