NCAA Bracket 2012: 5 Teams That Will Threaten for the Title in 2013

The 2012 NCAA tournament is winding down. Championship dreams have crashed and burned as six teams remain.

With this year's edition of March Madness coming to a close, it is not too early to look ahead to next year. 

Surprising teams will emerge as contenders, and the traditional powerhouses will remain in the mix. But who has a real shot at the 2013 NCAA tournament title?

That is hard to tell, but I can give you five teams riding the inside track.

Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans lose seniors Draymond Green, Brandon Wood and Austin Thornton to the graduation, but reinforcements are on the way.

McDonald's All-American Gary Harris is joined by Denzel Valentine, Kenny Kaminski and Matt Costello to form a solid Spartan recruiting class. Harris will see significant playing time right away. The other three will see the court, as well.

The incoming freshman will join a capable returning group in East Lansing. 

Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne return down low. Both improved over the course of the season. They are huge bodies down low, and fit into Tom Izzo's system. 

Branden Dawson, Travis Trice and Keith Appling will provide punch from the perimeter. Dawson oozes talent, and could explode in his second season. 

The Spartans will miss Green tremendously. He meant everything to this team. But, talent is on the way. 

Izzo is excellent at getting the most out of his players. He will work wonders with this much talent next season.

Gonzaga

Gonzaga had a very strong showing in the 2012 NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs fell to Ohio State in Round 3, but fought until the bitter end. 

The Bulldogs will lose center Robert Sacre to graduation, but everyone else will probably be back.

Matt Pangos and Gary Bell, Jr. will lead the 'Zags backcourt. Pangos and Bell, Jr. were dynamic in their freshman. Pangos is a heady distributor with a dagger stroke from the outside. Bell, Jr. is also an electric perimeter shooter, but he improved his penetration game as the season went along. 

Mike Hart and Kevin Stockton provide depth in the backcourt. Stockton is a pass-first point guard with a knack for finding the open man. Hart is a big guard with the ability to slash to the basket. 

Guy Landry Edi and Sam Dower will make up the frontcourt. Both are undersized, but athletic. Landry Edi took on a bigger role late in the season, and displays impressive athleticism in the open court.

The x-factor for this team is Elias Harris. Harris should return, but an NBA decision would not surprise me. Harris is an underrated all-around player. He contributes across the board, and stuffs the stat sheet. 

If the Bulldogs want to make a title run Harris will be needed.

The Bulldogs are the blueprint for Cinderella teams, and they have been for a long time. Next year will be their chance to get over that hump, and take their team to the next level.

Indiana

The Indiana Hoosiers were incredibly young this season. That experience will only help the Hoosiers realize their championship dreams in the 2013 NCAA tournament.

The Hoosiers will lose Verdell Jones III to graduation. Cody Zeller could also bolt for the NBA draft, but it would not surprise me to see him back in Bloomington for one more year.

Every other contributor will definitely be back in a Hoosier uniform next season.

The Hoosiers also have three big-time recruits coming in. Hanner Parea and Kevin Farrell are both 5-star prospects, according to rivals.com. Jeremy Hollowell is considered a 4-star prospect.

If Zeller decides to leave, Parea could start from day one. He is a very athletic forward with a solid face-up game. Farrell will push for playing time in the backcourt.

Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford, Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey will form a solid, veteran foundation for Tom Crean. Watford is an underrated scorer. Oladipo is an airtight defender. Hulls is the Hoosiers' three-point ace, and Sheehey does a bit of everything. 

Indiana will have a great starting lineup, and talented depth waiting in the wings.

Next year's Hoosier team will be ready.

The Hoosiers lacked experience this season. That will not be the case next year.

Syracuse

Syracuse was the deepest team in college basketball this season. The Orange will lose a few key pieces to graduation, but they will be in championship conversations again.

The Orange lose Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph to graduation. Center Fab Melo is the only underclassman who could jump early. 

All of these players are replaceable. 

Syracuse will add McDonald's All-American DaJuan Coleman, and fellow 4-star prospect Jerami Grant to the fold next season. Coleman and Grant will add depth to a very deep Syracuse front line. 

C.J. Fair, Rakeem Christmas, James Southerland and Baye Keita return in the frontcourt. They form one of the best, and most athletic, frontcourts in college basketball next season. 

Brandon Triche and Michael Carter-Williams will share point guard duties. Triche will provide a veteran presence. Carter-Williams has the length and athleticism to take games over. 

The Orange's leading scorer in 2012 was Dion Waiters. He came off the bench. Waiters is a dangerous combo guard with the ability to hurt opposing defenses from anywhere on the floor. He could explode in a larger role next season.

Jim Boeheim is going to have fun with this group next season. If Melo declares, he will have a small-ish frontcourt. But, the length will be there on the defensive end. 

The Orange will have dangerous scorers all over the floor, and the athletes to play their 2-3 zone. 

That is a dangerous recipe for opposing squads.

N.C. State

N.C. State is the team to watch next season. The Wolfpack return a ton of talent, and have a studded recruiting class coming in.

C.J. Williams is the only contributor that graduates. Sophomore forward C.J. Leslie could, and probably will declare for the NBA draft. 

The loss of Leslie will definitely hurt, but the Wolfpack have the bodies to make up for it. 

Richard Howell could emerge as one of the best big men in the nation next season. He has a solid back-to-the-basket game, but he also faces up well for mid-range jumpers. 

Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood return in the backcourt. Brown is a great facilitator with a capable scoring touch. Wood is a sniper from beyond the arc. 

If Leslie decides to declare, DeShawn Painter will play a much larger role. He is a big body, and will provide a physical presence in the paint.

The Wolfpack also add to this bunch. N.C. State boasts three McDonald's All-Americans in their 2012 recruiting haul.

Tyler Lewis, T.J. Warren and Rodney Purvis will all contend for playing time next season. Purvis could start by the end of the year. He is a high-volume scorer with an explosive offensive repertoire. Warren could fill Leslie's shoes rather quickly.

Mark Gottfried has done a wonderful job with this program. The Wolfpack fell just short against Kansas in the 2012 Sweet 16.

Do not expect the same result next season.