Kentucky Basketball: 10 Reasons Why Wildcats Will Be a No. 1 Seed in Tournament

John Calipari has a Kentucky Wildcats team that's stacked with talent and potential. They flexed their muscles early on this season, but a hiccup against the Indiana Hoosiers knocked them down a notch in the national rankings.

Can the boys from Lexington climb back up in the polls to earn a No. 1 seed in March?

They have all the right equipment to dominate the rest of their schedule and regain elite status in the southeast.

Here are 10 reasons why the Wildcats will be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this spring.

Abundant Athleticism

Anyone who has watched the Wildcats play this season knows that they are one of the most physically gifted teams in the country.

There are just a select few teams that can rival Kentucky's explosiveness.

Calipari's crew will use its superior athleticism to cruise past most of the teams on the schedule.

Their agility and quickness help them hound opponents on defense, alter shots, create turnovers and get into the lane for easy finishes.

Imposing Size

Kentucky has the size befitting a top-tier NCAA team.

Anthony Davis is 6'10" and has an enormous wingspan, Terrence Jones carries a bruising 6'9" frame and Eloy Vargas comes off the bench at 6'11".

But the wing players and "small" forwards also have substantial height, as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Darius Miller are 6'7" and 6'8" respectively.

This NBA-caliber size roster creates matchup problems all night long for opponents.

The Wildcats will use this size to wear down competitors and pile up victories.

Sharing the Wealth

Kentucky is averaging 15 assists per game, which isn't phenomenal, but it's impressive considering the wealth of one-on-one talent that's on the floor.

No single player carries the burden of distributing the ball, and no single player dominates the ball.

There are five players who average a couple of assists or more per game.

Having multiple players who can facilitate on the offensive end makes it difficult for teams to game-plan against the Wildcats.

Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb run a dynamic attack that will take the SEC by storm.

Protecting the Rim

It's tough to score on a defense whose last line of defense is a group of ball-hawking shot-blockers led by Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones.

The Wildcats lead the nation in blocked shots per game, blowing away the rest of the competition with 9.3 per game.

Davis averages 4.3 per game by himself, and sometimes he swats shots away so easily it doesn't seem fair.

Points in the paint are hard-earned rarities for Kentucky opponents.

Deadly in Transition

When Kentucky forces turnovers and gets on a fast break, get out of the way.

Not only do they have quick ball-handlers such as Doron Lamb and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist, but the big men run the floor and finish well.

This group of Wildcats knows how to attack when given space to operate.

They've been able to utilize Davis' mobility and athleticism when they have numbers.

It usually ends with an emphatic slam and the posterization of an unfortunate competitor.

Active on the Glass

Rebounding is a statistic that can never be overrated.

Luckily for Kentucky fans, the Wildcats are one of the elite rebounding teams in the NCAA.

The whole team crashes the boards.

Sure, Anthony Davis stands out with his 10 rebounds per game, but Terrence Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist chip in with six-plus apiece.

Even the guards get in and do a great job of staying active on the boards.

Consistent rebounding proficiency leads to extra possessions, extra points and extra wins. Kentucky will rebound its way all the way to a No. 1 slot.

Quality Wins

When the season is over, the Wildcats will have a stellar record and several landmark wins to bolster its candidacy for a No. 1 seed.

They have already dispatched a formidable Kansas squad and an elite North Carolina club, which gives them two high-quality non-conference wins.

This weekend there's the opportunity to pick up another excellent victory against rival Louisville.

In SEC play, Kentucky has the opportunity to rack up wins against the likes of Florida, Mississippi State and Alabama, all of which are reputable teams.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Terrence Jones is the star sophomore and Anthony Davis is getting NBA Draft attention.

But if I had to point to one player who will propel Kentucky to a No. 1 seed, it's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Kidd-Gilchrist is a special Wildcat, and is one of the most complete freshmen I've seen in years.

He contributes in all facets of the game. He's averaging 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game, and he's even more valuable on defense.

His focus and intensity are evident on both ends of the floor—he's a level-headed player who consistently puts the team in a position to be successful.

John Calipari: A Coach with No. 1 Seed Pedigree

Talented teams go nowhere without coaches who have the skills and moxie to lead them to supremacy. 

Kentucky is guided by one of the best in the business in John Calipari. 

The charismatic coach knows how to collect and direct young teams to the top of the polls, and he has done it recently. 

The 2008 Memphis national runners-up and 2010 Kentucky young guns are prime examples of Calipari's handiwork.

His players always feel like he's fighting for them, and he is a master of maximizing their potential.

They embrace his dribble-drive system and play as hard as any team in the country.

Overall Schedule Outlook: Kentucky Is the Class of the SEC

Even when you factor in a couple of possible upsets, the Wildcats are on track for 25-27 wins before the conference tournament starts.

There will be a few tests in the SEC schedule as previously mentioned, but the SEC is having a down year overall.

Tennessee is going through a tough time, Vanderbilt isn't as imposing as their preseason ranking indicated, and the majority of the remaining teams are quite underwhelming.

Kentucky is the thoroughbred of the SEC. The team's reign over the region, coupled with their non-conference wins, will result in a No. 1 seed.

A few of the teams currently ahead of them in the polls will fall by the wayside while the Wildcats gradually rise to prominence.