NCAA Standings Basketball 2019: Complete Conference Rankings and Tournament Predictions

Looking back at the 2019 NCAA basketball season, I still get chills remembering how unpredictable those conference races felt. As someone who’s followed college hoops for over a decade, I can confidently say that season had one of the most wide-open fields I’ve ever seen. Teams rose, fell, and clawed their way through conference play with an intensity that made every matchup must-watch television. I remember sitting with my notes, tracking everything from the ACC’s heavyweight battles to the surprising surges in mid-major leagues. It wasn’t just about stats—it was about momentum, team chemistry, and, frankly, which squads had that special grit when it mattered most.

The ACC, as usual, was an absolute gauntlet. Virginia finished atop the standings with a 16-2 conference record, and let me tell you, their defensive discipline was something to behold. I still think their pace frustrated opponents more than any other team’s style that year. Right behind them, Duke and North Carolina each posted 14-4 records. Zion Williamson’s explosiveness was a spectacle, no doubt, but what stood out to me was how teams adjusted—or failed to adjust—to his physicality. In the Big Ten, Michigan State and Purdue tied for the lead at 16-4. The Spartans’ Cassius Winston orchestrated that offense with a veteran’s poise, and I felt they were peaking at just the right time come March.

Over in the Big 12, Kansas State and Texas Tech shared the regular-season crown with 14-4 marks. I’ll admit, I didn’t see Kansas State’s run coming—they played with a collective toughness that you just can’t teach. And then there was the SEC, where LSU, Tennessee, and Kentucky all finished with 15-3 records. The Tigers, in particular, caught my eye with their transition game; they seemed to thrive in chaos, which is both a blessing and a curse in tournament settings. When I look back, what strikes me is how many of these top conference teams relied on veteran leadership. It wasn’t always the most talented roster that won, but the one that executed under pressure.

Now, the mid-majors—this is where I think the real magic happened. The WCC saw Gonzaga go a perfect 16-0, which, in my opinion, was one of the most dominant conference performances in recent memory. Their offensive efficiency ratings were through the roof, and I remember thinking they had all the pieces for a deep March run. In the Atlantic 10, VCU and Davidson battled it out, with the Rams finishing 16-2. What stood out to me was their defensive intensity—they forced turnovers at a rate that could disrupt any high-powered offense. And let’s not forget the Mountain West, where Utah State and Nevada both impressed. The Aggies’ Sam Merrill had a knack for hitting big shots, and I kept telling anyone who would listen that he’d be a problem for higher-seeded teams.

When it came to tournament predictions, I had my hunches—some right, some embarrassingly wrong. I was high on Virginia from the start, partly because of their systematic approach but also because of their resilience after the UMBC loss the previous year. I also liked Gonzaga’s chances to make the Final Four, though I worried about their defensive consistency against elite athleticism. One team I underestimated was Texas Tech; their defensive scheme, orchestrated by Chris Beard, was a masterpiece, and I regret not giving them more credit earlier. On the flip side, I thought Duke’s talent would carry them further, but as we saw, Zion could only do so much when others struggled to step up.

I’ll never forget watching the tournament unfold and thinking about how those conference battles shaped the bracket. The parity was real—across power conferences and mid-majors alike, we saw teams that had been tested repeatedly in league play excel under the bright lights. It’s moments like these that make me appreciate the grind of the regular season. Reflecting on it now, I’m reminded of a quote from that year that stuck with me—when Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver said, “I’m just blessed, grateful that we’re here.” That sentiment, I think, encapsulated the season for so many players and fans. In a landscape filled with pressure and expectations, gratitude and grit often made the difference. As we look ahead to future seasons, the lessons from 2019—about teamwork, adaptability, and seizing the moment—remain as relevant as ever.