Exercise in futility? You’re damn right. It’s the only exercise we know. Before anyone else declares for the NBA, transfers, or fails out of school, here is your much-too-soon Top 10 for next season. We’re omitting Memphis because there’s zero reason to believe that Rose and CDR will stay in school.

1. UNC - On the assumption that Hansbrough et al hang around Chapel Hill. If just he leaves, there’s still enough talent to field a Top 15 team. If Hansbrough and Green bolt, Top 20; if Hansbrough, Green and Lawson leave … perish the thought.
2. Connecticut - This high if Thabeet sticks around; probably closer to 10 if he doesn’t. The Huskies lose absolutely nobody.
3. Texas - Ridiculously stacked. Lose nobody. (Augustin wouldn’t jump, would he?) Two losses, max, in the Big 12 (which is likely to lose Blake Griffin and Michael Beasley).
4. UCLA - This is assuming Westbrook makes the jump, and Love sticks around. If both stay, we put UCLA No. 2. If both leave, this is still a Top 20 squad because the recruiting class is loaded.
5. Kansas - Robinson, Jackson and Kaun graduate, and you have to think Arthur, Rush and Chalmers could test the NBA waters. If Chalmers stays, he and Aldrich and Collins form a good nucleus - good enough to win 20-25 games. If Chalmers leaves … yeah, they’re in trouble. If Chalmers and Self leave, we’re not sure if this solid recruiting class will get them to the Big Dance.
6 Georgetown - No Hibbert, no Wallace, no Ewing, but incoming frosh Greg Monroe is supposedly the Next Great Georgetown Big Man, and when you add the trio of Summers, Wright and Freeman, the Hoyas should be near the Top of the Big East.
7. USC - Even if OJ Mayo leaves, the trio of Jefferson, Hackett and Gibson is very awesome. And the new Mayo will be this fellow, who is buddies with Lil’ Romeo.
8. Notre Dame - Six of the top seven scorers from the team with the second best record in the Big East return, and including POY candidate Luke Harangody.
9. Florida - The Gators lose nobody from a promising young team and add two of the best high school bigs in the country. A new dynasty is forming.
10. Tennessee - The class of the SEC loses its top two guards, but nobody else. They still sorely lack a post-presence, but Smith and Prince will run-and-gun this team to another 20+ wins and a top five NCAA tourney seed.

Just outside: Davidson, Arizona, Clemson, Purdue, Gonzaga, Wake Forest, Ohio State, Louisville, Arizona State, Duke, Mississippi State (though who knows if anyone else will transfer and send these guys back to the basement of the SEC) and Syracuse (probably have a strong case for the 10th spot or higher, but what will Greeene, Harris, and Flynn do?).