(Chicago, IL) – Two of the top three basketball conferences in America (according to the RPI) will square off in tonight’s first game at United Center. Iowa State is part of the Big 12 Conference, the top ranked league, and Virginia, is a member of the third ranked ACC.
The ACC made a huge splash bringing six teams into the Sweet Sixteen, and in the only game pitting these two great leagues against one another is this one in the Windy City.
According to Realtimerpi.com, the Big 12 is the top league, followed by the Pacific 12 and then the ACC. Rounding out the top ten are the Big East, followed by the Big 10, then the Southeastern Conference, A-10, American Athletic, Colonial Athletic and the Mid-American.
Neither of the ACC teams that played yesterday advanced to the Elite Eight, but the Big East (Villanova), Pac 12 (Oregon) and two Big 12 teams (Kansas & Oklahoma) survived to play on Saturday.
In the match up between Iowa State and Virginia you have a contrast of styles, but both teams are highly efficient offensively and boast of a unique all-American in the line-up.
Iowa State Head Coach Steve Prohm says playing in the Big 12 prepares you for anything you can see on the basketball court.
Other matchups tonight find the Big 10 battling the ACC twice as Indiana takes on North Carolina, and Wisconsin faces Notre Dame. Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference faces the ACC’s Syracuse.
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said his team isn’t thinking about conference rivalries, but rather how to slow down the fast paced Cyclones.
Bragging rights and a trip to the Elite Eight abound.
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
