Kentucky Basketball: 5 Things Wildcats Must Prove Early in 2014-15

Heading into the 2014-15 season, there aren't too many questions about Kentucky basketball. Returning a majority of the players that made the national title game and getting four McDonald's All-Americans joining them on a roster makes Kentucky a clear favorite to win the national championship this season.

However, every team has at least one question that has to be answered during the season. For this season, a deep, loaded roster is arguably the biggest question mark on the roster. How will head coach John Calipari handle the minutes? Will the platoon system work?

This slideshow will take a look at the five things the Wildcats must prove early in the 2014-15 season to hold on to their No. 1 ranking. 

They Must Prove the Platoon System Works

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John Calipari is committed to the platoon system this season, something that hasn't been seen at this high of a level. 

In order to be successful, Kentucky must prove this system works—and must prove it early. If Calipari is going to commit to this type of rotation, there can't be questioning from fans if the Wildcats struggle or drop a couple games early in the season. 

With a deep roster, most people would assume the coach just uses his subs in a normal process, maybe a quicker hook for a mistake than anything else. But, Calipari is different than most coaches. This is a method to help each player's draft stock, but will it cost Kentucky a chance to win the title?

They Must Prove They Believe in the System

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One of the largest complaints last season was that the players on the roster didn't buy in and trust the system until the postseason. 

With a deep roster of players who are likely first-round NBA draft picks, they need to buy into the Kentucky system quick. Otherwise, you'll see an offense that is stagnant and trying to play isolation ball, causing both anger from Calipari and losses on the scoreboard.

Buying into the system means playing like Alex Poythress. A heralded recruit who was expected to leave after one year, he became one of the best sixth men in the country last season.

He needs to instill trust in players both his age and younger who will have to do the same this season. Players need to be willing to give up personal stats to help the team be better.  

They Must Prove the Freshman Class Is as Good as Advertised

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This is something that has to be proved each year by Kentucky. This year, there's a little less pressure for the freshmen than the previous five years under Calipari.

That being said, there are still four freshmen who will see major minutes for the Wildcats. Tyler Ulis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker and Trey Lyles must all live up to their McDonald's All-American hype. After the Bahamas trip and Blue-White Scrimmage, fans and analysts can't stop talking about Ulis and Towns.

Ulis is a nice complement to Andrew Harrison, a pass-first diminutive point guard who is a spark off the bench. On the other hand, Towns has all the makings of a No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. Standing at 6'11", Towns features a polished offensive game that stretches well behind the arc. 

They Must Prove Outside Shooting Isn't a Fluke

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The biggest knock on a Calipari-coached team is the fact they can't hit the outside shot. His teams are known for being extremely athletic and liking to attack the rim and finish with a dunk. 

However, this team is a little different. They have more than one weapon that can drill a three or a mid-range jumper. Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Booker, Ulis, Towns and Lyles all have shown the capability of being a threat from deep.

Aaron Harrison made his mark during the NCAA tournament run, hitting big threes against Louisville, Michigan and Wisconsin. His brother continued to improve his shooting as the year went on and was extremely efficient hitting a jumper from the free-throw line. 

Booker comes into college as one of, if not the, best outside shooter in the class of 2014. If he can live up to that billing, it makes playing a zone against this team almost impossible. 

They Must Prove They Can Stop the Ball

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Yes, there are approximately 100 7-footers on Kentucky's roster that can contest a shot at the rim. However, the Wildcats need to be able to stop guards from penetrating and allowing them to play in the paint.

It starts with the Harrison twins, Booker and Ulis up front. They can't let opposing guards set up their offense and allow exposure at the rim. Sure, Kentucky will likely lead the nation in blocks and be able to contest a lot of shots at the rim.

However, if the Kentucky guards can hound opposing players, it allows the Wildcats to do what they do best. That's play an uptempo game that Calipari hopes to see more of this year. With a staunch defense, forcing turnovers, the Wildcats can get out and run.