NBA-DRAFT.COM's men's college basketball top 25 poll

NBA-DRAFT.COM's Top 25

Preview of 2012

It's just days removed for the end of the 2010-11 college basketball season, but it's never too early to look ahead at next season right? Kentucky has its newest class of one-and-done, but North Carolina may answer the Wildcats with their returning talent in the frontcourt. Of course, we can never count out the Buckeyes as they add two McDonald's All-Americans to a lineup of Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas, William Buford and Aaron Craft.

This is obviously a very early snapshot of where we think the teams will end up at the end of next season. It's a snapshot and of course the media and scouts and skeptics don't know best- look at UConn who began the season as the pre-season pick for ninth place in the Big East and ended up national champions. We don't know who will fill all of the coaching vacancies or what underclassmen will jump to the draft or return to their respective university. The early-entry deadline is coming up in a few weeks on April 24th and the deadline to withdraw if May 8th.

Our initial Top 25 serves as a basic preview of teams' expectations and perhaps a glimmer of hopes for those fans looking towards next season.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels

Could there really be any other favorite? It was announced that Tyler Zeller and John Henson will be returning to school with leading-scorer Harrison Barnes likely to follow suit later on this week. Toss-in electrifying point guard Kendall Marshall, the further development of Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, Reggie Bullock and two McDonald's All-Americans (James McAdoo, PJ Hariston) coming off Roy Williams' bench and the Tar Heels are the team to beat.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

We've heard that Brandon Knight is leaning towards staying in school, after all, he has just one more year until graduation due to some high school credits, while a Draft field should have Terrence Jones jumping to the NBA. Knight returns, as does the team's third-leading scorer and biggest perimeter threat, Doron Lamb, and the ever-so-versatile Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins on the wings. Lamb will likely keep his reserve role to make room for the nation's top freshman point guard, Marquis Teague (brother of former Wake Forest guard and current Atlanta Hawk, Jeff). Replacing Jones and recent graduate Josh Harrellson will be two more players that are at the top of their position in the incoming class- small forward Michael Gilchrist and power forward and likely 2012 No. 1 pick, Anthony Davis. Oh, and there is McDonald's All-American Kyle Wiltjer coming off the bench too.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

The team that stood atop these very same rankings for most of the 2010-11 season were the Buckeyes and despite some key veterans departing, Ohio State will be back. Jared Sullinger, the nation's best big man in 2010-11 returns to the frontcourt with a sophomore-to-be Deshaun Thomas, a long, athletic inside-outside scorer that has worlds of potential. Playing next to them, or perhaps relieving them will be Amir Williams, a 6'10" All-American center, and two highly-touted small forward prospects Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross. Point guard and defensive wiz Aaron Craft will run the show, along with William Buford stealing some minutes when he makes the shift over from the shooting guard spot. Another All-American, point guard Shannon Scott, will come off the bench of a loaded Thad Matta roster. Not too forget, sophomores Lenzelle Smith, Jr. and Jordan Sibert, yes, those two guards who combined for 13 mpg, were both top 100 recruits a year ago.

4. Syracuse Orange

Granted, Jim Boehim lost his second-leading scorer, leading-rebounder and best interior defender in Rick Jackson, a solid core returns with potential and some stud freshman to join the party. Slasher Kris Joseph, the team's leading scorer at 14.3 points per game, headlines the squad, but Scoop Jardine isn't far behind; Jardine is a multi-talented combo-guard, capable of taking over stretches of games. He'll be joined in the backcourt by rising-junior Brandon Triche and sophomore-to-be Dion Waiters. All-American shooting guard Michael Carter-Williams, a lanky scoring threat, will come off the bench for some scoring punch as will freshman Trevor Cooney. The frontcourt might not have a star, but they have potential to grow, which is great news because Rick Jackson left some pretty big shoes to fill. CJ Fair, Baye Keita and Fab Melo will likely fight for one starting spot while freshman power forward Rakeem Christmas earns the other.

5. Texas Longhorns

We are waiting to see what happens when the dust fades behind the rumors that Tristan Thompson is skipping town with an agent after vowing to return to play with one of the top freshman point guards Myck Kabongo. Jordan Hamilton is likely to bolt after seeing he can be a potential lottery pick, so this ranking is based off of the fact that Thompson will indeed return to the Longhorns. Kabongo should start from day one next to rising-sophomore point guard and former-All-American Cory Joseph in the backcourt with sharp-shooter J'Covan Brown and freshmen Sheldon McClellan and Julien Lewis coming off of the bench. The frontcourt starters next to Thompson are a toss-up next to Thompson as both Hamilton and Gary Johnson will have moved on. Of course, Brown could move into the lineup for a small look and then freshman forward Jonathan Holmes and Kevin Thomas would fight for the final spot, likely won by Holmes, an inside-outside threat.

