There's Always Next Year: How 'Bout Big Ten Hoops In '11? And Butler?

According to one man's predictions, yes, the Butler magic will continue next year. From Mike Decourcy at the Sporting News, this is what college basketball's hierarchy will look like next season:

1. Duke

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan State

4. Butler

5. Purdue

(Aside: why don't Butler and Purdue just merge programs? Would anyone notice?)

The Big Ten looks LOADED...but it should probably come with an asterisk. This may well be what the preseason top 5 looks like next year, but Michigan State's returning talent is irrelevant. At this point, it doesn't matter. I'm convinced. No matter what kind of talent they've got--good or bad--the Spartans go up and down all year, enter the tournament as 4-5 seed, and "suprise" everyone with a Final Four run. Well, I'm not getting fooled again.

And as for Ohio State, here's what Decourcy had to say:

Picture this year's Sweet 16 team, only with genuine frontcourt power provided by freshman center Jared Sullinger and forward Deshaun Thomas.

Yeah, so for next year's Ohio State team, just picture this year's team. Except... WITHOUT EVAN TURNER. Would Ohio State without Evan Turner look like the no. 2 team in the country? Jared Sullinger must be reeeeally good.

In any case, while college basketball's still fresh in our minds, it's fun to think about the possibilities. And nice to know that after a miracle run in the tourney, Butler's not done.

(See how we avoided acknowledging Duke?)