2012-13 Way too early College Basketball Top 25.

Well I tried last year, and my picks were awful. So how do I make it better? I did some research this time and waited until the top recruits made their decisions. This will be a lot more embarrassing next April after a Champion is crowned and I'm way off because I put some time into it.  There are still some top recruits available, most notably Anthony Bennett (#7 overall), Devonta Pollard (#22 overall), and Tony Parker (#27).  These guys should all make immediate impacts to a college program. It is sad we live in a time where one recruit may change the whole landscape, but it does happen.  Kentucky assembled an all star recruiting class and won it all. They have another one lined up, and some other teams are following suit. The major pieces have decided where to go, but these three players will make a difference.

1. Indiana-The Hoosiers are back. The 2011 campaign brought a revival to Bloomington, and it was only a preview of things to come. Indiana should be one of the favorites to bring home the National Championship. Cody Zeller recently chose not to be a one and done type guy, and his return may lead to big things. The 6-11 crafty big man went toe to toe with every good post player he faced in 2011-12 . The Hoosiers bring back four other starters as well. Christian Watford will be a big factor in the post. This team has experience and brings in a talented recruiting class highlighted by Point Guard Kevin Farrell, the nations 19th rated recruit.  The Hoosiers blend of experience and gifted freshmen should be enough to carry them to a Final 4 in Atlanta.

2. Kentucky- Big Blue Nation and Coach Calipari finally broke through and won a National Championship in 2012.  The one and done freshmen technique finally paid off, so can they do it again?  I think that is certainly a possibility.  The Cats lose Anthiny Davis,Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Terrence Jones for sure. Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague should be gone too. Kentucky still will be very, very good. Nerlens Noel should fill right in for Anthony Davis. Noel is the nation's 2nd rated recruit. His running mates are Alex Poythress(#8) and Archie Goodwin(#14). The threesome may be joined by Anthony Bennett also. John Calipari is a really good coach and is able to get superstars to play together really well for a one year stretch. This team may not be as good last year, but Calipari can get teams to grow. Talent is a big factor these days, and Kentucky is not short on that.

3. UCLA-Thing is Westwood looked really bleak this season. The Bruins had a bad year on the court and received some bad press from Sports Illustrated. So how did Ben Howland still attract two of the top three recruits in the country?  Kyle Anderson's game is mentioned in the same sentence as Magic Johnson, that should say a lot. Shabazz Muhammed was the nation's most coveted prep star, and he chose to stay on the West Coast. Those two should form a lethal combination and restore pride to the Pac 12, and more importantly to the UCLA program. UCLA has some big returnees also.  The Wear twins are 6-10 and both averaged double figures last season. Tyler Lamb is an athletic scoring wing, and UNC transfer Larry Drew Jr. should help make the backcourt solid.  The Bruins will be long and athletic this season and the two superstar freshmen can carry the Bruins back to the National spotlight.

4. Baylor-The Baylor teams are facing an NCAA investigation. It may take a while for things to process, so the Bears should be ready to contend again next year.  Baylor loses some talented big men in Quincy Acy and Perry Jones, but they won't be short on size.  Quincy Miller has decided to stay in school, and Brandon Austin is a seven footer that was a highly touted recruit. The length of Baylor is becoming a trademark. Baylor's backcourt is lethal. Pierre Jackson is a hard nosed point guard, and Brady Heslip is a dead eye shooter. Baylor has all the talent in the country, they seemed to falter against top tier talent.  The Bears need to match up better with good teams. The Bears should win the Big 12, and will make a good effort to break through to the Final Four.

5. Duke-This may be a little higher than the Devils have getting, but I do not understand why.  Duke has the iconic coach of this generation, and they bring back four senior starters.  Ryan Kelly, Marshall, and Mason Plumlee should be good size and tough for anyone to deal with.  Seth Curry is a big time shooter and Andrew Dawkins is a smart player that has been around.  Coach K can win titles with lesser talent because of his abilities, but this team has some skill. Throw in Rasheed Sulaimon a top flight recruit, and you have another weapon.  They Devils are waiting on Amille Jefferson to commit as well. Duke has size, shooters, and coaching.  I will not be shocked to see Duke have a great year.

