Kentucky Basketball Team Preview 2015-2016
After a historical run that came up just short a year ago, the Kentucky Wildcats look to rebound and finally get over the hump this season. Even after losing seven players to the NBA draft--Karl-Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles, Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein, Andrew and Aaron Harrison, and Dakari Johnson—head coach, John Calipari, has the Wildcats loaded, bringing in the top recruiting class yet again. The #2 preseason ranked team will return Senior Forward, Alex Poythress, Junior Forward, Marcus Lee, Junior Guard, Dominique Hawkins, Junior Forward, Derek Willis, and Sophomore Point Guard, Tyler Ulis, who was one of the most efficient players last season.
Recently, ESPN ranked the top 100 players in college basketball, and Ulis checked in at number five: “Apparently that Kentucky roster was pretty loaded in 2014-15, because a sophomore point guard who's yet to make his first career start checks in at No. 5. Of all the returning players listed here, Ulis stands alone in terms of career winning percentage (38-1, .974).” Poythress will look to establish himself early in the paint just a year removed from ACL surgery. He is crucial to the Cats’ success offensively and defensively in the paint.
The young studs Calipari brought in will surely continue the streak of early entries into the NBA. In edition to Ulis, the Cats have two spectacular incoming guards in Jamal Murray and Isaiah Briscoe. Murray, a native Canadian, blew up over the summer, winning MVP honors of the Nike Hoops Summit and averaging 18 points against professional and upperclassmen college players in the Pan-Am games. He could be one of the best guards Calipari has ever coached at Kentucky. Isaiah Briscoe chose the Cats over St. John’s after Calipari began actively recruiting him in the summer of 2014. In Briscoe, Coach Cal has a guard that relentlessly can get to the hoop and is a dynamic scorer. With his big frame, he could be a big-time defensive stopper on the perimeter. This trio of guards makes it nearly impossible for opposing defenses to keep the Cats out of the lane, where they can score with ease or create open looks outside the paint.
The frontcourt has extreme potential as well. Calipari was able to nab a top-tier player in the early signing period in Skal Labissiere. “Big Skal” has Anthony Davis-esque length and a very polished offensive game. He can score in the paint with hook shots and outside with jumpers. The key will be his defensive development: can he be the eraser in the paint that Anthony Davis and Willie Cauley-Stein were. Joining him are the aforementioned Poythress and Lee, in addition to freshman, Isaac Humphries. The native Australian is just 17 years old, but oozes with potential. At an open practice held in October, some NBA scouts on site said that Humphries had the skill to be a top pick in the draft. He will likely just be a rotational player this year, but he has a bright future and will make an impact off the bench regardless. On the wing, Calipari has two solid players in Charles Matthews and Mychal Mulder that will likely stay multiple years. Mulder signed in the spring, as he transferred to Kentucky out of a junior college. He provides depth and shooting from the perimeter. He shot over 40% from behind the arc last season. Matthews committed to Kentucky in February of 2014, as he was hurt much of the summer, which caused his stock to drop, but the Cats are getting a very versatile player who in time could be one of the best defenders Kentucky has ever had.
This team will take time to develop and will certainly not go undefeated. They will face stiff tests early on against Duke in Chicago on November 17th as well as a date at Kansas on January 31st. This has a chance to be one of the greatest offensive teams John Calipari has coached, but the defense must show up daily in order to cut down the nets in April. I'm very excited to watch this team the next six months, and hopefully they will achieve their goals.
