The Big East and ACC may be the most talented men's basketball conferences in the country, but those who argue that the league is the nation's deepest, just haven't taken a hard enough look at the college landscape.

If the last three days are any indication, the University Athletic Association may have the deepest and most balanced conference out there. Although the talent of the Division III programs is not the same as at its Division I counterparts, the competition is just as good - if not better.

On Friday night, top-ranked Rochester lost its first game of the season in overtime at Emory, 81-76. Rochester had just beaten second-ranked Brandeis a few days earlier, 74-68, but the Judges were able to hang on to the No. 2 ranking despite the loss. On Friday, Brandeis lost again, this time to UAA rival Chicago, 79-77. Fourth-ranked Washington-St. Louis beat NYU on Friday, 57-50.

On Sunday, Brandeis and Wash. U. tangled in Waltham and the Bears won on the road, 71-69, to give the Judges three consecutive conferences losses by a total of 10 points. Rochester bounced back to beat Case Western yesterday, 85-74, while Emory will likely receive recognition in the polls after following its upset of Rochester with an 89-85 win over a tough squad from Carnegie Mellon.

Is it possible that the UAA has the best men's basketball conference in the country, regardless of division? What do the Big East and ACC have on it?