6. Michigan-Michigan enjoyed a successful campaign in 2012.  John Beilein finally has hit his stride as a coach in Ann Arbor.  Michigan is bringing in a very touted recruiting class to add to a talented returning group. These Wolverines can give Indiana a run for their money in the Big Ten. Trey Burke's return sets up the high ranking.  He is a talented guard that may be the best Point Guard in the country. Tim Hardaway Jr. is a good running mate standing at 6-6. The recruits should bring a new flair. Mitch McGary is a 6-10 post player that is expected to start right away.Glenn Robinson III is the prize of the class, and may end up starting as well.  Michigan isn't terribly deep, but they are talented.  Michigan should finally see some tournament success under Coach Beilein.

7. Syracuse-The Orange had one of the best teams in the country in 2012, and were set for a Final Four birth. That was until Fab Melo got suspended and took away a big seven foot presence in the middle of the Orange 2-3 Zone.  Syracuse loses a lot of key pieces, but being the deepest team in the country leaves you with some pretty good ones. Brandon Triche and CJ Fair should be the leaders of this squad.  The Orange have two talented big men, sophomore Rakeem Christmas and freshmen, DeJuan Coleman. Michael Carter-Williams is a former All American in High School, but was deep in the depth chart behind some upper classmen. Jim Boeheim has been doing very well in the regular season lately, but it has not necessarily meant deep tournament runs. This team will have a nice blend of experience and young talent. Syracuse is capable of running up another big record.

8. Louisville-The Louisville Cardinals surprised a lot of people and earned a Final Four birth in 2012. The scrappy bunch is a typical Rick Pitino team, and they may be even better in 2013. The floor general Peyton Siva should be returning for his senior season. His defensive play sets the tone for the rest of the team. Russ Smith is a solid off guard and should improve being a more featured player this year.Behannan and Dieng are back in the front court. There is no big recruiting class coming in, just three players that will be healthy for a full season. Jared Swopshire,Rakeem Buckles, and especially Wayne Blackshear should add depth and skill to Louisville. Pitino's teams often run deep, and this one should be no different.

9. North Carolina-The Tar Heels essentially lose everything, but in typical Carolina fashion, they simply reload.  Reggie Bullock and Dexter Strickland will man the guard positions.  Strickland's presence may have secured a Final 4 birth, but was out on injury for most of the season.  James Michael McAdoo decided to stay.  He was a reserve for Henson and Zeller, and did not show all of his skill.  This guy is very good, and may have a Thomas Robinson type season and totally break out.  The Tar Heels didn't add a top flight recruit, but they are bringing in four top 65 players to the program.  The Heels have talent at every position and should be in the thick of the ACC race.

10. Ohio State-The Buckeyes lost big man Jared Sullinger. They still return three starters back from a Final Four team. Aaron Craft could possibly be the best,smartest, and toughest all around guard in the country. He will win Ohio State to a lot of wins this season. DeShaun Thomas will be back and will flourish in an expanded role.Coach Thad Matta has totally revived this program and has made it a national presence since his arrival.  The Buckeyes have room to add some recruits, and there are a few left on the board. I would not be surprised to see the Buckeyes add some more talent, even though they will be fine without it.




11. NC State-Yes, you read correctly.  The NC State Wolfpack under coach Mark Gottfried are ready to factors nationally in 2013. The Pack added three McDonald's All Americans to a pretty solid roster already. Star Forward, CJ Leslie has yet to make a choice on whether to enter the draft, but if he returns the Wolfpack may move up a little.  Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood are two solid guards that can score. Howell and Painter are good veteran big men that should provide size.  The young guys should infuse some talent that has not been in Raleigh for some time. Rodney Purvis and Ty Warren are athletic wings that will be hard matchups for ACC opponents. Tyler Lewis may be in line to take over point guard responsibilities right away.  Its hard to imagine NC State to make such a jump so soon, but the talent is there.The Wolfpack will expand on the Sweet 16 appearance in 2012 and see if they can turn that into something more.

