I always catch a bad rap for stuff like this, but now that the season is over I'm looking ahead.
Who do you expect to see as the top 5-10 teams next season?

A lot of this means predicting who will leave for the NBA draft, who is likely to return, and who is coming in and/or expected to have a breakout year.

#1 - UCLA - After their performance against Florida I think they are more motivated than ever and will probably return everyone, plus Kevin Love. That could be a great team.

#2 - Ohio State - likely to lose Oden, maybe Conley. They still bring back a ton of talent and another Thad 5. This class isn't quite like the current freshman, but mixed with the remaining parts they will be tough.

#3 - Memphis - assuming they don't lose much, they too will add talent, notably Derrick Rose. If they don't lose their two incoming forwards (twins) to prep school, even better.

#4 - Texas - it's 99.999% guaranteed they lose the player of the year, but they should keep everyone else and add three 4 star forwards to the mix.

#5 - Kansas - may lose Rush, bring in talent to mesh with the rest of the team.

#6 - Michigan State - I wouldn't normally rank them this high, but I believe in Izzo in February. If they can stay healthy and integrate the freshmen and establish Suton as a big man they can make it here.

#7 - USC - I fell in love with this team during the tourney. Sadly, they may lose 1 or 2 guys (Pruitt) that they would love to keep. But Mayo and Co., I really should have them higher. This could be a very fun team to watch.

#8 - Florida - Really don't know who will be back, but they know how to win and they bring in a great class. I hate it when the rich get richer.

#9 - Syracuse - they lose 3 key players, but they bring in the most complete, well-rounded recruiting class.

#10 - I can't decide. So many to choose from. Indiana? Washington State? Georgetown? Kansas State? Until I know for sure who is staying and who is leaving, and the rest of the coaching moves, I have to leave it at this. There are about 10 other teams I haven't even mentioned yet, like Texas A & M, Arizona, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Purdue, Oregon.....


Anyhow, I just wanted some of your VERY early thoughts. I figured with the looming dead period in NCAA sports, this might make for some interesting speculation.

Michigan State at #6??? Fuck you!

No fake quotes Denny! haha

You gotta put North Carolina near the top of that list. I hope Hans leaves, but even if he does, they'll still be great. I of course think MSU will not just be good, but great next year. I want the Buckeyes bad next year, but I am hoping Conley and Oden leave. I'd drop Florida off the list. Everybody will leave, they won't be that good. I'm not sure I like Texas without Durant. I think Kansas will be stellar. I honestly can't wait for next season. Michigan State will win the Big Ten title, mark it down.

I'm pretty tired right now so there is my brief initial thoughts. I'll definately do an in depth look at things in a day or so.

I dropped UNC because I've heard rumblings of Wright leaving, which I think is likely, and Lawson leaving as well, which I think is highly UNlikely.

Wright is a stud and carried them until Tyler-time in the tourney. Without him it would have been too little too late. He's a lottery pick for sure if he declares. As for Lawson, he may make it to the Association some day, but it's much more difficult for teams to draft a freshman PG than it is a big man, especially when that PG isn't even 6 foot. I realize there are guys out there proving that you don't have to be 6 feet tall to ball, but it's the exception, not the rule, in the NBA.

Like I said with Florida and Texas, it has a lot to do with their incoming classes - classes ranked higher than Michigan State's in some cases. With Florida unless their entire starting 5 leaves they still have something to work with when you add that class. With Texas, you only lose one player. Yes, he's THE player, but they have three 4 star guys coming in to try to replace him. None will be as good as Durant, but that's more fresh legs, more fouls to give, more injury insurance, etc.

In looking this over, I absolutely love the NBA's rule forcing kids to go to college for a year. It looks like there will be some amazing college teams next year.

My Top 10...

1-ucla
2-kansas
3-unc
4-memphis
5-louisville
6-michigan state
7-usc
8-osu
9-wash state
10-georgetown

Just missed the cut...

marquette, duke, indiana, oregon, texas

And for those interested, here's something I put together.

The 2006-2007 Big Ten backcourt depth charts...

Wisconsin:
PG...Michael Flowers, Tanner Bronson
SG...Jason Bohannon, Trevon Hughes,
SF...Joe Krabbenhoft, Morris Cain, Tim Jarmusz (frosh)

Michigan:
PG...Jerret Smith, Kelvin Grady (frosh)
SG...Manny Harris (frosh), K'Len Morris (RSfrosh), Jevohn Shepherd
SF...Alex Legion (frosh), Ron Coleman

Indiana:
PG...Armon Bassett
SG...Eric Gordon (frosh), AJ Ratliff
SF...Joey Shaw, Jordan Crawford (frosh)

Ohio State:
PG...Mike Conley, Jamar Butler
SG...Daequan Cook, Jon Diebler (frosh)
SF...David Lighty, Eric Wallace (frosh), Evan Turner (frosh)

Michigan State:
PG...Travis Walton, Kalin Lucas (frosh)
SG...Drew Neitzel, Chris Allen (frosh), Austin Thornton (frosh), Maurice Joseph?
SF...Raymar Morgan, Durrell Summers (frosh), Isaiah Dahlman

Illinois:
PG...Chester Frazier, Demitri McCamey (frosh)
SG...Jamar Smith, Trent Meachum
SF...Brian Randle, Calvin Brock, Quintin Watkins (frosh)

Purdue:
PG...Chris Kramer
SG...E'Twaun Moore (frosh), Crump, Keaton Grant,
SF...Gordon Watt, Marcus Green, Robbie Hummel (frosh), Scott Martin (frosh)

Iowa:
PG...Tony Freeman, Dairese Gary (frosh)
SG...Justin Johnson, Jake Kelly (frosh), Brett Wessels, Dan Bohall
SF...Tyler Smith, JR Angle

And the frontcourt depth charts...

