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After one month, Big Ten over Big East (barely)

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Big Ten or Big East? That’s the ever-present question when it comes to the nation’s top hoops conference this season.

Thus far, it’s the Big Ten. Barely.

A ranking of all 32 conferences was compiled by ESPN.com, using four computer systems: Massey, Pomeroy, Sagarin and RPI, which are averaged and then weighted. Then they added a few wrinkles (namely the AP and coaches’ polls; the methodology is here).

The result after one month is the Big Ten by a nose over the Big East. They’re followed by the Big 12, ACC, SEC and Mountain West. Yes, MWC. The nine-team league is actually closer to overtaking the SEC for fifth than the Pac-10 is to moving into sixth. C-USA is eighth.

The A-10, Horizon, Mo Valley and Colonial are all bunched together, then there’s a big gap to the rest, which starts with the WAC.

Perhaps the most interesting rank? The Atlantic Sun at 16th. Five of the conference’s 11 teams were D-II in 2000. That’s an impressive rise. (Nice find by John Gasaway.)

Want more? I’m also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller.