Top 25 (and one): A Spartan post-deadline approach

The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the NBA Draft passed over the weekend, at which point pretty much everybody in the business of ranking college basketball teams decided it was time to update their college basketball rankings, and most put Duke at No. 1.

But not me.

I'm sticking with Michigan State.

See for yourself in the latest Top 25 (and one) ...

1. Michigan State: The Spartans are coming off back-to-back Final Fours, and yet this will be Tom Izzo's best roster in recent years. The only notable loss is Raymar Morgan, and that might hurt. But the additions of Adreian Payne and Keith Appling to a core of Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green, Delvon Roe, Korie Lucious, Derrick Nix and Chris Allen will give Izzo options on his way to what should be a seventh Final Four in 13 seasons.

2. Duke: The Blue Devils lose Jon Scheyer and both frontcourt starters (Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas) but add a McDonald's All-American point guard (Kyrie Irving) and high-scoring transfer (Seth Curry) to a core of Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins, Miles Plumlee and Mason Plumlee. That's certainly worthy of No. 1 consideration. So I won't Poll Attack those who have Duke at No. 1. As long as Michigan State, Duke and Purdue are at the top in some order, you've got a sensible preseason list.

3. Purdue:The decisions of E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson to withdraw from the NBA Draft ensured a top three ranking that suggests Matt Painter will have a legitimate shot to make his first Final Four. Assuming Robbie Hummel recovers nicely from ACL surgery -- and all indications are that he's ahead of schedule -- there's little not to like about this team.

4. Villanova: The prediction here is that the Wildcats will be better without Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding because their absence will allow Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek to flourish alongside sophomore big man Mouphtaou Yarou and incoming freshman Jayvaughn Pinkston. Add a nucleus of Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Antonio Pena and Taylor King, and Villanova should be the Big East favorite (just slightly ahead of Pitt).

5. Kansas State: Frank Martin's incredible transformation from unknown assistant to marquee Big 12 coach will continue despite the loss of Denis Clemente. The return of Jacob Pullen, Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels, Dominique Sutton, Rodney McGruder and Wally Judge means six of KSU's top seven scorers are back, and FIU transfer Freddy Asprilla should make an immediate impact in the frontcourt.

6. Pittsburgh: The top three scorers -- and seven of the top eight -- return from a 25-win team, including Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wannamaker and Gilbert Brown. The roster still doesn't seem imposing from an individual-talent perspective. But it's basically the same roster Jamie Dixon used to tear through the Big East last season. There's no reason to believe he won't do similar things next season.

7. Ohio State: There's no way to spin the departure of Evan Turner into a positive. But a heralded recruiting class headlined by Jared Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas should help ease the loss and put Thad Matta in position to make the NCAA tournament for the ninth time in 10 seasons as a head coach.

8. Baylor: Ekpe Udoh's early departure will greatly affect Baylor's ability to frustrate opponents with a zone defense. But a duo of LaceDarius Dunn and McDonald's All-American Perry Jones should be electrifying enough to keep the Bears near the top of the Big 12.

9. Temple: Nobody won 29 games with less fanfare than Temple, which hovered around the top 10 last season but never really entered the national conversation because of a lack of star power and an Atlantic 10 affiliation. Still, the Owls did win 29 games, and three of five starters returning from that roster suggests another 29 wins is possible.

10. Florida: All five starters are back thanks to Alex Tyus' decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft. Freshmen Casey Prather and Patric Young will add depth and should help the Gators not only make the NCAA tournament again, but perhaps win an SEC title on their way.

11. Gonzaga: Elias Harris is one of the few likely first-round picks who returned to school. He'll join Steven Gray, Robert Sacre and Demetri Goodson in helping Mark Few claim another WCC title.

12. Kansas: The roster got a boost from the commitment of Josh Selby, a high-flying guard who will be among the nation's most exciting players. Tyshawn Taylor, Tyrel Reed, Brady Morningstar and the Morris Twins will surround the likely one-and-done talent. Together, they'll keep the Jayhawks in the Big 12 hunt.

