College Basketball Predictions: Picking No. 1 Seeds in the 2012 NCAA Tournament

Teams are still figuring out what they've got, and we haven't had a big injury yet. 

The 2011-12 college basketball season hasn't even started.  So obviously it's time to make picks for the No. 1 seeds in each region of the 2012 NCAA tournament, right?

Well in my mind it is.  These are my preseason picks to be the best teams in the nation, and they will be rewarded by being given easy paths to the Final Four.

While being a No. 1 seed doesn't necessarily guarantee them a trip to New Orleans and the Final Four, it will certainly help.

There wasn't a single No. 1 seed in the Final Four last season for just the third time in history.  Considering that these four teams appear to be head-and-shoulders above the competition, however, we could see all four in the Final Four for just the second time in history this year.

West: Connecticut Huskies

Kemba Walker who?  Forget Walker and last year's team, this team is looking to win the National Championship for a second straight season.

With a returning lineup minus Walker, this team was destined to be good, but bringing in a great recruiting class—led by surprise Andre Drummond and swing man DeAndre Daniels—this team is set to dominate the Big East.

This team is going to be led by returnees Jeremy Lamb and Alex Oriakhi, both named to the Wooden Preseason top 50.  Drummond is also going to be a key factor, as he adds even more size to this team that was 11th in the nation in rebounding last season.

Guard Shabazz Napier is going to be in his sophomore season, and he is set to emerge as an even bigger part of this team's offensive scheme.

It looks like Napier and Lamb will lead the backcourt, while Daniels acts as a swing man, and Oriakhi and Drummond will dominate inside.

This Connecticut Huskies team is going to be just as good as last season if not better.

Midwest: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes went 32-2 last season, and were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. 

That didn't stop them from being eliminated in the Sweet 16 against the Kentucky Wildcats, but this year's team is on a mission.

After Jared Sullinger walked away from being a lottery pick in the NBA Draft (probably because he anticipated the lockout going on for a long time), we knew that this team would be great. 

Fellow teammate David Lighty is gone, but the Buckeyes return William Buford along with Sullinger, and these two were their top scorers from last season.

The Buckeyes bring in four ESPNU top 100 recruits, including point guard Shannon Scott and center Amir Williams.  Thad Matta will find a place for these two, while small forwards Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross will fight for playing time.

This Buckeyes team is deep and very talented.  While some people put Connecticut over them, I don't see it happening on Jared Sullinger's watch.

The Buckeyes will be the third-best team come tournament time, and being given the Midwest region is the most they could've hoped for, considering their most important games will be taking place right in their backyard.

South: Kentucky Wildcats

With John Calipari's rotating door of one-and-done players, his team is always poised to do well.

But when you return multiple starters from a Final Four team and add four more incredible players, you know you have a great shot at winning it all.

Terrence Jones, Darius Miller and Doron Lamb are the main returnees for the Wildcats.  Lamb is an excellent guard, Miller is a shooting guard-small forward combo, and Jones is a consensus lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft because of his size and athleticism at the power forward position.

These two will also be joined by four excellent recruits: Anthony Davis (No. 1), Michael Gilchrist (No. 4) and Marquis Teague (No. 8).

The Wildcats are still a young team, but they proved that that is not a fault at all in their Final Four run last season.  Calipari has another great team, and we can expect big things from these Wildcats.

East: North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels are back on top of the college basketball world, and they seem as dominant as they were during their 2009 title run when they were led by Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson.

This year they have Harrison Barnes instead of Hansbrough and Kendall Marshall instead of Ty Lawson. 

They also have John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Dexter Strickland in their starting five, and elite recruits like James McAdoo (No. 6 in the class) and P.J. Hairston (No. 13 in the class) on the bench. 

Um, what?

The Tar Heels have about six future first-round draft picks on their team, and they have enough talent to bench star recruits who would have started for any other team.

Roy Williams has a ridiculously talented bunch of players, and honestly, I don't know if there's a team out there who can beat them this season.

They will be the best team in the nation, and be rewarded by playing most of their games close to home. 

Can you say Championship?

Josh Schoch is an aspiring sportswriter dedicated to bringing you everything related to college basketball, the NBA, NFL, MLB, college football and much more.  Follow him on Twitter.