Last weekend, some friends and I made the trek for Indianapolis for what we thought would be a celebratory Saturday in which our Spartans would continue their march to a third national title.

By now, everyone knows it didn't go the way we would have liked, but something good came out of the trip.

Early Saturday morning, my friends and I met up with some friends at the Columbia Club, a swank hotel in the heart of downtown Indy that I'm surprised they let me in. It was there that we became aware of something called Maguire University.

You know the movie "Accepted" where Justin Long's character makes up a college? Well, Maguire University is sort of like that. It's a fictitious school "established" in 1963 by a group of Chicago high school basketball coaches for the sole purpose of getting tickets to the Final Four. The group has been in every city that has hosted the Final Four for the past 45 years.

According to literature from the gathering, where there were libations as far as the eye could see, the idea was put into fruition by High School basketball coach Len Tyrrell at Maguire's Pub in Forest Park, Ill. The NCAA fell for it, and so did at least one real school: the U.S. Air Force Academy, which contacted Tyrrell (Maguire's self-proclaimed "Chancellor") and asked to play his nonexistent team.

Maguire (nicknamed "the Jollymen") received Final Four tickets for two years, until a writer wrote about the scam in The Chicago Tribune. Naturally, the NCAA - the fun-loving group it is - was not amused. The coaches then had to acquire their own tickets, and at least one of them has attended every Final Four (or, as they call it, Final Five) ever since. Maguire's motto, "We Play Hurt," is a reference to the hangovers accrued by Maguire's "students." Everyone in my group has wristbands or pins that feature the motto, which I will wear proudly wherever I go this summer. Even church.

So this made-up school has been at every Final Four for the past 45 years. For its "students," getting there is as easy as booking a flight and making hotel reservations.

For REAL teams, it's much more difficult than that. But here's a look at 10 squads I think have the best shot of getting to Houston for next year's "Final Five."

Waaaay too early 2010-11 Top 10

1. Michigan State - Minus Raymar Morgan, MSU returns six guys who have played in the last two Final Fours and welcomes in one of the top five recruiting classes in the country.
2. Purdue - The Boilers lose defensive stalwart Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant from a team that was ranked in the top 7 most of last season. Minus another freak injury, and if Lewis Jackson can stay healthy, Purdue should challenge for the title in 2011.
3. Butler - The Bulldogs should dominate the Horizon League once again and with everyone of consequence returning, save for Willie Veasley. With its roster in tact and its tournament run, Butler should be able to parlay that exposure into a high national ranking.
4. Duke - The Blue Devils lose three starters, including their starting power forward and center, but Duke's perimeter depth should rival MSU's with Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler, Andre Dawkins and transfer Seth Curry (younger brother of former Davidson star Stephen Curry).
5. Georgetown - If Greg Monroe is smart, he'll stay in college another year. If that happens, the Hoyas return everyone from last season and the team should be in revenge mode after being bounced early from the tournament this year.
6. Kansas State - KSU's floor general, Denis Clemente, and banger Luis Colon graduate, but the Wildcats bring back potential lottery pick Jacob Pullen and his spectacular beard, along with Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels. All three scored in double figures last season.
7. Ohio State - Losing the best player in the country would hurt any team, but Evan Turner (presumably) skipping his senior season may not be that big a blow to a Buckeye team that returns Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year David Lighty, Jon Diebler and William Buford. OSU also brings in the best recruiting class money could buy.
8. Pittsburgh - The Panthers overachieved this season and snuck up on people. That won't happen next year.
9. North Carolina - Call this season one of growing pains for the Tar Heels. There's too much talent on that roster for UNC to struggle two years in a row. Bringing in the No. 1 player in the country - Harrison Barnes - doesn't hurt, either.
10. Florida - The Gators will return with their entire starting 5 in tact from a tournament team. Couple that with the losses other teams in the SEC (Kentucky, Tennessee) will suffer because of graduation and guys leaving early, and Florida should won the SEC next year.