Whatever happens with Murray, Diallo, Brown and company, I think the Kentucky roster already compares favorably with 2011, and has a shot at a terrific season. It won't have the shooting ability of that team (though going into the year, Lamb wasn't considered a deadly shooter) but it is deeper in reliable talent, should have an edge in team quickness, and should have a stronger front court. Each team had a top 1-2 freshman and another in the top 10. Each team had some guys who had played in the shadow of NBA-level talent, and were ready to emerge.
2011 back court: Knight, Lamb, Miller, Liggins -- We know Knight had a terrific freshman year, Lamb shot a good percentage, and Liggins had a strong tournament. Miller wasn't Miller of his senior year, but a solid player.
2016 back court: Ulis, Briscoe, Mulder, Matthews, Hawkins -- Ulis showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman and seems to have that indefinable quality of all special players. Briscoe has really impressed me in the post-season all star games, and was rated the top 1-2 PG in the class for good reason. Mulder's stats say one thing: He can shoot the 3. That skill usually translates regardless of the competition (Lamb and Booker both shot BETTER against SEC competition than in HS. Mulder has done it at the top of the JUCO level.) Hawkins -- May or may not develop a shot, but a reliable defender and back up. I personally feel Matthews is underrated, and will be a good defender and a capable scorer.
2011 front court: Jorts, Jones, Vargas -- Jorts was much more than we'd hoped, especially in the tournament. Jones, as a freshman, was probably a little less than advertised, and had a lot of quiet games, but was a major talent. Vargas - good for a couple minutes when foul trouble threatened.
2016 front court: Skal, Lee, Poythress, Willis -- Skal looks capable of playing the role of star freshman. Probably less of a defensive presence than Davis and Noel, he looks like the most polished scorer of those three. Guys who are rated the #1player in the class got that ranking for a reason. Lee will have to step up, and no reason to think he can't. He's an athletically gifted 6'10'' player who'll be in his third year in Kentucky's system. Poythress was on the verge of a break out year before he was injured, in my opinion. I'm going to be optimistic and assume he'll be 100 percent and even more hungry to finally prove he was the most athletically gifted forward in his class. Should be a defensive demon at a minimum, and able to attack the basket. Willis is a question mark, like Jorts was in 2011. Not predicting stardom for him, but the talent is there to contribute. Major concern would be a lack of beef inside. Maybe Wynyard plays the second half. He looked like a budding Jorts in the Nike Classic.
Cal seems to prefer teams with tight rotations and a guard or two who can break down defenses the way Ulis has and Briscoe will. He had that in 2011, and in the tournament the Cats bounced back from a disappointment in 2010.
2011 back court: Knight, Lamb, Miller, Liggins -- We know Knight had a terrific freshman year, Lamb shot a good percentage, and Liggins had a strong tournament. Miller wasn't Miller of his senior year, but a solid player.
2016 back court: Ulis, Briscoe, Mulder, Matthews, Hawkins -- Ulis showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman and seems to have that indefinable quality of all special players. Briscoe has really impressed me in the post-season all star games, and was rated the top 1-2 PG in the class for good reason. Mulder's stats say one thing: He can shoot the 3. That skill usually translates regardless of the competition (Lamb and Booker both shot BETTER against SEC competition than in HS. Mulder has done it at the top of the JUCO level.) Hawkins -- May or may not develop a shot, but a reliable defender and back up. I personally feel Matthews is underrated, and will be a good defender and a capable scorer.
2011 front court: Jorts, Jones, Vargas -- Jorts was much more than we'd hoped, especially in the tournament. Jones, as a freshman, was probably a little less than advertised, and had a lot of quiet games, but was a major talent. Vargas - good for a couple minutes when foul trouble threatened.
2016 front court: Skal, Lee, Poythress, Willis -- Skal looks capable of playing the role of star freshman. Probably less of a defensive presence than Davis and Noel, he looks like the most polished scorer of those three. Guys who are rated the #1player in the class got that ranking for a reason. Lee will have to step up, and no reason to think he can't. He's an athletically gifted 6'10'' player who'll be in his third year in Kentucky's system. Poythress was on the verge of a break out year before he was injured, in my opinion. I'm going to be optimistic and assume he'll be 100 percent and even more hungry to finally prove he was the most athletically gifted forward in his class. Should be a defensive demon at a minimum, and able to attack the basket. Willis is a question mark, like Jorts was in 2011. Not predicting stardom for him, but the talent is there to contribute. Major concern would be a lack of beef inside. Maybe Wynyard plays the second half. He looked like a budding Jorts in the Nike Classic.
Cal seems to prefer teams with tight rotations and a guard or two who can break down defenses the way Ulis has and Briscoe will. He had that in 2011, and in the tournament the Cats bounced back from a disappointment in 2010.
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