A very early look at next year's Top 25

by Jeff Goodman

Updated: April 12, 2008, 1:45 PM EST 288 comments

Early Preseason Top 25

1) North Carolina
2007-08 Resume: 36-3, lost to Kansas in Final Four
Likely Early Departure: Ty Lawson
We're going under the assumption that Tyler Hansbrough will return for his senior season and Ty Lawson will depart early for the NBA. If that happens and Wayne Ellington sticks around Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels should be the consensus No. 1 to start the season. Roy Williams still has Marcus Ginyard, Danny Green, Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson back, plus Bobby Frasor will return from a knee injury. Toss in a strong freshman class that includes big men Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller and steady point guard Larry Drew, and UNC will be the prohibitive favorite next season.

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2) Michigan State
2007-08 Resume: 27-9, lost to Memphis in Sweet 16
Likely Early Departure: None
The Spartans will lose guard Drew Neitzel and big man Drew Naymick, but Tom Izzo has plenty coming back and also will add one of the nation's most talented freshmen in athletic forward Delvon Roe. Guards Kalin Lucas, Travis Walton and Chris Allen all return, as does forward Raymar Morgan and big guys Goran Suton and Marquise Gray.

3) Notre Dame
2007-08 Resume: 25-8, Lost to Washington St. in 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The Irish are the Big East preseason favorites after returning everyone except senior forward Rob Kurz. Mike Brey's club brings back Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody and the starting backcourt of Tory Jackson and Kyle McAlarney. Throw in role guys like Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland, and the Irish have all the pieces next year to win the league.

4) Duke
2007-08 Resume: 28-6, lost to West Virginia in 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The Blue Devils' lone critical loss was that of senior guard DeMarcus Nelson, but after watching him in the NCAA tournament, it's not really all that big of a deal — especially with the addition of talented freshman Elliott Williams. Duke brings back four starters — Greg Paulus, Gerald Henderson Jr., Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas — as well as sixth man Jon Scheyer, guard Nolan Smith and 7-footer Brian Zoubek. The one issue is that Mike Krzyzewski won't add a legitimate power guy down low this season.

5) Georgetown
2007-08 Resume: 28-6, lost to Davidson in 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The Hoyas lose plenty of experience with the departure of four seniors, including starting point guard Jonathan Wallace and 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert. However, John Thompson III will likely have Dajuan Summers back, and he'll have a far more athletic group. Jessie Sapp and Austin Freeman return in the backcourt, and look for Chris Wright to take the reins from Wallace as the starting point guard. The Hoyas also add a strong recruiting class led by the consensus No. 1 player in skilled big man Greg Monroe.

6) UCLA
2007-08 Resume: 35-4, lost to Memphis in the Final Four
Likely Early Departure: Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison
Kevin Love is likely history. Russell Westbrook and/or Darren Collison may not be far behind. However, Ben Howland still brings back Josh Shipp, Luc Mbah a Moute, James Keefe and a quartet of talented freshmen that bring much-needed athleticism to the table. Guards Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson will step right in if Collison and Westbrook leave, and the Bruins won't lose much of a beat.

7) Purdue
2007-08 Resume: 25-9, lost to Xavier in the 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The young Boilermakers weren't supposed to even get to the Big Dance this year. Instead, they got an NCAA tournament win. The freshman class of E'Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel, Scott Martin and JaJuan Johnson has a year under their belt, and Matt Painter brings back everyone except for his backup point guard. Painter also adds a potential starting floor leader in speedy Lewis Jackson.

8) Gonzaga
2007-08 Resume: 25-8, lost to Davidson in 1st round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The 'Zags return nearly their entire team — starting guards Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin as well as big man Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye. Toss in Micah Downs and give Steven Gray a full season, and Mark Few's team has all the pieces to be among the nation's elite next season.

9) Texas
2007-08 Resume: 31-7, Lost to Memphis in Elite Eight
Likely Early Departure: D.J. Augustin
Even if D.J. Augustin leaves, the Longhorns should have enough to be a Top 10-ish club with A.J. Abrams, Damion James, Connor Atchley, Justin Mason and Gary Johnson. Rick Barnes also adds talented yet enigmatic freshman in J'Covan Brown. The key will be who will take Augustin's spot running the team, and that may fall to Turkish floor leader Dogus Balbay.

10) Tennessee
2007-08 Resume: 31-5, Lost to Louisville in Sweet 16
Likely Early Departure: None
Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith are gone, but the larger question is this: What can Bruce Pearl do to try and fix his point guard issues? Tennessee will be a Top 25 team regardless, with the expected return of Tyler Smith and also having guys like Wayne Chism and Duke Crews back up front. However, for them to take the next step, they'll need Ramar Smith or J.P. Prince to take hold of the point guard spot — or even freshman Daniel West to come in and run the show.

11) Connecticut
2007-08 Resume: 24-9, lost to San Diego in 1st round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: Hasheem Thabeet
We're going under the assumption that Thabeet is gone to the NBA, but no decision has been made as of yet. Jim Calhoun's team will still have guards A.J. Price and Jerome Dyson back, and Jeff Adrien and Stanley Robinson as returning starters in the frontcourt. The Huskies will also add a pair of talented freshmen in point guard Kemba Walker and wing Nate Miles.

12) Memphis:
2007-08 Resume: 38-2, lost in national title game
Likely Early Departure: Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts
The Tigers will be without big man Joey Dorsey, and it's nearly a lock that Derrick Rose and CDR will leave early for the NBA. John Calipari will still have Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier, Willie Kemp, Shawn Taggart and Doneal Mack back, and he'll also add a pair of frontcourt players in Matt Simpkins and Angel Garcia. The key could be whether the Tigers gain the services of the nation's top unsigned senior, guard Tyreke Evans.

