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Every weekday, a panel of our college hoops experts discusses the biggest issues, trends and themes in and around college basketball.

1. We're a month into the season. Who has the best offense?

Andy Katz: I'll go with Duke. The Blue Devils have a number of options inside and out. Jahlil Okafor can produce in the post. Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon all have the ability to go off within the flow of the offense.

Dana O'Neil: Duke might be the most fluid, but I still like Wisconsin. The Badgers have terrific balanced scoring -- four of their top five are averaging double figures -- and Wisconsin is connecting on a torrid 49 percent from the floor. Certainly Frank Kaminsky is the glue guy, but Nigel Hayes has been strong all season, too.

Myron Medcalf: Duke is ranked first in Ken Pomeroy's offensive efficiency ratings for a reason. The Blue Devils own the most balanced and effective offense in the country. They're making 40 percent of their 3-pointers. They're committing few turnovers and they're one of the top teams in the country on the offensive glass. Jones is a talented point guard, Winslow might be the best wing in America and Okafor is a load inside. They anchor the offense, but they're surrounded by other weapons.

2. How about the best defense?

Katz: Arizona. Kentucky has the top baseline defense with the tallest team. But if a team needs to get a stop and take the air out of an offense, I'll go with the Wildcats.

O'Neil: Toss-up between the two schools in the Bluegrass State. Both play defense very differently, but Louisville and Kentucky are each very effective. The Cards' guards are pesky gnats that upset their opponents' tempo and rhythm, while the Wildcats are so big there's no way to see -- let alone get to -- the rim. That game on Dec. 27 could be the ultimate rock fight.

Medcalf: How can you score against Kentucky? That was the question entering the season, and no team has really answered it yet. The Cats have so much size inside that teams can't really attack the rim (they rank first in block percentage). Opponents are also shooting just 25.4 percent from the 3-point line against them. Kentucky has the nation's best defense, and it might be that way through early April.

3. Which conference has been the most impressive? Which has been the most disappointing?

Katz: The Big 12 has been impressive. The conference has no givens this season. All 10 teams have a legit shot every night within the conference. The league could have six or seven bids. The A-10 has disappointed. The league has not been able to stand out enough yet. That doesn't mean it won't in March. But in the nonconference, the league hasn't had enough significant wins.

O'Neil: I've been most impressed with the Big 12. There are five teams in the Top 25 and most important, Texas and West Virginia are back. The Longhorns are realizing their promise of a year ago, while the Mountaineers, with Juwan Staten, are relevant again. As for disappointing, I can't say the SEC because I thought it would be lousy ... and it is. The Atlantic 10 has been a little meh. The league is usually good for some big upsets, but instead, its feature team, VCU, so far has been struggling.

Medcalf: I'd say the Big East has been the most impressive league to date. Three Big East squads are ranked in the latest polls, and the conference has wins over North Carolina, Florida, VCU, Illinois, Minnesota, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. The SEC has been the biggest disappointment. Other than Kentucky, no other SEC squad has played like a guaranteed NCAA tourney participant.

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UC Santa Barbara senior center Alan Williams leads the country in rebounds at 12.6 per game. He also leads the Gauchos in scoring (18 PPG) and blocks (2.9 BPG).

A win is a win. #kubball

— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) Dec. 10 2014

Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

Andy Katz and Seth Greenberg check in with newsmakers from around college basketball.

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• March 24: Tom Izzo, Larry Krystkowiak
• March 18: Bracket breakdown
• March 9: Kansas' Bill Self
• March 2: Bo Ryan, Dave Rose