Never too early to start talking about next year.
Here's my preliminary top ten:
1. NCC - Returns 5 of their top 7. Best coach in the country. Obviously very deep team.
2. SLU - Having two guys that finished in top 12 is a great start. Also returning a top 50 guy and their 7th man. Will they have depth to win it all?
3. Calvin - Great program, returning 5 of top 7, including Kramer (all-american and regional winner).
4. Haverford - Graduates top three but still has two returning all-americans. May be the deepest team in country (them or NCC). Can Donnelly get their non-nationals guys to take the next step?
5. Oshkosh - Returning top 5 guys from 11th place team, including Stymiest, one of the favorites for indiv. title next year. Historically, a very solid program.
6. Dickinson - Bringing back 5 of their top 7, including two freshmen. Becoming a great rival to Haverford in the Centennial conference.
7. Washington U - Returning their top 3 guys, including Burnstein, now a two-time all-american. Didn't take the expected leap forward after last year's 8th. Can they next year?
8. Elizabethtown - Brings back 6 of 7 from 14th-place team, including Reichert, who could challenge for indiv. title.
9. Williams - Returning everyone from this year's rebuilding effort (and 18th place finish). A traditional power.
10. NYU - Just gets the nod over Atlantic rival Geneseo, on account of depth. Returning 5 of 7, including Zitek, a near-all-american.
Could also make noise:
Geneseo
Wabash
Platteville
Steven's Point
Middlebury