In an effort to get at least a little bit of conversation going in this forum, I'll be throwing together a way too early top 25.  Hopefully we can get some sort of spark generated.  I'll do them in five team segments.

1. Kansas
The Jayhawks return just about everyone, most importantly Aldrich and Collins.  They also add Xavier Henry, one of the best recruits in the nation.  They also bring in a 5-star PG (Elijah Johnson) who adds depth at the PG position, and Thomas Robinson (4-star PF) gives them another body in the paint.  Don't forget that Jeff Withey, a 7-footer who originally signed with Arizona, is eligible to play following the fall semester (December).  This is the team to beat this season, ala North Carolina this season.

2. Texas
The Horns lose Abrams and Atchley to eligibility, and possibly Damion James to the NBA.  However, the rest of the squad is in tact, headlined by Dexter Pittman, Gary Johnson and Justin Mason.  Pittman will be the real key to the Horns success this season.  He was in much better shape last year, and hopefully for the Horn faithful, he'll be in even better shape this year.  They appear to have found a pair of PG that they are at least comfortable with in Dogus Balbay and Varez Ward.  They add my #3 player in this year's class to the 2-guard spot in Avery Bradley, who is an absolute stud.  He'll be an immediate starter for the Horns at SG, and will have a huge impact.  At the 3, they make up for the potential loss of James with my #8 player (Jordan Hamilton) and 4-star Shawn Williams.  Both SF will make big impacts on the wing.  If James returns to school, like I think he will, the starting 5 will be very good - Balbay/Ward, Bradley, Johnson/Hamilton, James, Pittman.  And, the bench will be a big-time strength if James comes back. 

3. Michigan State
State brings back a solid core of players in Lucas, Allen, Roe, Summers, Morgan, Green and Lucious.  The big thing with this team, however, is that Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan should now be fully healthy.  The loss of Ibok, Walton, Suton and Gray certainly will hurt, but there is enough depth here to stay at the top of the college basketball world.  A healthy Roe and a healthy Morgan will provide huge things for this team.  Incoming recruits Derrick Nix (6'9", 275) and Garrick Sherman (6'10", 220), both 4-stars, provide added depth on the interior.  They need to find a go-to scorer at the 2 (Allen or Summers), if they want to achieve their full potential.

4. North Carolina
Of course, the Heels expectedly lost Lawson and Ellington to the draft, along with Green and Hansbrough to eligiblity.  However, they'll likely have the best frontcourt in the nation, led by the guy who I think will be the best post player in the nation, in Ed Davis.  They'll be able to put a stud in Davis next to a very solid Deon Thompson in the paint, and will also be able to bring in a promising 7-footer off the bench in Tyler Zeller.  They bring in five players in this year's recruiting class, headlined by my #5 player in John Henson, a 6'10" twig from Tampa.  He adds even more depth to the frontcourt, and actually has the offensive versatility to be able to play the 3 if necessary.  I personally think that the Wear twins (both 6'9" out of California) are overrated and won't do much in their college careers, but they add even more interior depth.  The question mark on this team lies at the guard spots.  Larry Drew II steps in as the probable starting PG, and although he played fairly well last season in very limited minutes, he's still very inexperienced.  A pair of two-guards, Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland, will probably be asked to bring the ball up the floor as well.  If the Heels can somehow land John Wall, the #1 player in this year's class, by far, they will be the #1 team in the country, and a favorite to repeat.  However, I personally think Wall winds up at Kentucky.  Guard play is an issue here, but the frontcourt is so good that they have to be ranked in the top 5.  (If Wall commits to UNC, they are the #1 team in the preseason).

5. Purdue
This team might end up being overrated by me and the "experts", but they don't lose anyone of real importance from this year's squad (unless you count Nemanja Calasan as important).  Their brand of basketball isn't the sexiest, but they've got a rapidly improving big on the interior in JaJuan Johnson, along with an extremely versatile wing man in Robbie Hummel.  Hummel battled injuries all season but still put up 12.5 points and 7 rebounds a night.  Chris Kramer is as solid as they come at the PG spot.  He's not flashy, but he doesn't turn the ball over, and plays great defense.  Lewis Jackson gives them a nice spark off the bench at the PG spot.  The Boilers don't really bring anyone in who I would expect to make a big impact other than D.J. Byrd, a 4-star SG out of Crawfordsville, Indiana.  He'll give the Boilers a nice shooter off the bench.  Like I said, they might end up being overrated by everyone, but this team returns the core of players that we saw play very well two years ago, with added experience.  They'll play defense, and they'll grind games out.

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