my poorly researched, very early TOP.... 12

Aaahhh...that guy.  I kinda skipped that post.  Too much punctuation.

Carry on, then.  Nothing to see here. 

I think ty's on-the-fly early Top 12 is actually quite good.  I think it's funny how people act so offended that their teams were left off another person's preseason rankings. If we all put together our early Top 12s, they would likely all be different.  So, what's the point in bashing here?  That's right, there is no point. 

Based on what last year's top teams lost (or didn't lose), I think I would come up with the same top 3 - Carolina, Pitt, and UConn.  Unfortunately, I think Dook will be back towards the top because they basically bring back everyone but Nelson and added a decent recruiting class (size may still be a big weakness though). 

Purdue showed great potential last year with a very young team.  You definitely can't count UCLA out, returning Shipp and Collison, as well as adding an outstanding '08 freshmen class. 

Tennessee and Louisville may have lost too much, I don't know.  Louisville struggled early in the year until Padgett came back and now he is gone.  Tennessee loses Lofton, JaJuan and Ramar Smith, and Duke Crews. That's 4 of their top 7 scorers.  Adding Scottie Hopson will help, but how much?

Memphis and Kansas also lost a bunch.  But those two teams are elite programs, so they will be back.  But it might be a year or so too early for them to be back in the Top 5/Top 10.  Memphis likely has a better shot to do so, returning Dozier and Anderson and adding Evans. Kansas is basically gutted, losing 6 of their 7 top scorers from last year.

I don't think Wake is really that much of a reach.  They return everyobody and add a Top 5 class for '08.  They have ultra fast guards and rapidly improving bigmen.  Aminu should be a star as well.  They could challenge Carolina and Dook in the ACC.

As for Texas, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma, I think they all could be good, but how good? Texas loses their best player and Oklahoma loses a possible NBA lottery pick. But for me the Longhorns have the best shot at being a Top 5 team. Texas returns Abrams, their all-time 3 point shooter, as well as Atchley and James - a very solid top 3.  Notre Dame also returns Harangody, arguably one of the best players in the country, so they could challenge in the Big East for sure.

As for teams I might add in that Top 12, I think Ohio State would be one, simply because of B.J. Mullens.  He is a Top 5 pick in next year's draft and a very skilled center. I think Gonzaga also merits some attention. They return everyone from last year's team aside from Pendergraft. Bouldin, Pargo, Daye, and Heytfelt make up a solid 4 of 5 starters.