The 2009 National Champions will be North Carolina. They clinched the title today.

That is, of course, a ridiculous statement, and I am sort of kidding, but it will be hard to pick a team that has a better chance for them after what happened today. All three of their top underclassmen who had declared for the NBA draft – Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green – hadn’t signed with agents, so all could and did withdraw from the draft at today’s deadline. That means that North Carolina, which was already favored last season, returns their six top players from last year, including national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough. On top of that, they add a top five recruiting class that includes five star freaks Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller. Outside of a notable injury problem with Lawson this was a team that had few holes last year, and that is even more true this year as the top six are more mature and hungrier than ever. The three who entered the draft learned what it will take to make the lottery, and all could potentially do it. Hansbrough has to be the happiest guy on the planet right now, and if he’s not it’s only because Roy Williams is even happier. Of course, for bettors it means that value on the Tar Heels is a distant memory.

I’ve thought it was a no-brainer for all three to choose to come back for another year all along, and that hasn’t changed. I know that it has to be hard to give up a shot at a few million dollars so you can play for free. Of the three, though, Lawson was the only one who was virtually assured to go in the first round, and he will unquestionably benefit from the extra year. He is ridiculously talented, but not as polished as some players above him, so he would have spent a fair bit of time riding the bench next year. Why do that when you can be in the driver’s seat for the big prize? Besides, if they do pull it off and win the title, their draft stocks will all benefit significantly as a result.

So we have our clear-cut, heavy favorite. The only thing that would be better at this point is if I even remotely liked the team.