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Yes, it's called the NCAA tournament. But this year, it's essentially the "Can anyone stop Kentucky?" Invitational. The No. 1 Wildcats are 34-0. With six wins, they'll complete the first perfect season in nearly 40 years (since 1975-76 Indiana). Will they lose in the next three weeks? It's not likely. There are 65 other teams left, however, that could all earn the opportunity to prove everyone wrong. How would they do it? Can they do it? Here's a look at every remaining team's chances. 65. Hampton Pirates: Never -- The Pirates will always have that No. 2/No. 15 upset over Iowa State (2001), though. 64. Robert Morris Colonials: Not another upset -- This Kentucky team is even better than the crew that whipped the Colonials by 38 points last season and much better than squad that RMU defeated in the 2013 NIT. 63. North Florida Ospreys: Low -- The Ospreys upset Purdue earlier this season, and they were respectable against Iowa in a later matchup. Dallas Moore had 24 points in his team's win over the Boilermakers. But even a monstrous effort by Moore wouldn't be sufficient to lead to the Ospreys to a win. 62. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: Impossible -- Almost. In the early 1990s, Tony Dunkin won four consecutive Big South player of the year awards. He terrified that league. He's approaching 50 these days, but give him a uniform, and let's see what happens. 61. Lafayette Leopards: No hope -- Kudos to the Leopards for winning the Patriot League tournament after finishing fourth in the regular-season conference standings, but the answer is no. Not happening.  60. North Dakota State: Nope -- The Bison opened the season with a 35-point loss at Texas and a 31-point loss at Iowa. The transitive thing is rarely a wise method of projection, but in this case, we'll use it as justification for assuming NDSU would probably suffer a lopsided loss to the Wildcats, too. 59. Texas Southern Tigers: No -- Two upsets on the road against high major teams are enough (Michigan State on Dec. 20 and Kansas State eight days later). Kentucky is a different beast though. 58. Belmont Bruins: On Belmont's best day ... it's not likely -- The goal is to score more than your opponent. And the Bruins own a collective shooting stroke that few teams can match. They've connected on 38 percent of their 3-point attempts and 56 percent of their 2-pointers (the No. 4 mark in America, per Ken Pomeroy). Their defense is deplorable, but who needs it against the Wildcats? Well, Belmont would need it. 57. New Mexico State Aggies: Stop it -- The Aggies are ninth overall in offensive rebounding rate, but it wouldn't be easy to crash the glass against Kentucky. 56. Albany Great Danes: Nope -- Peter Hooley, who hit the game-winner in the conference tournament final months after losing his mother to cancer, and his teammates have already won, though. 55. UAB Blazers: Possible -- If they made every shot, and every shot was a 3-pointer. 54. Northeastern Huskies: Nah -- The Huskies went to Tallahassee earlier this season and beat Florida State, whatever that means. Still, no. 53. Georgia State Panthers: Better odds than you think -- Ron Hunter, who suffered an Achilles injury during his team's Sun Belt tournament title celebration, has a roster that features a possible first-round pick named R.J. Hunter (his son), Kevin Ware and former Kentucky wing Ryan Harrow. The Panthers would need huge efforts from all three to have a shot. 52. UC Irvine Anteaters: Nah -- But 7-foot-6 oak tree Mamadou Ndiaye vs. Willie Cauley-Stein would be primetime TV. 51. Eastern Washington Eagles: No -- But it'd be worth the price of admission. The Eagles shoot 40 percent from the 3-point line, and Tyler Harvey is the nation's top scorer. But the squad from Cheney, Washington, would need alum and Indiana Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey to have a chance.  50. Harvard Crimson: Not likely -- Tommy Amaker's crew has pulled off upsets in the NCAA tournament in past years, but the Crimson would need a flawless game to compete with one of the greatest basketball teams in recent NCAA history. 49. Valparaiso Crusaders: Well ... -- Toss Bryce Drew a uniform and let's see what happens. 48. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks: Nope -- Strong offense would be neutralized against the Wildcats. 