College Basketball Rankings: 2014-15 top five teams

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Apr 6, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari speaks at a press conference during practice before the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

2. University of Kentucky

It’s hard to picture a college basketball preview that doesn’t include John Calipari’s squad. Few have any idea what the Wildcats will look like next season (or any season, really) on account of how many of them jump to the NBA each year. Six of the last seven No. 1 overall picks were one-and-done players; two of them came from Kentucky.

After a late-season transformation and thrilling run in the Big Dance, Kentucky looks to rewire their mechanics and fill lost pieces. Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, Dakari Johnson, and Marcus Lee returning should help.

While this class doesn’t carry quite the “greatest of all-time” esteem last year’s club had, there are some great additions for the Wildcats this season. Tyler Ulis, Karl Towns, Trey Lyles, and

Devin Booker

are now added to the mix. Booker boasts in-the-gym range; Ulis brings leadership and unparalleled determination to slice through the paint; Lyles’ has quick hands and versatility; Towns has an outstanding feel with both hands and range that exceeds 30 feet.

With more inside-outside balance, Kentucky looks to expose less talented squads and reach their fourth Final Four in a five-year stretch, and we’d be remiss to think it won’t happen.

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