Division I men's basketball is one of the most popular sports in the country. Millions of people tune in every year to watch the thrilling NCAA basketball tournament called March Madness. March Madness is so fun to watch because of the upsets and the last-minute buzzer-beaters. Every team can be competitive in the NCAA tournament, but which teams tend to dominate? Here is a list of the best Division I basketball conferences:

1. Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 Conference has been absolutely dominant in the history of men's college basketball. At the 2023 NCAA tournament, the Big 12 sent 70% of its teams to the playoffs; the highest percentage in the nation. The Big 12 has also had 6 or more teams in the NCAA Championship in 19 out of the last 26 years. 60% of Big 12 teams have advanced to the NCAA Final Four since 2002. 

In total, the Big 12 has 371 appearances in the NCAA tournament, 468 wins, 54 Final Four appearances, and 9 NCAA Championship titles.

The stand-out teams in the Big 12 are the University of Kansas, Baylor University, and the University of Oklahoma. 

2. Southeastern Conference (SEC)

The SEC is another historically dominant conference in men's basketball. The SEC has won a combined 11 NCAA championships. In the last 5 years, the SEC has received 35 selection bids and every SEC team has made an appearance in the tournament in the last 8 years. 8 teams have appeared in the Final Four, and the SEC has had a team in the Final Four for six of the last 11 tournaments. 

The University of Kentucky, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Arkansas have been historically successful in the SEC.

3. Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

The ACC hasn't had the most impressive showings in recent years, but their history can speak for itself. The ACC has a NCAA tournament winning percentage of 61.8%; the highest in the nation. All 15 teams have over 1,000 wins and have 17 total national championships. 

The University of North Carolina, Florida State University, and Duke University all stand out as some of the best in the ACC.

4. Big East

The Big East Conference is on the rise in men's basketball, as UConn won the most recent NCAA Tournament. The Big East has totaled 9 National championships and has received 42 March Madness bids since 2014.

Some of the best in the Big East include the University of Connecticut, Villanova University, and Creighton University.