BBALLBREAKDOWN v.2 | Page 11

Other returners stand tall in the frontcourt, including the rare Calipari senior, Alex Poythress. Poythress has fallen far from his days as a projected first-round draft pick, though there’s still time for him to show his worth. Though coming off a knee ligament injury may damage his draft stock, his ability to play with great physicality and finish near the rim make him a strong compliment to the more athletic and agile Labissiere. Marcus Lee returns as well, providing another big man that can dominate for stretches on the defensive end due to his shot blocking prowess. It will be interesting to see if and how Calipari plays Lee and Labissiere alongside each other. the top ten in the SEC—he only averaged 0.4 turnovers a night, to go with that impressive total for a reserve. Think about it this way: for every nine assists Ulis dished out, he had merely one turnover. While Ulis contributes on the court in so many ways as a passer, a strong shooter, and someone who rarely makes a mistake, his leadership and perception as a great teammate is where he’ll be most valuable this season. Teams with this many freshmen lack leadership and experience; the player that last season’s team identified as the best teammate, and often times its most valuable, can only help speed up the learning process the youthful talent in Lexington experience. “As Calipari continually reloads with star freshmen and athletic talent...” This is not the Kentucky team we got accustomed to dominating last season, with unheard-of depth and a platoon system that was almost comical to watch. Three star freshmen and three talented returners are the highlights of this program at the moment. Charles Matthews and Mychal Mulder, two freshmen wings, are born shooters that can provide depth on the wings and fill a valuable role for the Wildcats. Junior forward Derek Willis could find a role as a stretch 4, and point guard Dominique Hawkins is a capable defensive presence off the bench. They’ll play fast this year, use their role players when they’re needed, and ride the playmakers like Ulis, Briscoe and Martin throughout the year. Calipari has his stars and can once again construct a world-class defense. Instead of a Wildcats team brimming with NBA talent, this team has a few freshman superstars and the right concoction of role players surrounding them. One thing is certain—don’t ever bet against Coach Calipari. Photo: Mark Zerof - USA TODAY Sports BBALLBREAKDOWN | 11