12. Kansas-The Jayhawks made a memorable run all the way to the finals, after nobody expected them to be there. It may have been Coach Bill Self's best job ever. The Jayhawks bring back three starters from the National Title game. Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey remained in school and they put KU on the map for 2013.  Tyler Releford also comes back for Kansas.  Those three should carry KU for a lot of wins, but it is concerning they do not have a tru guard lined up for next season.  Perry Ellis may have to fill the void left by Thomas Robinson right away. He is a special recruit and was highly sought after.  Kansas brings in a few other talented freshmen to the mix.  Bill Self proved he can win with a group that isn't overly talented, this time he has a group with some proven talent, Will he be able to top last year?

13. Arizona-Sean Miller is bringing in the most talented recruiting class in the country.  The Wildcats will be the biggest threat to UCLA's Pac 12 Title. Arizona's success should start with Solomon Hill, who is forgoing the draft to remain in Tuscan.  After that, it should be a show of Freshmen.  Kaleb Tarczewski may be the Pac 12's most talented Big man instantly. Brandon Ashley and Grant Jarrett are two other talented post players that should give Arizona a dominating inside presence. All three players are among the nation's top 25 recruits.  Gabe York is a top 50 recruit that should help right away at guard.  The Pac 12 is a freshmen dominated league for 2013.  Arizona and UCLA's freshmen will be battling out all season  long for conference supremecy, and it should give the league a breathe of much needed fresh air.

14. Michigan State-Tom Izzo got his team to play extraordinarily well last season.  The Spartans lose their heart and soul in Draymond Green, but his work ethic should rub off on the program.  Keith Appling is a good lead guard for Spartans going into next season.  They are not short on veteran big man either.Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne should big a large inside presence. The health of Brenden Dawson will be a welcomed addition. The talented swingman will be a difference maker for the Spartans.  Tom Izzo always reels in good recruits, and he has done it yet again. Gary Harris is a very highly touted guard that will help the Spartans backcourt.  Michigan State was not on the radar last season and earned a 1 seed in the NCAA's, this year they are on the radar, so how will things shape up?

15. Florida-The Gators are talented enough to compete at the highest level, but it depends on one things. Does Bradley Beal return to school or not?  If he does, the Gators are a top 10 team, if not they stay a top 25 team. Kenyon Boyton is as good as guard in the SEC and will lead the Gators to a successful campaign.  Erik Murphy and Patric Young are two formidable big men that can take on Kentucky in the SEC race.  Mike Rosario is the wild card?  Can he be a factor like he was for Rutgers, or will he remain a role guy?  He has a good shooting stroke and can light up the scoreboard. Bradley Beal is a sure fire team All American if he returns, and can lead Florida to the Final 4.

16. Memphis-Memphis has taken a bit of slide since Coach Calipari has left, but 2013 could be a coming out party.  Memphis will lose Will Barton but returns plenty of talent. The group will be lead by the junior class of Joe Jackson,Antonio Barton,Chris Crawford, and Tarik Black. The group had high expectations coming in, and they have not met them.  This is the year the team needs to prove their worth. The Tigers bring on freshmen, Shaquille Goodwin to add depth down low.  Memphis is playing its final year in Conference USA, as always they should dominate, but can they take it to the next level in the postseason?

17. Texas-Texas had an up and down season. They appeared as though they would miss the NCAA tournament and found themselves on the right side of the bubble as it turned out.  Texas is young and they lose star guard, J'Covan Brown to the NBA.  Myck Kabongo should emerge as a star. He led the team in assists, and will see his scoring go up.  Sheldon McClellan had a great freshmen season, and will be counted on to score plenty of points this time around. The Longhorns issue will be inside play, but their two best incoming recruits are post players. Price Ibeh and and Cameron Ridley will play big factors right away.  Texas should be better than last year, but they may struggle to compete with Kansas and Baylor in the Big 12.

18. Notre Dame-The Irish were an upstart team in 2012. They were picked in the bottom half in the Big East, yet they ended up winning 22 games. The Irish have the chance of being really, really good in 2013. Tim Abromaitis and Scott martin are unsure if they will be eligible, but if so the Irish will play a bigger factor in the Big East.  Jack Cooley was the league's most improved player, and will be even better next season.  Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins will man the backcourt.  Cameron Biedscheid is a very heralded recruit and will make an impact.  Notre Dame can be really tough without Martin and Abromaitis, but they will be much better with them.  Could be a good year in South Bend next season.