47. Wofford Terriers: Not happening -- The Terriers would need 50 from Karl Cochran. 46. Buffalo Bulls: Better shot than most mid-majors -- The Fighting Hurleys actually held a 38-33 halftime lead over Kentucky in a nonconference matchup. It didn't last. But Buffalo was competitive early in that game. 45. Wyoming Cowboys: Negative -- It'd be fun to watch Larry Nance Jr. try to lead his team to the upset, though. 44. Dayton Flyers: Nope -- Give coach Archie Miller credit for what he's achieved with this shorthanded roster. But the Flyers are 330th in offensive rebounding rate, and they couldn't touch Kentucky without second-chance buckets. 43. Boise State Broncos: No -- Not even if the Broncos ran one of those trick plays they're known for. 42. Ole Miss Rebels: Low -- The Rebels would need Sean Tuohy and Marshall Henderson to even make it competitive. (I know they lost to Kentucky in overtime two months ago. But that was two months ago. This Ole Miss squad just lost to Vandy and South Carolina.) 41. UCLA Bruins: No. Just no. -- 41-7. That's all you need to know.  40. Texas Longhorns: Nope -- When the two teams met on Dec. 5, Texas held Kentucky under a point per possession and to a 1-for-12 clip from the 3-point line. The problem was that Texas only registered 51 points (0.76 PPP). Could this Texas team, one that's wrestled with mediocrity all year, find the rim and defend that well again? No. 39. Georgia Bulldogs: Nope -- Georgia nearly caught Kentucky toward the end of the regular season, but the Wildcats would start the next the game the way they finished the last one. The Bulldogs would have to get buckets inside and sustain that attack down the stretch, which no team has done this season. 38. Ohio State Buckeyes: Probably not -- The Buckeyes would need an elite performance from D'Angelo Russell, constant perimeter pressure from Shannon Scott and the return of Greg Oden to help them keep Cauley-Stein and Co. off the glass and outside the paint. 37. Davidson Wildcats: Not this year -- These Wildcats boast a high-powered offense and they take care of the ball (second in the country in turnovers on just 14.2 percent of their possessions). Davidson would have to get hot early and hope that Kentucky just couldn't find the rim that day because Bob McKillop's squad has been mediocre on defense. 36. Indiana Hoosiers: No -- But if the Hoosiers had any hope it would come in the form of a run-and-gun, triple-digit track meet. They're 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency per kenpom.com. They're 216th in adjusted defensive efficiency. That's a problem. 35. Purdue Boilermakers: Not even on a great night -- Matt Painter could throw lane-clogging big men Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons at Kentucky. That would be a good start if both played well. It'd be an uphill climb from there, though. 34. LSU Tigers: Not now -- Forget what happened earlier this season in Baton Rouge. Yes, LSU had a chance. But the Tigers would have to shoot 48 percent (unlikely) or better again to make it interesting. Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey combined to score 37 points and grab 18 rebounds in the first game. They'd have to play that way again to preserve LSU's long shot. 33. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Nah -- Le'Bryan Nash would have to drop like 30 and 10, and Phil Forte III would have to go 10-for-10 from the 3-point line or something. 32. St. John's Red Storm: Can't be trusted -- Steve Lavin's shot-swatting crew might challenge Kentucky at the rim, but that's about it. 31. San Diego State Aztecs: Not likely -- The Aztecs are stubborn on defense. But a lack of size would be their greatest issue in a matchup against Kentucky.  30. NC State Wolfpack: Don't bet on it -- Only if Ralston Turner, Anthony Barber and Trevor Lacey combined for 60 and played the best defense of their careers. 29. Oregon Ducks: Maybe a prayer -- A Joseph Young triple-double would not be sufficient for Dana Altman's squad. There's just not enough size and athleticism to deal with the Wildcats. 28. Cincinnati Bearcats: Nope -- Not enough playmakers for Cincy this season to consider it. 27. VCU Rams: Not without Briante Weber -- This would be a different conversation if the best on-the-ball defender in America were healthy. But he's not. The Rams would still pressure Kentucky, but it wouldn't be sustainable for 40 minutes without Weber. 