13) Miami
2007-08 Resume: 23-11, lost to Texas in 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The Hurricanes return their top five scorers, and Frank Haith's only loss is that of big man Anthony King. Leading scorer Jack McClinton is back for his senior campaign, and he'll have plenty of help with James Dews, Brian Asbury, Lance Hurdle and big men Dwayne Collins and Jimmy Graham. Don't be surprised if wing DeQuan Jones comes in and makes an immediate impact as a freshman.

14) USC
2007-08 Resume: 21-12, Lost to Kansas State in 1st round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: O.J. Mayo
Tim Floyd loses a big-time one-and-done guy, but he'll add another in Demar DeRozan — maybe the freshman with the most NBA potential. The Trojans will also likely have Taj Gibson and Davon Jefferson back, as well as guards Daniel Hackett and Angelo Johnson and wing Dwight Lewis.

15) Villanova
2007-08 Resume: 22-13, lost to Kansas in Sweet 16
Likely Early Departure: None
Jay Wright's club wasn't supposed to be in the Sweet 16 after being on the verge of getting into the Big East tournament late in the year, but the young kids matured down the stretch, and the Wildcats return everyone. Wright has quality guards with Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher and solid frontcourt guys with Dante Cunningham, Shane Clark, Dwayne Anderson and Antonio Pena.

16) Pittsburgh
2007-08 Resume: 27-10, lost to Michigan State in the 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
The Panthers lose senior guards Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin. While both are replaceable, Jamie Dixon will need to find someone who can shoot the ball from the perimeter. Pittsburgh has point guard Levance Fields back and healthy and Sam Young and DeJuan Blair are a force up front, while guys like Gilbert Brown and Tyrell Biggs showed flashes.

17) Marquette
2007-08 Resume: 25-10, lost to Stanford in 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
Buzz Williams takes over for Tom Crean, and he'll likely have four starters back in the fold. Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews will all be seniors, and Lazar Hayward came on strong in his sophomore campaign. The key could be whether talented and athletic forward Trevor Mbakwe lives us to his potential, because the Golden Eagles need some help up front.

18) Arizona State
2007-08 Resume: 21-13, Lost to Florida in NIT
Likely Early Departure: None
Herb Sendek will return freshman star James Harden, big man Jeff Pendergraph, Ty Abbott and Jamelle McMillan. The Sun Devils were one of the last teams left out of the NCAA tournament this past season, but don't expect a repeat this year.

19) Florida
2007-08 Resume: 24-12, Lost to UMass in NIT semis
Likely Early Departure: Marresse Speights
The young Gators won't just be a year older, they'll also get some reinforcements with the addition of a strong freshman class that includes Eloy Vargas, Allan Chaney, Kenneth Kadji and Ray Shipman. Speights has declared for the draft, but hasn't hired an agent and may come back to school. Nick Calathes is a star. There's no reason to think Billy Donovan's team can't challenge for the SEC crown.

20) Kansas
2007-08 Resume: 37-3, won the national title
Likely Early Departure: Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers
Bill Self will lose the bulk of his national championship team. Seniors Darnell Jackson, Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun are all definitely gone, while Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers will all likely leave early for the NBA. That would leave Sherron Collins in the backcourt and Cole Aldrich up front and six new faces, led by the Morris twins (Marcus and Markieff).

21) Wake Forest
2007-08 Resume: 17-13
Likely Early Departure: None
Here's one that people may disagree with, but the Demon Deacons return everyone on the entire team and also bring in three of the Top 50 freshmen in the country — athletic forward Al-Farouq Aminu, big man Ty Walker and Tony Woods. Dino Gaudio will have Ishmael Smith and Jeff Teague in the backcourt and the league's top freshman, James Johnson, back in the fold, and they'll all be a year older.

22) Ohio State
2007-08 Resume: 24-13, Won NIT title
Likely Early Departure: Kosta Koufos
This is a difficult team to predict. First of all, it's uncertain whether Koufos will stay for his sophomore year. Thad Matta's team also lost senior point guard and leader Jamar Butler, and he'll try to replace him with freshman Anthony Crater. Matta will bring back David Lighty, Evan Turner and Jon Diebler, and also adds one of the nation's elite freshman in B.J. Mullens.

23) Louisville
2007-08 Resume: 27-9, Lost to North Carolina in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament
Likely Early Departure: Earl Clark, Derrick Caracter
Senior David Padgett is gone and so is Earl Clark, who will leave early for the NBA. However, Rick Pitino's club should have Terrence Williams, Jerry Smith and Andre McGee back. Reginald Delk is eligible after sitting out and Louisville will add arguably the best big man in the country in freshman Samardo Samuels.

24) Wisconsin
2007-08 Resume: 31-5, Lost to Davidson in Sweet 16
Likely Early Departure: None
It's difficult to leave any Bo Ryan-coached squad out of the equation, no matter who he brings back. Brian Butch may be gone, but the Badgers still have Trevon Hughes and role guys such as Marcus Landry, Joe Krabbenhoft and Jason Bohannon.

25) UNLV
2007-08 Resume: 27-8, Lost to Kansas in 2nd round of NCAA
Likely Early Departure: None
Lon Kruger gets as much as anyone out of his talent. The Running Rebels advanced to the second round, and Kruger's lone key loss is that of Curtis Terry. Wink Adams and Joe Darger are back, and UNLV will add athletic big man Beas Hamga, who sat out this season.

Ten more to watch

Davidson
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
San Diego
Baylor
Syracuse
BYU
Saint Mary's
Kentucky
UAB