Here the top five storylines in six of the biggest conference tournaments this week (excluding the SEC), as well what teams need to do to get in the NCAA tournament

ACC

1. North Carolina enters as the favorite, but has been inconsistent of late, and is far from unbeatable.
2. The loser of the first round game between Clemson and Florida State will have its' bubble burst.
3. Maryland is playing the best basketball in the conference right now, and a potential semifinal matchup with UNC would be a dandy.
4. The draw sets up nicely for Georgia Tech to make a deep run.
5. Don't expect to see round three of Duke-UNC, as that can only occur in the championship game, and Duke has looked incapable of making that kind of run.

Locks for the Big Dance: UNC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Maryland, Duke

Needs a win: Georgia Tech, Clemson

Work to do: Florida State

Big East

1. Georgetown is the one seed, and Pittsburgh is very solid, but this tournament is anybody's just like it seems to be every year.
2. West Virginia's win over Providence may have locked up a berth in the Big Dance, but a win over Louisville would do the trick for sure.
3. Louisville was struggling early in the season, but turned things around for conference play. They enter the tournament as the two seed.
4. Syracuse & Villanova each won their opening game Wednesday, locking up NCAA bids. 'Nova moves on to play top seeded Georgetown in the second round. The Wildcats and Hoyas split two games in the regular season. Syracuse faces Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. Notre Dame won the only meeting between this two at Syracuse.
5. Marquette beat Pittsburgh twice this season, but also lost a game to North Dakota State. If point guard Dominic James is playing well, they can beat Pitt for the third time, but if he's not, like in Wednesday's game against St. John's, they're in trouble.

Locks: Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Notre Dame, Marquette, Villanova, Syracuse

Needs a win: West Virginia

Big Ten

1. Indiana struggled down the stretch, but much of that came with point guard Earl Calloway injured. If he's healthy Indiana is a very dangerous team.
2. Michigan State will go as far as point guard Drew Neitzel can carry them. Provided the Spartans beat Northwestern in the first round, a third matchup with Wisconsin in the last three weeks would happen in the quarterfinals.
3. Purdue and Iowa will meet in the quarterfinals, and the loser of that game is probably eliminated from the bubble. The winner will still have some work to do.
4. Illinois is most likely a first round victory away from sewing up an at large bid. A potential quarterfinal matchup with Indiana might be the best this tourney has to offer.
5. Wisconsin and Ohio State are each ranked in the top five nationally, but don't be surprised if they, and the rest of this conference for that matter, is exposed in the postseason, just like football.

Locks: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana

Needs a win: Illinois, Michigan State

Work to do: Purdue, Iowa, Michigan

Big 12

1. This is a very top heavy league, with three legit national title contenders in Kansas, Texas A&M, and Texas. There's nothing special about the rest of the teams.
2. Last week, Texas and Texas A&M played an epic double overtime classic. The rematch could occur in the semifinals of the conference tournament, and would have the potential to be one of the games of the year. Kansas likely awaits the winner of that game in the championship game. The last two days of this tournament, provided the three heavyweights hold serve, will be very entertaining.
3. Texas Tech should sure up its at-large status with a first round win over Colorado. If they win, it would set up a second round match-up with Kansas State.
4. Kansas State needs to win its second round game to feel comfortable. If they win over Texas Tech, they are likely in the tourney. If Tech is upset in round one, however, two wins are probably necessary for the Wildcats to get in.
5. Oklahoma State played its way out of the Big Dance by failing to win a road game all season. Luckily for them, the tournament is being played in Oklahoma City. Unluckily for them, a second round match-up with Texas A&M is ahead. That is provided they win over Nebraska, who throttled the Cowboys on Monday, in the opening round. They probably have to make it to the conference championship to have a prayer at making the NCAA tourney.

Locks: Kansas, Texas A&M, Texas

Needs a win: Texas Tech, Kansas State

Work to do: Oklahoma State, Missouri

Mountain West

1. This isn't one of the major conferences, but this will undoubtedly be one of the most entertaininig tournaments this week. BYU, UNLV, and Air Force have all been top 25 teams this year, and San Diego State is more talented than any of the three.
2. Air Force has been eliminated early the last two years in the conference tournament by Wyoming. Their quarterfinal opponent this year? Wyoming. If the Falcons don't win this game, the team is squarely on the bubble, just a few weeks after looking like a sure thing to be dancing.
3. San Diego State has been inconsistent all season long, but they closed the season winning eight out of ten to snare the three seed away from Air Force. That said, they are probably still behind Air Force on the bubble, and need a couple wins in the tourney or they're more than likely NIT bound.
4. UNLV closed the season out strongly, finishing only a game behind BYU in the standings. Throw in the fact that the tournament is being played on their home floor, and they are the favorite going in even though they are the two seed.
5. BYU is the one seed, and seemingly no one talks about them. They are a solid team, but not spectacular. Look for them to be in the conference championship game against the winner of the other semifinal between UNLV and San Diego State.

Locks: BYU, UNLV

Needs a win: Air Force

Work to do: San Diego State

Pac 10

1. UCLA is the clear cut favorite here, but any of the top seven teams could take the crown. This may be the best conference in the country.
2. Washington showed its potential with its win over UCLA last weekend, but they need a deep run in the conference tourney to be dancing. They probably need to at least reach the finals, but the bracket gives them a chance to do so. Rival Washington State awaits them in round two, and the winner between USC and Stanford would be the Huskies' opponent in the semis. Washington has more talent than any of those teams.
3. Stanford needs to win its opening game against USC or they will be sweating it out on Selection Sunday. They may be in either way, but if they win they're in for sure.
4. Fourth-seeded Oregon and fifth-seeded Arizona will meet in the quarterfinals in what is sure to be a very high-paced game. These two teams have as much talent as anyone in the conference, but have underachieved. The winner of this game gets UCLA in the semis, and has the chance to pull a big upset.
5. USC has really flown under the radar all season, but finished the third best team in this conference. The bracket sets up nicely for them in this tournament, as none of the teams on their side of the bracket appear overwhelming.

Locks: UCLA, Washington State, USC, Oregon, Arizona

Needs a win: Stanford

Work to do: Washington

It should be a very entertaining week nationwide. Sit back and enjoy.