The Final Four of the 2011 NCAA Tournament featured Kentucky, Connecticut, Virginia Commonwealth, and Butler, with the Huskies and Bulldogs facing off in the title game, and UConn walking away as the March Madness champions.
Bet on the 2012 NCAA Tournament at Pinnacle Sports
So how are last year’s top four teams faring on the NCAA basketball futures at Pinnacle Sports heading into the 2011/12 season? None of them are favourites, but Kentucky are pretty close at 6.760 to claim the title.
Kentucky were edged 56-55 by Connecticut in the Final Four in April, and they lost point guard Brandon Knightto the Pistons, center Josh Harrellson to the Hornets, and shooting guard DeAndre Liggins to the Magic in the NBA Draft.
However, John Calipari's team is expected to re-tool quickly, thanks to having the top-ranked recruiting class for the 2011/12 season. Leading the way is power forward Anthony Davis, the top-ranked recruit in college basketball. Small forward Michael Gilchrist and point guard Marquis Teague were both Top-10 recruits as well for the Wildcats.
The defending-champions the Huskies are further back at 29.100 to win the NCAA Tournament next year, having lost star guard Kemba Walker to the Bobcats in the NBA Draft. Replacing Walker's scoring and leadership will be a tough task for UConn; the Huskies had the 30th-ranked recruiting class for 2011.
Butler are back at 71.240 to win the NCAA Tournament next year, while Virginia Commonwealth are listed with The Field at 21.070. Butler guard Shelvin Mack was a second-round pick of the Wizards in the NBA Draft; averaging 16 points per game for the Bulldogs last season.
Favourites for the upcoming college basketball season are hoops heavyweights North Carolina at 5.270, along with Ohio State at 9.530, and Duke at 12.040.
The Tar Heels fell to Kentucky in last year's regional finals, while the Buckeyes lost to Kentucky in the regional semi-finals. Duke were also a regional semi-final loser last year, falling to Arizona.
North Carolina didn't lose anyone to the NBA Draft, and their ninth-ranked recruiting class is highlighted by power forward James McAdoo. Ohio State lost shooting guard Jon Diebler to the Trail Blazers, and have the eighth-ranked recruiting class heading into the season.
And of course the Blue Devils will be without both point guard Kyrie Irving (first overall to the Cavaliers) and shooting guard Nolan Smith (21st overall to the Trail Blazers), but can fall back on a second-ranked recruiting class that includes highly-touted guard Austin Rivers.
Other schools riding high in the odds to win the 2012 NCAA Tournament include Louisville at 12.040,Syracuse at 14.050, Florida at 18.560, Vanderbilt at 21.070, and UCLA at 23.080.
The next tier then features Kansas, Memphis, St. John's, and Pittsburgh, all at 26.090, with Texas at 27.090. The Longhorns, who fell to Arizona in their second game of last year's NCAA Tournament, lost power forwardTristan Thompson, small forward Jordan Hamilton and point guard Cory Joseph in the NBA Draft, but have the 10th-ranked recruiting class heading into the season.
