Question -- How early is too early to talk bracketology?

Answer – Never?

Going by that theory, as most of the basketball world does, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has released some very, very early bracket predictions for 2012-13, which include the Gophers as a 7 seed.

Lunardi has Louisville, Indiana, Kentucky and UCLA as his No. 1 seeds and put seven Big Ten teams total in his early bracket (others are Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin).

The Big Ten had as many as 10 teams projected at points last season

, but sent six to the big dance. The Gophers were projected around a 7-10 seed for much of the season, but dropped out in the final weeks of the regular season.

Here's Lunardi's full bracket.