13. Memphis: The early departure of Elliot Williams will be softened by a recruiting class headlined by Will Barton, Jelan Kendrick and Joe Jackson. That trio paired with veterans Wesley Witherspoon, Will Coleman and Angel Garcia will again have the Tigers dominating a hopelessly out-manned league.

14. North Carolina: The surprising transfers of David and Travis Wear leave the Tar Heels light up front. But they still have Jon Henson and Tyler Zeller to work around the basket, and a talented group of guards in Dexter Strickland, Larry Drew, Will Graves and Leslie McDonald. Add Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall to the mix, and North Carolina should get back to looking like North Carolina.

15. Illinois: Bruce Weber doesn't have a team that'll get him back to the national title game. But he's got a team that could get him to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 thanks to the return of Demetri McCamey and Mike Davis, both of whom declared for the draft but withdrew by the deadline.

16. Missouri: Mike Anderson has shown he's capable of doing more with less thanks to a system that's as fun to watch as it is frustrating to play against. He adds a top 10 recruiting class to a core of Kim English, Marcus Denmon and Laurence Bowers. He should add another NCAA tournament appearance next March.

17. Kentucky: It's impossible not to slip when you lose five first-round picks in the same year, but John Calipari can endure the losses as well as anybody. He'll enroll Brandon Knight and Enes Kanter and immediately have one of the nation's strongest inside-outside duos (provided Kanter is cleared to participate as a freshman) and, by extension, one of the nation's most intriguing teams.

18. BYU: Michael Loyd Jr.'s transfer drops the Cougars from where they would've otherwise been. But the return of Jimmer Fredette should have BYU battling UNLV for the Mountain West Conference title, and the presence of Fredette should ensure people pay attention.

19. UNLV: The Rebels won't be as deep as they should've been because of the loss of Matt Shaw, who will miss the season because of a failed drug test during the NCAA tournament. Still, Tre'Von Willis, Chase Stanback, Oscar Bellfield, Kendall Wallace and Derrick Jasper remain. That's a nucleus that'll keep Lon Kruger winning games the way he always does.

20. Washington: This ranking is based on Terrence Jones -- otherwise known as a conflicted McDonald's All-American from Portland -- enrolling at Washington as he initially announced and teaming with Isaiah Thomas, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Venoy Overton, Justin Holiday, Abdul Gaddy and high school teammate Terrence Ross to comprise the Pac-10's best roster.

21. Butler: Gordon Hayward's exit cost the Bulldogs the national hype they would've otherwise enjoyed because there's just nothing like him on the roster. Still, Butler will be the favorite to win the Horizon League thanks to Ronald Nored, Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack.

22. Syracuse: Jim Boeheim loses his two best players (Wesley Johnson and Andy Rautins) but adds two impact recruits (Fab Melo and Dion Waiters) to a core of Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche and Rick Jackson. Thus, the Orange will win a lot of games (though probably not as many as last season).

23. Wisconsin: The Badgers are ranked because Bo Ryan still coaches them. As I've mentioned many times, that's enough.

24. Virginia Tech: Malcolm Delaney waited until 24 hours before the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft, leaving Virginia Tech fans nervous. Ultimately, though, he made the wise move, and now Seth Greenberg has an All-American candidate capable of leading the Hokies to the NCAA tournament.

25. Tennessee: Three of the top four scorers are gone, but it could've been worse if Scotty Hopson hadn't stayed away from the NBA Draft. That he did ensures the Vols will return one double-digit scorer, and a supporting cast of Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins, Kenny Hall and McDonald's All-American Tobias Harris should provide Bruce Pearl with the necessary tools to make the NCAA tournament for the seventh straight season.

26. Richmond: It seemed, on multiple occasions, that Chris Mooney might leave Richmond for a more lucrative job in a bigger league. But he rejected overtures, signed a new deal, then received good news when Kevin Anderson withdrew from the NBA Draft. Add it up, and the Spiders will be relevant again.