The IU men's basketball team finished the season ranked No. 13 in the final USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. The No. 13 ranking marked IU's highest ranking since its National Runner-up season of 2001-02 when it finished No. 3 in the coaches poll.
But some experts have already looked past this season to next season. Despite the uncertainty of underclassmen declaring for the NBA Draft, several publications came out with early 2012-13 polls that had IU pegged No. 1.
USA Today came out with an early poll that slotted the Hoosiers with the top spot if IU junior forward Christian Watford were to return for his senior season.
ESPN.com's Andy Katz also agreed that the Hoosiers are back to being the elite force they used to be and gave them the No. 1 spot.
Even NBC gave IU the nod as the 'way too early' top team in college basketball.
Despite losing to eventual National Champion Kentucky in the Sweet 16, the Hoosiers have been slated higher than the Wildcats because of the likelihood of underclassmen declaring for the NBA Draft. Kentucky freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are slotted as the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks on ESPN.com's Chad Ford's Top 100.
Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cody Zeller isn't far down that list at No. 6. Though he is expected to return, Zeller has not officially announced his NBA Draft status. Watford, on the other hand, is rumored to be on the fence about forgoing his senior season for the draft.
The duo was IU's two leading scorers this season and give the Hoosiers a complete returning starting five if they choose to stay in school.