6. Duke Blue Devils

Sure, the Blue Devils disappointed in the NCAA Tournament and failed to repeat as national champions and lose all three of their double-digit scorers. But, the Plumlees are back with perimeter-snipers Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins. Add in the top shooting guard in the class and some analysts top recruit in the 2011-12 class, Austin Rivers, and one of the top point guards in the class Quinn Cook. A third Plumlee, Marshall, a high school All-American, joins the crew to give the Blue Devils some much-needed depth up front.

7. Connecticut Huskies

The defending national champions will have a long road ahead to repeat without sensational Kemba Walker running the show, but if Jeremy Lamb returns, UConn won't be far from the top. Lamb will be the top shooting guard prospect in all of the land so expect him to take control of the team, along with Shabazz Napier at the point and four-star freshman point guard Ryan Boatright. The frontcourt possesses talent, but has been underachieving thus far- Alex Oriakhi and the lengthy Roscoe Smith (last year's top recruit).

8. Vanderbilt Commodores

Another year, another disappointing first round exit for the Commodores. Could this season be their upswing? If scoring wings Jeffery Taylor and John Jenkins are back and Festus Ezeli continues his massive development, then Vanderbilt should be the favorite in the SEC. Some underrated veteran players like Brad Tinsley and Lance Goulbourne will be key.

9. Louisville Cardnials

A Big East repeat? Louisville marks the third team in our Top Ten from the conference despite the loss of leading-scorer Preston Knowles. Returning though are lethal perimeter shooter Kyle Kuric, the speedy Peyton Siva and one of the most athletic bigs in Terrence Jennings. Shooting guard Wayne Blackshear and power forward Chane Behanan, two All-Americans, give Rick Pitino even more weapons at his disposal.

10. Kansas Jaywaks

return to school as we expect) and still be in the Top 25, more or less the Top 10, but Kansas has the talent. Pending a Thomas Robinson return, the most efficient big man in the country, Robinson will have a breakout season, playing next to experienced point guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson and incoming freshman Naadir Tharpe. One of the top wings in the 2011 class committed to KU as well giving them one more option in Ben McLemore.

11. Memphis Tigers

Josh Pastner had himself a heck of a season- he lost All-American wing Jelan Kendrick before even logging a single-minute for the Tigers, then forward Angel Garcia dropped out to play professionally abroad and Wesley Witherspoon was in and out of the lineup all year long. Witherspoon returns, along with top scorer Will Barton, speedy point guard Joe Jackson and last season's top rebounder Tarik Black. All-American forward Adonis Thomas will fill in on the wing to give Memphis another scoring option next to Witherspoon and Barton.

12. Pittsburgh Panthers

Three starters gone, including the do-it-all Brad Wanamaker, but the Big East's best shooter Ashton Gibbs should come back after testing the waters to give Jamie Dixon a reliable and potent scorer. Nasir Robinson, Dante Taylor, Talib Zanna return to give depth up-front to go along with the top center in the incoming class, Khem Birch.

13. Michigan Wolverines

Pending Darius Morris' return to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines are a team to keep an eye on. They don't graduate anyone and return the same talent that smothered Tennessee and hung on with Duke until the final seconds in the 2011 Tournament. Morris is among the nation's best playmakers and his bond with rising-sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. should only make the backcourt tandem more lethal. Along with some still developing role players (like last year's top recruit, forward Evan Smotrycz), Michigan brings in two Top 100 commits, both guards.

14. Butler Bulldogs

It's probably not too smart to count out a Brad Stevens coached Butler squad. Depending on whether Shelvin Mack returns to the Bulldogs (likely second-round pick if he heads out early), Butler could stay in the 'teens or drop out of the Top 25 with Matt Howard, Shawn Vanzant and Zach Hahn gone as well. Ronald Nored and Andrew Smith bring their veteran experience back to the lineup along with a solid defensive presence, but the key will be Khyle Marshall. Marshall was a huge impact rebounder and playmaker down the stretch for Stevens.