26. Iowa Hawkeyes: Not impossible -- The Hawkeyes beat Kentucky Lite North Carolina in Chapel Hill earlier this season. Jarrod Uthoff, Aaron White and Adam Woodbury would have to play tough in the paint to secure an upset. But Fran McCaffery's team would get torched on the perimeter by Kentucky's big guards. 25. Wichita State Shockers: Not likely -- These Shockers are comparable to the team that lost to Kentucky last season in a two-point game during the NCAA tournament. Ron Baker (20 points in last year's game) and Fred VanVleet would have to pressure Kentucky's backcourt again. Without Cleanthony Early (31 points in last season's matchup), they'd need more production from Darius Carter. Shaquille Morris would have to give Gregg Marshall quality minutes. They'd have to match Kentucky's rhythm and stay in front of Andrew Harrison and Aaron Harrison, who combined to score 39 points last season. 24. Michigan State Spartans: Maybe -- The Michigan State of the last three weeks wouldn't back down. Since March began, Tom Izzo's squad has defeated Purdue, Indiana, Ohio State and Maryland, and it lost to Wisconsin in overtime of the Big Ten tournament title game. The Spartans would need variation. Travis Trice coming hard off screens, flying around the court, Denzel Valentine slashing and harassing the Harrisons. And physical, Spartans defense. It probably wouldn't be enough, but Michigan State wouldn't just surrender. 23. Xavier Musketeers: Probably not, even on a great day -- Chris Mack's squad shoots 53 percent inside the arc. Xavier's opponents, however, also connect on 49 percent of their 2-point attempts. The Musketeers would have to evolve into a more fortified defensive team inside, and unless David West shows up, it ain't happening. 22. Butler Bulldogs: Not likely -- The Bulldogs have overachieved with national coach of the year candidate Chris Holtmann. They'd need a superior defensive effort, which they're capable of. And Roosevelt Jones would have to bombard Kentucky with drives and jump shots in a low-scoring contest that they'd hope to still be in late. 21. Providence Friars: Don't put your money on it -- Kris Dunn could mess around and get a triple-double, but Kentucky's inside-outside attack would confound the Friars. 20. SMU Mustangs: Intriguing -- Larry Brown's team could be a surprisingly competitive foe for Kentucky. Markus Kennedy and Yanick Moreira would challenge Coach John Calipari's bigs inside. And it'd be up to Nic Moore and Ben Moore to blanket the Harrison twins and Devin Booker.  19. Northern Iowa Panthers: It's possible, but not likely -- Forget the conference. The Panthers are an elite program. Seth Tuttle is a Wooden Award candidate. Coach Ben Jacobson has a bunch of blue-collar guys who are just tenacious on both ends of the floor. Northern Iowa recovered from a 18-point deficit against Illinois State in the Missouri Valley tournament championship and won by nine points. Tuttle had 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal that game. If UNI could control the tempo, one of its strengths, defend the interior and get Tuttle to have another out-of-his-mind experience, the Panthers would have a slim chance. 18. West Virginia Mountaineers: This could be interesting -- Kentucky's stretches of discomfort this season were the offspring of poor execution. The Wildcats just couldn't score and couldn't figure out Georgia's offensive sets in that tight game a few weeks ago. But they've rarely experienced the pressure that West Virginia, which forces more turnovers per possession than any team in America, would throw at them. The size would be WVU's greatest challenge. And Tyler Ulis' presence helps Kentucky break any press. 17. Arkansas Razorbacks: Just a bad matchup -- Two recent games. Two blowouts. Nothing would change in the third game. 16. Utah Utes: They'd have a shot -- Delon Wright would have to attack the interior and distribute the rock effectively, setting up Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Taylor and Jordan Loveridge for 40 minutes. No chance without Wright excelling. The Utes' opponents only shoot 41 percent from inside the arc, the No. 4 mark in America, so they'll protect the rim. They haven't been tough enough with elite teams, though. 