Rival Views: Which conference tourney is most compelling?

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The end of the season is near and conference tournaments are tipping off around the country. Which of them is the most compelling? Who has the most on the line? As usual, National Basketball Analysts Eric Bossi and Corey Evans offer Rival Views.

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As I look at the various conference tournaments, the Big Ten is the one that has gotten the most interest from me. The decision to move it to Madison Square Garden in New York is really interesting to me and, after opening up Wednesday night, I'm curious to see how the rest of the weekend goes.

I wouldn't say that it's like watching a trainwreck - although by the end of the weekend it could be depending on how well it is received in the Big Apple - but part of my interest is a little similar to somebody rubbernecking to get a good look at a wreck. I'm fascinated by the decision to move to New York and whether it will really do anything good for the Big Ten. Also, I want to see if Michigan State can finally be deemed worthy of a No. 1 seed, just how good Purdue really is and how much Nebraska has to do to get into the NCAA Tournament.

That Michigan State isn't considered a lock No. 1 seed is one of the strangest things I've seen. In my eyes the Spartans are the best team in the country and should be considered the front-runner to win it all. They're ranked No. 2 nationally, ran right through the Big Ten and still have work to do according to the bracketologists. Personally, I'd have them as a No. 1 seed over at least Kansas and Xavier as of today. So, I want to see if they can earn a top seed.

In line to land a two seed in many mock tournaments, I want to see just how good Purdue is. I love its core of seniors along with sophomore star guard Carsen Edwards. Are the Boilermakers fully back from the three-game losing streak a few weeks ago? I think how they perform this weekend will tell us a lot.

Finally there is Nebraska. I get it, the Huskers don't have very many impressive wins on their schedule. But, they did go 13-5 in the Big Ten and won 22 games. In my mind that should make them a lock for the NCAA Tournament over some of these teams I see projected to make the field with losing conference records. How far do Tim Miles and the Huskers have to make it to lock up a bid? Would the committee really leave out a team with that kind of record in a major conference?

Coming off of the 2016 season, the all-powerful SEC was able to muster a total of three teams for inclusion into the NCAA Tournament. Fast-forward two full years and the league may complete a tsunami of a turnaround, jumping from the power league with the least amount of tournament entrants to having the most.

Championship Week is here and while all eyes will be on New York City for the Big Ten, Big East and ACC Tournaments, the place to be is St. Louis. A league that, in the past, was primarily reliant on Kentucky and Florida, along with another wild card or two, for NCAA Tournament representation, will now be bolstered by seven other programs that could hear their name called on Selection Sunday.

In order for nine programs to make the final bracket of 68, a premium must be placed on their showing in the SEC Tournament. Auburn and Tennessee have solidified their standings as top-four seeds, and Kentucky, Florida, Missouri and Arkansas should each feel safe about their own entrance within the field. Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Alabama could also make it to the Dance if they can win a game or two in St. Louis.

Not only will the eyes of the NCAA Tournament Committee be on St. Louis but so will also those from the NBA front offices. Potential lottery picks in Kevin Knox, Shai Alexander, Daniel Gafford, Collin Sexton and Robert Williams will each be on display, as will John Petty, Hamidou Diallo, Jalen Hudson, Grant Williams, Jontay Porter, and the biggest wild card of them all, Michael Porter Jr.

Does the top-ranked 2017 prospect return to the floor? Can John Calipari get his Kentucky bunch clicking on all cylinders before the NCAA Tournament? Does a borderline tournament team such as Mississippi State, chock full of talent, come up with its long-awaited breakthrough? Can Auburn, a program missing three of its likely top contributors, overcome its current personnel issues and continue to out-hustle and defeat more talented inner league opponents?

The SEC Tournament will bring intrigue, optimism and opportunities for the league to dominate the headlines of Championship Week and behold the top storylines heading into Selection Sunday.