15. Florida Gators

The Gators lose a ton of talent, in fact, their entire starting frontcourt of SEC player of the year Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin. But Patric Young is poised to step right in for Billy Donovan as is Eric Murphy to fill those spots. In the backcourt, both undersized guards Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker return, along with one of the top guards in the freshman class and top NBA prospect, Brad Beal, and Rutgers-transfer Mike Rosario, who give Billy Donovan even more scoring options on the wing.

16. Alabama Crimson Tide

Anthony Grant losses three of his top six, but returns two studs to his frontcourt in JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell- the duo combined for 31 points and 15 rebounds a game last season. Trevor Releford is ready to step up and do some big things as the lead guard, especially with freshman shooting guard Levi Randolph joining the lineup. Alabama is poised to step-up after making a run to the NIT finals and show that last season was no fluke.

17. Wisconson Badgers

Remember those Bearcats that began last season winners of 15 straight and everyone expected them to tail off in Big East play? Well, they finished with 26 wins, including laying the smack down Missouri, before bowing out to eventual champion UConn in the Tournament's third round. Mick Cronin returns five of his top six scorers including big man Yancy Gates and wings Dion Dixon and Sean Kilpatrick. The incoming recruiting class led Shaquille Thomas has the Bearcats competing for a top four finish in the conference.

18. Cincinnati Bearcats

19. Arizona Wildcats

With Derrick Williams' leaving to be a top five pick, the Wildcats have exactly zero returning double-digits scorers, but plenty of breakout candidates can be found. Whether its MoMo Jones, Kyle Fogg or Solomon Hill or maybe even one of Sean Miller's top freshmen- shooting guard Nick Johnson, point guard Josiah Turner, or power forwards Angelo Chol and Sidiki Johnson.

20. Xavier Musketeers

Chris Mack has been a hot name in the past few years and will again have his picking of open jobs after his next A-10 title this year. The player of the year Tu Holloway returns after a first round NCAA exit, and is joined in the backcourt by Mark Lyons and their big option down low Kenny Frease. Filling in the shoes for a couple of 30+ minute per game players like Jamel McLean and Dante Jackson won't be easy, but Mack brings in the highest rated recruit in the A-10, small forward Dezmine Wells and may get last year's top recruit Justin Martin back after being ruled NCAA ineligible.

21. Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies have a rising-star in small forward Khris Middleton who is joined by solid interior defender David Loubeau. Unfortunately, those two lose their next best scorers in BJ Holmes and Nathan Walkup, but Texas A&M's defensive mentality should prevail in the Big 12. Jamal Branch, a long, but sticky freshman, who is one of the top ten point guards in the freshman class, will be counted on from Day 1.

22. Marquette Golden Eagles

Buzz Williams is back at the helm to prove that the Golden Eagles are no fluke. Sure they lose second-leading scorer and leading defender Jimmy Butle, but return most of their blue-collar roster. Darius Johnson-Odom will lead a rather inexperienced, but talented backcourt of Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan. Jae Crowder and developing big man Chris Otule are joined by Top 100 recruit Juan Anderson and last year's top recruit Jamail Jones who played sparingly.

23. Temple Owls

Fran Dunphy is looking to build on his first career NCAA Tournament win with the Owls and looks to bring back two crucial pieces from last season's team- center Michael Eric and wing Scootie Randall. Eric suffered a broken kneecap in practice and Randall broke a bone in his foot and made it back for limited action down the stretch. Both will be likely to start the season (if healthy) along with guards Juan Fernandez, the A-10's best passer, and Ramone Moore, one of the best scoring guards in the league. An offensively-challenged Rahlir Jefferson will start at the 4, while the league's sixth man of the year, Khalif Wyatt, will still come off the bench. A lack of depth and uncertainty upfront could haunt this team.

24. Gonzaga Bulldogs

A inconsistent, although rather talented wing Steven Gray is lost to graduation, but the Bulldogs have some top returning talent in big men Robert Sacre, Elias Harris, Sam Dower, Kelly Olynyk and a potential breakout player in the backcourt in Marquise Carter. Mark Few has two four-star talents joining the crew in the backcourt as well. With Saint Mary's down and the newly-joined WCC rival BYU down, expect Gonzaga to be right around the Top 25 all season.

25. George Mason Patriots

The Patriots lost their leading scorer, but have enough options with Ryan Pearson and Luke Hancock to step up and lead the Colonial this year. VCU, ODU and Hofstra all graduated their best, while Coach Jim Larranaga brings back most of the league's best and a stellar two-man recruiting class.