Calipari focuses on seeding in the Dance -- all else is a means to that end?

Perhaps he has a point.
Seeding began in 1979 (31 instances)
National Champions:
18#1 Seeds
5 #2 Seeds
4 #3 Seeds
1 #4 Seed (1997 — Arizona, umm… Derek Anderson injury?)
2 #6 Seeds (Kansas in 88 playing in Kansas City, and UNC State – can we say, Valvano?)
1 #8 Seed (Villanova – which had an outer body experience to beat Georgetown in Rupp.)

Since ’79, 124 teams made the final four.
80 teams were seeded 1 or 2.
15 more were #3 Seeds.

Of course the best teams will get higher seeds. But the best seeds have the best chance to cruise to the Sweet Sixteen, playing the Popcorn States in 64 and perhaps 32.

(data source: fanbay.net)