NCAA Tournament 2015 Schedule: Times, Dates, Live Streaming and TV Info

The Kentucky Wildcats head into the 2015 NCAA tournament as the clear team to beat. John Calipari's group came into the season with plenty of hype. The Wildcats have proved worthy of the praise so far, but their performance in the Big Dance will ultimately decide their legacy.

Equally interesting is the fact there isn't an unquestioned No. 2 team. After Kentucky, there's a lot of teams bunched closely together. If the Wildcats should be upset early in the tournament, it could actually lead to a more entertaining event as a whole.

That doesn't seem likely given the top seed's dominance throughout the campaign, though. So let's check out how the tournament shapes up after the Selection Sunday festivities, followed by the event's key details and a look at some of the top contenders.

Bracket and Schedule

Key Tournament Information

Dates: March 17 – April 6

Channels: CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV

Live Stream: March Madness Live

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• Download the Printable Bracket
• Play the Free Bracket Challenge 

Top Contenders

Kentucky

It's hard to find any flaws when it comes to the Wildcats. They are tremendous on the defensive end, can score inside or outside on offense and are incredibly deep. It's an eye-popping amount of talent for a collegiate roster, and Calipari has his troops playing at a high level.

He doesn't care about the criticism of Kentucky's approach, either. Recruiting elite players, even with the knowledge they could leave quickly, is working, and he's enjoying it. Nicole Auerbach of USA Today's For The Win passed along some of his recent comments about the situation.

"I would imagine—just saying—there will be some stuff written and said," Calipari said. "I want to tell you all, no one will steal my joy. If you want to attack what we're doing, be nasty about it, have at it. You're not stealing my joy. Coaching this team, with these kind of kids, you're not stealing my joy."

And this year's team isn't all about one-and-done players. Offensive leader Aaron Harrison is in his second season, and defensive stopper Willie Cauley-Stein is a junior. The roster is actually a good mix of elite freshmen and other contributors.

Ultimately, it's going to take an off night for Kentucky to lose at any point during the tournament. Even then, a defense that leads the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com, will keep it close. The Wildcats are the favorite for good reason.

Wisconsin

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The Badgers are a tricky team to play against. They force a slow pace on the game and execute at a high level on the offensive end. The combination of those two factors puts a lot of pressure on an opponent, particularly late in games.

It all starts with Frank Kaminsky. The forward has steadily developed into a major force during his four years at Wisconsin. Jeff Rabjohns of Rivals provided remarks from Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, who had high praise for the senior:

With Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes also averaging in double figures, the Badgers have a formidable trio that can match up with any in the country. They don't have a ton of depth, but that's less of a concern given the team's style of play.

The question is whether they will be able to come up with the necessary defensive stops in key moments. Their play on that end of the floor will decide whether they make a deep run or get knocked out early. The margin for error is thin in the tournament, but the talent is there to win it all.

Arizona

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In many ways, Arizona is the polar opposite of Wisconsin. Its strength is on the defensive end, and the Wildcats prefer to play quicker. The added possessions help them find a rhythm on offense, which is sometimes sluggish out of the gate.

Stanley Johnson leads a three-headed forward attack that also features Brandon Ashley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Jeff Borzello of ESPN thinks the trio, along with its supporting cast, is enough to make a deep run, even with the offensive questions:

Perhaps the X-factor will be Gabe York. He's the Wildcats' only major deep threat who receives regular playing time. If he can get hot from beyond the arc over the next couple weeks and help spread the floor to open up more space down low, they'll be a very tough out.

That said, the outlook remains similar whether it's Arizona, Wisconsin or another contender. Whichever team is able to cover up its one or two flaws best will have an opportunity to win the title. But Kentucky is still a step above the rest as the tournament gets underway.