15. Georgetown Hoyas: Not likely -- Joshua Smith would have a tough time maneuvering on both ends of the floor against Kentucky's length and athleticism. The Hoyas would need a beastly effort from D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, and they'd have to be stingy inside. No easy buckets, challenge every shot. Even then, it would still be unlikely. 14. Louisville Cardinals: The Cards would battle again: When the two rivals met in December, Louisville lost an eight-point game even though Montrezl Harrell (4-for-9) didn't put up his usual All-American numbers. Still, the Cards forced 18 turnovers. They rattled the young Wildcats. If they committed to that defensive attentiveness again and exceeded that 26 percent shooting clip, the Cards would have a shot. 13. Maryland Terrapins: Anything is possible with Dez and Melo -- Bottom line: Melo Trimble and Dez Wells would have to put up 50 combined, and Jake Layman would have to be aggressive on both ends of the floor. 12. North Carolina Tar Heels: Not happening -- On paper, this is a great matchup. When the two teams met earlier this season, the Tar Heels went 6-for-13 from the 3-point line, forced 15 turnovers and snatched 18 offensive rebounds but still lost by 14 points. Anything North Carolina can do, Kentucky can do better. The Tar Heels would have to be stronger with their perimeter defense and they'd need a solid effort from Marcus Paige (14 points in the first game) to have a chance. 11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Possible -- Jerian Grant would attack. Pat Connaughton would hit big shots from the arc. Zach Auguste could score on the break and alter shots. The Fighting Irish have played poor defense in some big games, but they're so efficient on offense that the ACC tournament champions would be viable opponents for the national title favorites. The good news is that we might see this game in a possible pairing in the Midwest Region final. 10. Oklahoma Sooners: On a great day, maybe -- Oklahoma's Buddy Hield is a strong, big guard who'd be charged with limiting Aaron Harrison's production. And if the Sooners could defend him, and Tashawn Thomas and Ryan Spangler could crash the offensive glass and defend the interior, Lon Kruger's crew could pull of the upset. Maybe.  9. Baylor Bears: Perfect game necessary -- The 1-3-1 and 2-3 zones might perplex the young Wildcats. But the Bears couldn't keep them out of the paint, and they'd be frustrated by the limited looks at the rim. 8. Iowa State Cyclones: Not a crazy idea -- In three matchups this season, Florida attacked Kentucky by using Kasey Hill to dart through defenders off high-ball screens and force UK's bigs to shift more often than they preferred. You can't beat UK straight up. So ISU point guard Monte Morris would have to be the guy to utilize his speed to penetrate and get through Kentucky's interior defense. Georges Niang, with his ability to stretch the floor, would help, too. Jameel McKay and Dustin Hogue would have to crash the boards on both ends of the floor to give Iowa State a shot. And Abdel Nader would need a big game, too. Plus, the Cyclones would have to play their best defensive game of the year. 7. Kansas Jayhawks: Unlikely -- The Jayhawks lost to Kentucky by 32 points in a November matchup. The Jayhawks shot 20 percent from the field that day. With Cliff Alexander unavailable and Perry Ellis competing at less than 100 percent, Kansas would need Kelly Oubre Jr. to score 25 and lock up any perimeter player that Bill Self asked him to guard. But there's little evidence to suggest another matchup would be much different than the first one. 6. Gonzaga Bulldogs: It's realistic -- Gonzaga is one of five teams on this list that could offer a serious challenge to Kentucky's throne as the top team in the country. Why? The Zags boast the positional mismatches that could create problems for Kentucky. Kyle Wiltjer is a 6-foot-10 3-point threat who can't be left alone on the perimeter. John Calipari could throw Cauley-Stein Trey Lyles or Karl-Anthony Towns at him. Wiltjer will pull a big from the interior as he roams the floor. They have variation in the paint, and that's important. For everything Przemek Karnowski lacks in athleticism, he accounts for with his massive frame and strength. Domantas Sabonis might be a future lottery pick. Gary Bell Jr. is a bulldog on defense. And overall, this is arguably the top defensive unit (20th in adjusted defensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy) of Mark Few's tenure. The Zags nearly KO'd Arizona in Tucson. They're equipped to battle, and even defeat Kentucky.  