College hoops conference favorites for 2015-16

The ACC has never been more competitive than it is this season, with Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia and Duke all with realistic chances of claiming the conference. Duke actually hasn't claimed an ACC regular-season championship since 2010, but Coach K does have two Elite Eight appearances and last year's National Championship in the meantime. Sophomore Grayson Allen is key to Duke's success this year.

The Seawolves have made postseason play in six consecutive seasons, but they've yet to make the NCAA Tournament. They're looking to make history this season, with their biggest in-conference competitor being Albany.

Coach Larry Brown's squad continues to improve year after year, starting this season 7-0. Barred from postseason play, the Mustangs are playing for the AAC regular-season title with Cincinnati and UConn challenging them.

The Ospreys are competing with New Jersey Institute of Technology and Florida Gulf Coast for the Atlantic Sun and are off to a nice start at 7-4. They've faced a difficult preconference schedule in preparation, facing Louisville, LSU and Dayton.

Dayton has advanced in the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons, making head coach Archie Miller one of the hottest coaching candidates going. This year's team is arguably his best, with key wins vs. William & Mary, Iowa and Vanderbilt already. George Washington and VCU do present formidable challenges in the conference.

One of the most disappointing teams of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Jay Wright's team is looking to rebound from a third-round ouster. Villanova last made it past the third round of the tournament when its got to the Final Four in 2008-09, but the Wildcats are off to a great start at 7-1 this season. Their big challengers for the conference are Xavier and Butler.

Great starts have been hard to come by this season for teams in the Big Sky, with Weber State as strong as any team at 5-4. The Wildcats are looking to make it back to the NCAA Tournament after losing to Arizona in 2014.

A stomping ground for 15 and 16 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, the Big South has plenty of competition for the conference title this season. High Point has made postseason play in three consecutive seasons and is off to a 2-0 start in-conference.

Coach Tom Izzo's squad made it to the Final Four last year after only a 27-12 season, and this year's squad is off to an incredible start. Led by senior guard Denzel Valentine, the team already has key victories vs. Kansas, Boise State, Louisville and Florida. Purdue still presents a big challenge with an equally impressive start.

The Jayhawks have won 11 consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships, carrying one of the most impressive streaks in college basketball under coach Bill Self's guidance. Oklahoma looks like a formidable challenger to the crown this season, but the veteran Jayhawks have plenty of depth. 

Long Beach State has been the most regular Big West challenger in recent seasons, but UC Irvine won the conference tournament last year. The Anteaters are off to a strong 7-3 start prior to conference play.

William & Mary made it to postseason play last year in the NIT and are looking to take the next step this year. They started the season 5-3 out of conference and will be competing with CAA foes Hofstra, Northeastern and James Madison for the conference crown.

Despite a 27-7 regular season, Old Dominion failed to make the NCAA Tournament last season and settled for the NIT Semifinals. This year's squad will go toe to toe with Louisiana Tech, hoping to make it back to the tournament for the first time since 2010-11.

Head coach Bryce Drew's teams have dominated the Horizon League recently, making the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons. The Crusaders are off a terrific start this season at 9-2. They've already had impressive wins vs. Iona, Rhode Island, Oregon State and Belmont, and could be Cinderellas if they make it into NCAA Tournament play again.

Harvard has claimed the last five regular-season titles, but there's finally a sign of turnover in the Ivy League. The Crimson started the year just 3-6, and Princeton and Yale look like conference front-runners. The Tigers were co-conference champs in 2011, their last NCAA Tournament appearance.

The two-time defending MAAC regular-season champs have started conference play 2-0, but they have a strong competitor this year in Monmouth. The Gaels last made the NCAA Tournament in 2013.

MAC teams have a history as Cinderellas in the NCAA Tournament, and the Zips are looking to make it back for the first time since 2012-13. They started the regular season 7-2, with an impressive early-season win at Arkansas.

Hampton and Norfolk State have put the MEAC on the map over the years with their NCAA Tournament wins as 15 seeds. Hampton last won a regular-season championship in 2002 but won the MEAC Conference Tournament last year before losing to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.

Coach Gregg Marshall's Shockers are overwhelming favorites again in the Missouri Valley but are off to a rocky start. They've claimed regular-season titles in three of the last four seasons and have gotten back on trackwith wins vs. UNLV and Utah.

UNLV last won a regular-season championship in 2000, and the Rebels have their work cut out for them again this season in the always difficult Mountain West. They're off to an 8-2 start prior to conference play but face huge challenges from New Mexico and Boise State. Key wins vs. Indiana and Oregon bring momentum into conference play.

The Northeast Conference doesn't have much to show in the NCAA Tournament, but it's still been a competitive conference. LIU Brooklyn started the season 5-3 and faces major challenges this year from Wagner and Mount St. Mary's.

Head coach Rick Byrd is an institution at Belmont, going on his 30th season leading the team. The Bruins were on a streak of five straight regular-season titles that ended last season but still made the NCAA Tournament and are heavy favorites in the Ohio Valley this season.

The one major criticism for Arizona head coach Sean Miller is that he's never made a Final Four, but the Wildcats have made four Elite Eights under his watch. They're also two-time defending regular-season conference champions and favored this season with a team led by senior big man Ryan Anderson.

It's been nearly 40 years since Army made postseason play, but this year's team has the potential to change that trend. The Black Nights have started the season 8-2 and were very competitive in their losses vs. George Washington and Tennessee.

Coach John Calipari brought in another one of his spectacular recruiting classes, and the Wildcats are off to a blazing 9-1 start. Vanderbilt and Florida look like solid contenders for the SEC. Ultimately, Kentucky's season will be determined by how quickly its freshmen gel, led by top NBA prospect Skal Labissiere.

Chattanooga is in the midst of a short conference drought, last winning a conference championship in 2011. The Mocs are off to a strong regular-season start under first-year head coach Matt McCall at 7-2.

Stephen F. Austin has won three regular-season titles in a row and made the NCAA tournament in consecutive seasons. The Lumberjacks started this season off 6-3 under head coach Brad Underwood and sit as heavy front-runners in the Southland.

The Jackrabbits have claimed regular-season championships in two of the last three seasons and made postseason play in four straight years. They started the season off well at 8-1, with impressive wins vs. Weber State, Illinois State, TCU and Minnesota. They're certainly a team to watch in March if they can make it out of the Summit.

Texas-Arlington is off to a great start at 8-2 and looking to win a regular-season title for third time since 2004. This year's team has been great early on, with wins vs. Ohio State, Memphis and Bradley, as well as an overtime loss to Texas.

The winner of the SWAC is usually destined for a 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, if not a play-in game. Jackson State last made the tournament in 2007 and is most likely competing with Southern.

The Aggies are looking to defend their regular-season title and also make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. Dominant sophomore Pascal Siakam leads the team early in the year, averaging a double-double.

Gonzaga has won 18 regular-season championships since 1994 and has incredibly made 17 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Despite three losses before WCC play, the Zags are clear conference favorites.