Michigan
Zach Gibson, 6'10" 220 (transfer)
Phil DeVries, 6'10" 225 (walk-on)
Epke Udoh, 6'9" 225 lbs
Kendrick Price, 6'8" 205
DeShawn Sims, 6'8" 225

Wisconsin
Brian Butch, 6'11" 245 lbs
Greg Steimsma, 6'11" 260
JP Gavinski, 6'11" 245
Keaton Nankivil, 6'8" 245 (frosh)
Jon Leuer, 6'9" 195 (frosh, RSCI #94)
Kevin Gullickson, 6'7" 245
Marcus Landry, 6’7” 230

Michigan State
Tom Herzog, 7'1" 240 lbs (RS frosh, RSCI #47)
Idong Ibok, 6'11" 255
Drew Naymick, 6'10" 255
Goran Suton, 6'10" 245
Marquise Gray, 6'8" 235

Indiana
Ben Allen, 6'11" 255 lbs
DJ White, 6"9" 250
Eli Holiman, 6'9" 210 (frosh)
Lance Stemler, 6'8" 210

Purdue
Dan Vandervieren, 6'10" 250
JaJuan Johnson, 6'10" 230 (frosh, RSCI #57)
Gordon Watt, 6'6" 230

Illinois
Brian Carlwell, 6'11" 265 lbs
Mike Tisdale, 6'11" 195 (frosh)
Shawn Pruitt, 6'10" 245
Bill Cole, 6'9" 195 (frosh)
Richard Semrau, 6'9" 225 (RS frosh)
CJ Jackson, 6'8" 260

Iowa
Josh Crawford, 6"10" 200 lbs
Jamie Vanderbeken, 6'10" 230 (RS frosh)
Kurt Looby, 6'10" 210
Cyrus Tate, 6'8" 240
Jaryd Cole, 6'7" 220 (frosh)

Ohio State
Kosta Koufos, 7'0" 230 lbs (frosh, RSCI #12)
Kyle Madsen, 6'10" 250
Othello Hunter, 6'9" 220
Matt Terwilliger, 6'8" 245
Dallas Lauderdale, 6'8" 230 (frosh, RSCI #64)

Scout.com's Jeff Goodman has released his early top 25 for 2008 and there are some similarities.

Here's his top 10:
#1 - Georgetown - he's speculating that Green and Hibbert will both be back. If so, the pick is justified. If not, it's a stretch IMO.
#2 - UCLA - They're getting a lot of love as the #1 from some others.
#3 - Kansas - he's guessing they lose either Rush or Wright, not both,
#4 - Memphis
#5 - North Carolina - he thinks the only early departure will be Wright.
#6 - Ohio State - see above, but fill in with Oden
#7 - Michigan State
#8 - Arkansas - one team nobody mentioned yet. I have my doubts.
#9 - USC - he's expecting no one will leave.
#10 - Washington State

He gave a top 25 and then 5 more to watch. He did NOT include Texas or Syracuse anywhere in that list. I think he's in for a surprise personally, but he's the one that gets paid to do this, not me.

Arkansas may have to go after Pete Bell pretty soon. He hasn't been doing much since he left Western University.

Oh what a difference a day makes.

A moment ago I was talking about Kansas State being on the verge and now who knows if that top recruiting class will remain intact?
And Florida retains the coach but loses not 3, but all 4 juniors. They obviously fall now. Thinking about it now, it was good for Donovan to advise them all to go if any were going. Now his new class can build their own identity.

This just shows how quickly things can change. The continued fallout from coaching changes could still have an impact on the top 10.

For more looks ahead, Bracketologist Joe Lunardi is speculating on next year's field of 64.

1 seeds
Kansas
Louisville
North Carolina
Memphis

2 seeds
North Carolina State
UCLA
Michigan State
Georgia Tech

3 seeds
Indiana
Texas A & M
Marquette
Tennessee

4 seeds
USC
Ohio State
Washington State
Georgetown


There are some seriously interesting choices in there. Maybe I don't know enough about teams coming back but NC State as a 2 seed? Seriously?

By the way, he has 6 teams from the Big Ten in: Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Purdue. Apparently Lickliter, Tubbie Smith and Beilein will all miss the dance during their first year in the Big Ten. And then there's Northwestern and Penn State who are simply not good.

Wow, no Michigan. I guess losing Petway is really going to hurt.

Maybe I don't know enough about teams coming back but NC State as a 2 seed? Seriously?


Don't sleep on Sid Lowe.

That's what she said.

That's what Lorenzo Charles said.