Calipari has 'Cats primed for huge turnaround

We're not going with a typical, run-of-the-mill top 25 rundown each day. Instead, we'll cut to the chase and tell you who will be left standing at the end of the year in the Elite Eight. We'll hit on one each of the next eight days — in no particular order. Then we'll unveil my complete bracket just prior to the start of the season on Nov. 9. I had the championship game right last year, but incorrectly picked Michigan State to beat North Carolina. I have a good feeling about my bracket this time around.

KENTUCKY

Nowhere in the country was there more offseason optimism than in Lexington. The Billy Gillispie Era, which lasted just two short years, is thankfully history for those crazy, diehard UK fans. John Calipari came in from Memphis and brought with him a big-time recruiting class that has allowed the Wildcats to instantly go from an NIT club to a legit national title contender. Just imagine how good this team could have been if Jodie Meeks had opted to join Patrick Patterson in returning to school for another season. But even without Meeks, the Wildcats have just about everything — athletic young guards, an abundance of big men and enough quality wings. Enough to be in the conversation to cut down the nets this April.

Why

1. John Wall: I'd be shocked if he wasn't the No. 1 pick in next June's NBA Draft. Just think of a bigger version of Derrick Rose. Wall is athletic, strong, quick, can score and also makes his teammates better. On talent alone, he has no peer at point guard. The question is how quickly he'll be able to dominate at the college level. 2. Depth: UK may not be quite as deep as Kansas or Texas, but the Wildcats aren't that far off, either. I'm not sure how much time talented freshman big man Daniel Orton will get with Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins along the frontline — and he's a guy that could start at more than 300 other schools. Kentucky Mr. Basketball Jon Hood and former top 50 player DeAndre Liggins will likely be buried down the bench due to an abundance of bodies. 3. Size: Other than maybe North Carolina, no one in the country has this type of quality size on the frontline. Patterson is a double-double machine, Cousins is ultra-talented and Orton could start just about anywhere else. We haven't even mentioned senior Perry Stevenson, who is a solid, experienced forward.

Why not

1. Meshing the old with the new: You've got guys like Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller and Perry Stevenson leftover from the Gillispie regime. Then you're trying to mix in guys like Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Darnell Dodson and Daniel Orton from the Calipari camp. It'll be interesting to see how well the two groups come together and are able to co-exist. There is certainly the potential for chemistry issues. 2. Perimeter shooting: The Wildcats have athletic guards, but neither Wall nor Bledsoe are above-average perimeter shooters. The same can be said for the wings — except for Dodson. Calipari's team will get tired of facing zone defenses this season but will have to display the ability to make shots from beyond the arc to get to the Final Four. 3. Inexperienced backcourt: Let's not forget that Wall and fellow guard Eric Bledsoe are just freshmen.

Key player

Darnell Dodson: He brings something different to the table: The ability to make shots from deep. That's why he'll get on the court more than people think. He's long and can really shoot the basketball.

Don't sleep on...

Eric Bledsoe: All the attention has been on Wall and rightfully so, but I've had more than one NBA executive tell me that Bledsoe could also be a lottery pick. He's quick and athletic and is a more adept passer than his backcourt mate. Like Wall, he needs to improve his ability to make shots from the perimeter