Michigan State is losing two potential lottery picks off of its 2017-18 team in Jaren Jackson in Nick Ward, and potentially a third starter in Nick Ward, who has declared for the NBA draft but could still return.
And yet college basketball analysts still project Michigan State will e among the 12 best teams in the country next year.
A set of way-too-early top 25 rankings, released immediately after Monday's national championship game, all peg the 2018-19 Spartans between No. 10 and No. 12 in the country.
The Sporting News has the Spartans the highest at No.