19. Gonzaga-The Zags gave Ohio State everything they could handle in the NCAA's.  That could be a telling sign for things to come.  Elias Harris has yet to decided his future next season, but he would be a welcomed addition back in Spokane.  Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. are two guards that are capable of scoring a lot of points, and David Stockton can give good minutes. Guard play should certainly be a strength.  Sam Downer will be counted on to play a bigger role down low.  Gonzaga always fields a strong team, they always play a deadly schedule, and they are a tough out come March.  2013 should not be any different.

20. San Diego State-The Aztecs could be really dangerous in 2012.  They had a magical run in 2011 by winning 34 games and followed up with a solid 26 win campaign last year.  This could be their best run yet. Jamal Franklin, Chase Tapley, and Xavier Thames are all guards that averaged in double figures last year.  They should have one of the best backcourts out there.  They also add some impact transfers, most notably would be Dwayne Polee from Saint Johns.  The 6-7 swingman should add athleticism as should five star recruit Winston Sheppherd.  This is a real sleeper team. They can find themselves in the Top 10 early on, and they could be there for a while.

21. Missouri-Missouri had an embarrassing end to a memorable season. The Tigers were a marquee team all year long and lost to lowly Norfolk State.  The Tigers lose a ton.  They should still be alright.  Phil Pressey will return and be one of the better lead guards in the country. Michael Dixon is a good running mate and the two will be the key to Mizzou's success.  The Tigers have also landed a pleasant surprise. Alex Oriakhi will be transferring to Mizzou and will be eligible immediately.  The talented big man has won a National Championship at UConn and will add a big presence that Missouri lacked last season.  This is a fun team to watch, and the run and gun offense now has a big man to solidify things.  The Tigers may make a run in the deep Big 12.

22. Wisconsin-Wisconsin is a veteran bunch.  Bo Ryan does as good of a job as anyone at getting his team ready to play.  The Badgers play knock out defense and low scoring basketball, and they will be able to play with anyone in the Big Ten yet again.  Jordan Taylor is gone, and a new lead guard must emerge. Josh Gasser and Ben Brust are both deadly shooters, but lack true Point Guard skills.  They will have to adapt.  Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, and Jared Berggren should man the inside. That is three seniors and two juniors. They will be ready to play, and ready to defend.   Sam Dekker is a highly touted player out of Wisconsin and he will help instantly. This team can shoot it, and they will be a tough out.

23. UNLV-The Runnin' Rebels ran off some impressive wins in the 2012 campaign. They beat North Carolina in the early season that helped raise the profile.  Dave Rice had a very successful rookie season as a coach and brings back a pretty good group for this year. Mike Moser is back after leading the team in scoring and rebounding.  He may be the best and most valuable player in the Mountain West conference. Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins are back to handle the guard situation. This UNLV team is going to run and gun. Rice handles the team well and Moser can carry them pretty far, they will have some epic battles with San Diego State.

24. Creighton- Creighton had a very successful season in 2012 by compiling a 29-6 record. Doug McDermott will come back off an incredible Sophomore season. The crafty forward averaged 22 points and 8 rebounds and will likely do it again.  McDermott is good enough to carry a team to the Sweet 16, but the Jays return a few pieces yet. Gregory Echinique is a solid post threat and Grant Gibbs is a good guard, but they will need to bring some more scoring to the table.  Ethan Wragge as a small forward will see an expanded role also.  The Bluejays will score plenty of points and pull off some wins they are not supposed to get, and will be a threat in March.

25. Pittsburgh-The Panthers had a forgettable 2012, but will see better days in 2013.  Tray Woodall will be back and healthy for his senior season.  Pitt also returns wings Lamar Patterson and JJ Moore and big things are expected for both.  Dante Taylor and Talib Zanna are also back in the post.  This team gained valuable experience and should be better for next year.  That also will stem with the nation's number five recruit, Steven Adams.  The 7 footer will make an impact right away in the Big East. Pitt may also be adding a talented transfer from Central Michigan, Trey Zeigler for next year barring a waiver.  Zeigler is a former top 30 recruit and will add a much needed presence at Shooting Guard for the Panthers.  Pitt will get back to the tournament this time around, and depending on how the newcomers play, they may win a lot of games with it.