5. Arizona Wildcats: Yes -- Arizona might be the anti-Kentucky. Sean Miller's squad has the size inside to handle the Wildcats of the East with Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and Dusan Ristic inside. And they're one of the few teams that can match Kentucky's size and skill on the perimeter. Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would be a problem for the Wildcats. They're both quick and versatile. And who would Cal put on Johnson? He'd go right by Trey Lyles. And he's too powerful for Aaron Harrison or Booker. Alex Poythress would be the perfect opponent for Johnson, but he's out with a knee injury. Arizona has a veteran point guard in T.J. McConnell, too. The Wildcats are one of the top defensive teams in America. Arizona-Kentucky would be a heavyweight fight, one that Arizona could win. 4. Virginia Cavaliers: It could happen -- The Cavaliers are clearly national title contenders. They're one of the country's toughest teams, both ways. And they're also a physical team. Virginia would beat Kentucky by forcing the Wildcats to play through them instead of over the top. The Cavs would flood the lane with Tony Bennett's pack-line defense. And they'd control the tempo. Opponents have attempted to slow the pace against Kentucky all season. But those teams lacked Virginia's overall talent and consistency. The Cavs, like every other team in the country, would have to find a way to score against Kentucky's bigs, but they're one of the few programs that might have the ability to tame the Wildcats. They're so physically strong, so Kentucky's bigs wouldn't get many easy looks in the paint. 3. Wisconsin Badgers: Strong -- This Wisconsin team is better than last season's Wisconsin team. Nigel Hayes is one of the most improved players in America. The Badgers are led by a young star in Bronson Koenig. Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker are both legit first-round picks. So if last season's team could come within one Aaron Harrison clutch 3-pointer in the final seconds of a Final Four matchup of the national title, then this year's Badgers are certainly up to the task. They'd have to get Kaminsky more than seven shots though. And Hayes, Dekker and Kaminsky would be largely responsible for minimizing Kentucky's presence inside. The Wildcats, who are clearly better than last year's version of the program and perhaps even the 2011-12 national title squad, outscored the Badgers 46-24 in the paint during last year's matchup. That can't happen again. But Wisconsin is one of the few teams in America that could beat Kentucky in March Madness. 2. Duke Blue Devils: High -- The Blue Devils are one of the top three teams in America. Tyus Jones' precision and poise would be a factor. Quinn Cook, Justise Winslow and Amile Jefferson are the glue guys every team needs. They'd be ready. And then there's the No. 1 pick in this summer's NBA draft in the middle. Jahlil Okafor would get buckets and free throws for a Blue Devils squad that makes nearly 40 percent of its 3-pointers. No special strategy necessary. The Blue Devils could beat Kentucky simply because they're that good. 1. Villanova Wildcats: It's feasible -- The Wildcats haven't played many Kentucky-like squads thus far, but they did put up 105 points against St. John's, an athletic squad with big bodies that lacks Kentucky's discipline. Still, Villanova has been dominant this season. Like Virginia, Jay Wright's squad is difficult to play through. JayVaughn Pinkston, a linebacker-type, would put a body on Cauley-Stein and Towns and make it difficult for both to get inside. There wouldn't be any gaps on the floor. And offensively, it would be hard to find the rim against that length, but what's new for this undersized crew? Villanova also shoots 39 percent from the 3-point line. These Wildcats would attack Kentucky, draw doubles, create good looks on the margins and get to the free throw line, where they shoot 73 percent.
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