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Big 12 up, ACC down as selection day nears

With eight days left before Selection Sunday, conference tournaments are in full swing and teams are making a final push for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

According to the RPI ratings, the Big 12 is the best conference followed by the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-10.

The Big 12 is expected to get as many as seven teams into the Tournament, and all -- Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Colorado -- are among the top 20 (RPI).

Conversely, the once-dominant ACC is struggling. Only Duke and North Carolina are in the top 30. Virginia (No. 35), Clemson (45) and North Carolina State (59) are the only other teams among the top 64. And none won more than 17 regular-season games.

But North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said the strength of the league should carry weight in the committee's decision.

"I don't think you can look at those numbers like people used to as far as 18 wins, that type of thing," Hatchell said. "If you look at some of the other conferences right now, the SEC is going to have lots of teams that are not going to have those magic numbers.

"Are they NCAA teams? I think without a doubt they are. But some of those are going to struggle to have 15 or 16 wins. I don't think you can go by those numbers anymore. I think the committee has thrown that out, and I think that's what needs to happen."

The SEC has five teams in the RPI top 25 and another four in the top 64. But only three of the nine teams have 18 or more wins. Florida coach Carol Ross said the notion that the SEC is down this season isn't credible.

"Every time the SEC is not about 20 games better than everybody else, everybody thinks the SEC is slipping or there's something wrong with the SEC," Ross said. "There's nothing wrong with the SEC. Nobody wants to play an SEC team. Nobody wants to mess with anybody in our league.

"But there is parity. There are better teams in other leagues now, and that's the way it should be."

Selection Sunday is March 10.

A SILVER CELEBRATION: The ACC is hosting the 25th anniversary of the its tournament in conjunction with the 2002 tournament.

As part of the celebration, the ACC has selected a Silver Anniversary Team, composed of players who were tournament MVPs. The list includes: Tara Heiss (Maryland, 1978), Vicky Bullett (Maryland 1989), Andrea Stinson (N.C. State, 1990), Dawn Staley (Virginia, 1992), Charlotte Smith (North Carolina, 1994 and 1995), Marion Jones (North Carolina, 1997) and Tracy Reid (North Carolina, 1998).

Four are in the WNBA, and Bullett is a former WNBA star. Jones is an Olympic gold medalist in track and field.

The 25 players will be honored during Sunday's semifinals. Heiss, who played before the WNBA was an option, said the game has come a long way.

"It used to be that when women played, they were considered tomboys and it wasn't always an acceptable thing," Heiss said. "I think that perception has changed today."

PATTERSON HONORED: After leading Kansas State to one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent history, Deb Patterson was named Big 12 coach of the year.

The Wildcats finished the regular season 23-6 and tied for third in the Big 12 (11-5). Last season, Kansas State tied for 11th with a 2-14 conference record.

K-State began the season unranked and unnoticed but entered the poll at No.14 on Jan. 7. The Wildcats have been ranked for eight consecutive weeks, two in the top 10.

-- Antonya English covers women's basketball. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or

english@sptimes.com.

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