Conference play is just getting underway in the month of January. The parity in college hoops this year has been unreal with the number of upsets  and shifts going on in the ranks each week. This past Monday, college basketball fans around the world to a thriller in Lawrence, Kansas between the two number ones (Oklahoma and Kansas), depending on which poll you look at of course. 

While the number next to their names aren't there, the intensity of this weekend's games should just be as good. This weekend offers some high-profile superstars, such as LSU's Ben Simmons, as well as some high-profile teams as Villanova and Butler faceoff in a Big East Conference showdown.

But, we can't forget the little guys. Albany and Vermont faceoff in an early season conference showdown amongst America East favorites while Wichita State is looking to put behind their struggles in the non-conference by "shocking" the Southern Illinois Salukis who have played brilliantly so far.

VAVEL Writer's Picks

  Irby Klinger Anderson Splane Alberto
LSU - Florida LSU LSU LSU Florida LSU
Albany - Vermont Vermont Albany Albany Albany Vermont
Vanderbilt - South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina
Towson - James Madison Towson JMU JMU JMU Towson
Maryland - Wisconsin Maryland Maryland Maryland Maryland Maryland
Dayton - La Salle Dayton Dayton Dayton Dayton Dayton
Baylor - Iowa State Iowa St Iowa St Iowa St Iowa St Iowa St
Pittsburgh - Notre Dame Pitt Pitt Pitt Notre Dame Notre Dame
Wichita State - Southern Illinois Wich St Wich St SIU Wich St Wich St
Florida State - Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami
North Carolina - Syracuse UNC UNC UNC UNC Syracuse
Rhode Island - St. Joesph's St. Joe's St. Joe's Rhode Island St. Joe's Rhode Island
Richmond - Fordham Richmond Richmond Fordham Fordham Fordham
Ohio State - Indiana Indiana Ohio St Ohio St Indiana Indiana
Villanova - Butler Viilanova Villanova Villanova Butler Butler
Stanford - Oregon Oregon Oregon Stanford Oregon Oregon
This Week's Record 10-6 11-5 9-7 10-6 7-9
Overall Record 47-21 47-21 44-24 42-26 38-30
  Thomas White Handel Steinmetz* McMahon** Evans*** Larson**
LSU - Florida LSU LSU LSU LSU LSU LSU Florida
Albany - Vermont Albany Albany Vermont Albany Vermont Vermont Albany
Vanderbilt - South Carolina Vanderbilt Vanderbilt South Carolina South Carolina Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Vanderbilt
Towson - James Madison JMU JMU JMU JMU JMU Towson JMU
Maryland - Wisconsin Maryland Maryland Maryland Maryland Maryland Wisconsin Maryland
Dayton - La Salle Dayton Dayton Dayton Dayton Dayton Dayton Dayton
Baylor - Iowa State Baylor Iowa St Iowa St Iowa St Iowa St Iowa St Baylor
Pittsburgh - Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Pitt Pitt Notre Dame Pitt Notre Dame
Wichita State - Southern Illinois Wich St Wich St Wich St Wich St Wich St Wich St Wich St
Florida State - Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami Florida St
North Carolina - Syracuse Syracuse UNC UNC UNC UNC UNC Syracuse
Rhode Island - St. Joesph's St. Joe's Rhode Island St. Joe's St. Joe's St. Joe's St. Joe's Rhode Island
Richmond - Fordham Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond
Ohio State - Indiana Ohio St Indiana Ohio St Indiana Ohio St Indiana Ohio St
Villanova - Butler Villanova Villanova Villanova Butler Villanova Butler Villanova
Stanford - Oregon Stanford Oregon Stanford Oregon Oregon Oregon Stanford
This Week's Record 8-8 11-5 9-7 11-5 8-8 7-9 9-7
Overall Record 37-31 39-29 37-31 27-17 17-15 14-14 15-17

*denotes no picks for first two weeks

**denotes no picks for first three weeks

***denotes no picks for first two weeks and week four