I said it all season and it's true: The ACC was a mediocre conference this year.

Other than North Carolina, the league was down. Usually, it's the top conference in America - but not this time.

Clemson bowed out to Villanova in the first round and after dodging an upset against Belmont in the first round, Duke is gone after a second-round loss to West Virginia.

Two other leagues have shown their mortality so far: the Pac-10 and SEC. The Pac-10, widely regarded as the top regular-season conference in America this year, has already lost 50 percent of its six teams in the first round.

Ditto for the SEC, which saw Vanderbilt, Georgia and Kentucky fall out in the first round.

I maintained that the Big East was set up to have the most tournament success - and it hasn't let me down. Seven of its eight teams advanced - and West Virginia is in the Sweet 16 after a victory over Duke.

The Big 12 has exceeded my expectations with Baylor as the lone team in the league to bow out in the first round.