Kentucky Basketball: 5 Reasons for Wildcats Fans to Be Optimistic in 2014-15

As if Big Blue Nation needed an update, less than 100 hours separate Kentucky basketball from playing its first opponent in the 2014-15 season. On Friday, the Wildcats open up at home against Grand Canyon University.

Any new year for Kentucky basketball will have its fans excited, but this year there seems to be a little more anticipation than normal. There's good reason for that as well; a preseason No. 1 ranking and a team full of future NBA pros will have any fanbase excited for the regular season to start. 

Kentucky head coach John Calipari has put together what looks like on paper one of the best teams in college basketball in recent memory. The Wildcats have 12 players who could be in the rotation, nine of whom are former McDonald's All-Americans. There are numerous reasons as to why Big Blue Nation should be excited, but we'll look at the top five. 

The Future No. 1 NBA Pick Is on This Team

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Tell your friends. Shout it from the rooftops. Tweet it out. Karl-Anthony Towns will be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. You heard it here first.

But in the meantime the freshman has to play an entire college basketball season, which shouldn't be tough since he's the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year and one of the most versatile players in the country. He stands at 6'11" and has the handle and shooting touch of a guard.

If you don't believe it, go back to the McDonald's All-American week where he competed in the three-point shooting contest, slam dunk contest and skills competition. He looked like a natural in each competition, as well. Towns has a soft shooting touch and a fluid movement to his body, allowing him to play like a guard.

Towns is going to be one of the toughest players in the country to guard and for Big Blue Nation one of the most beloved players in years. He has a history with Calipari, as he played on the Dominican Republic national team coached by Calipari.

Another Great Recruiting Class

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Another ho-hum top recruiting class for Kentucky, as 247Sports has the 2014 version ranked as the second best in the country. 

It might get overlooked since Calipari and his staff bring this in every year, but this is another great recruiting class. Four McDonald's All-Americans including Tyler Ulis, Trey Lyles, Devin Booker and Towns will make their way to Lexington to try and help win a ninth national title for Kentucky.

Each player does something a little different and becomes a nice complement to what Kentucky has on its roster already. We've discussed Towns, so let's look at the other three.

Ulis is a 5'9" point guard who is easily the crowd favorite. He's a pass-first point guard who can rack up steals while also keeping defenders honest with his shooting touch and provides a spark off the bench to back up Andrew Harrison.

Booker is one of the best, if not the best shooter in the class of 2014. His dad was a star at Missouri and has passed his genes on to his son. Booker also provides nice size at 6'6" to play both wing positions, similar to what Aaron Harrison does.

Lyles, who some people think is the best recruit out of the four, is another big man who, like Towns, can stretch the floor. He's shown flashes of brilliance during the two scrimmages with his ability to step out and hit a three while also showing polished moves in the post. 

He's Still Kentucky Coach Cal

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There's not a better pairing than Kentucky basketball and John Calipari. He understands what it takes to be successful at Kentucky and how to handle its fanbase. He's completely won over Big Blue Nation while making his way up the list of best coaches in America.

His success so far in Lexington is almost unprecedented. In his first five years the Wildcats have made the Final Four three times and won a championship. He's coached arguably the best team in Kentucky history in the 2011-12 team.

So, no matter what rumors happened in the offseason or who is one the roster, Kentucky fans can always be excited for the season when Calipari is the head coach. This year is a little different as he has more depth than normal and can truly use his coaching style to its fullest. 

The Nonconference Schedule Will Show a Lot

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Kentucky fans don't like losing at any point in the season, but if it happens this year in the nonconference it will be understandable. The Wildcats have arguably the toughest nonconference schedule in the country this year. 

Kentucky will play Kansas, Providence, Texas, North Carolina, UCLA and Louisville before heading into SEC play. That is a daunting schedule no matter how talented your team is. However, it will show just how far along this Kentucky team is.

Playing a schedule like this will allow fans to see how the team is gelling together with a combination of returning players and incoming stars. Also, with Kentucky running a platoon system, it will allow people to see how Calipari and his staff are adjusting throughout games. 

The New, Returning Andrew Harrison

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While Ulis is drawing all the rave at point guard during the preseason, let's not forget about Andrew Harrison, the No. 1 point guard in the class of 2013.

He's dropped about 15 pounds over the offseason and at 6'6" he's now a quicker, tougher guard. His size over opposing point guards will always be there, but now he has the quickness to stick with them on the defensive side of the ball while also possessing a quicker first step to get to the paint easier.

Harrison came on strong at the end of last season, with his play being a vital component to the run to the national championship game. He developed one of the best mid-range jumpers in the country, shooting a high percentage of shots around the free-throw line.

More importantly, he's turning into the leader that Calipari envisioned he would be last year. During the preseason games he's running the point at a high level, directing teammates and being a true coach on the floor.