Early 2012 rankings for OSU, UC, Xavier

Published Apr. 7, 2011 5:54 p.m. ET

foxsports

It used to be that onlookers might be tempted to point and laugh if a sportswriter tried to rank basketball teams for the next year immediately after the conclusion of the NCAA tournament.

To estimate how likely these early rankings are to be accurate, please consider how the NCAA tournament was predicted to go.

Hands up... Who had UConn and Butler playing for the championship your bracket?

If your hand is up now, you not only look somewhat foolish, but you're also most likely a fibber.

Anyhow, predicting the Top 25 months before the first tip-off has now become pretty standard fare.

So how do Ohio teams do in these absurdly early rankings for 2012 NCAA men's basketball? Not bad at all, actually. Hopefully these are more accurate than most of our brackets.

Fox Sports - Jeff Goodman (Number 1: Kentucky)

Ohio State: #2
"Sullinger and Buford both maintain they are returning to school – which makes the Buckeyes a legitimate Final Four threat again."

Cincinnati: Not Rated

Included in "A dozen more to watch".

Xavier: #13
"The Musketeers were short on numbers this past season,
but Chris Mack has his starting backcourt and big man back – and now
he’s got some depth."

CBS Sports - Gary Parrish (Number 1: Kentucky)

Ohio State: #4

Cincinnati: #18

Xavier: #20

Sports Illustrated - Luke Winn (Number 1: North Carolina)

Ohio State: #2
"... look for fellow sophomore Deshaun Thomas to put up big offensive numbers in a starting frontcourt role"

Cincinnati: #12

"...as one of the Big East’s top defensive teams, they’re a dark horse pick to win the league."

Xavier: #30
No explanation

ESPN - Andy Katz (Number 1: Kentucky)

Ohio State: #3
"Ohio State is once again the Big Ten's best and there's no reason to believe it won't again contend for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament."

Xavier: #15
"Chris Mack was a hot coaching-carousel candidate after leading the
Musketeers to another Atlantic 10 title. But he's a Xavier alum and a
Cincinnati guy through and through."

Cincinnati: #22
"Add in Mick Cronin's top-flight recruiting class, led by Shaquille Thomas, and Cincy has the goods to compete for a top-four spot in the Big East."

- Barry McBride