Nerlens Noel to Kentucky: Breaking Down His Impact on the Wildcats Title Defense

The Kentucky Wildcats didn't hit the jackpot by acquiring Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad, but Noel and the rest of the Wildcats' newcomers will be formidable again this year.

Anthony Davis is expected to declare for the NBA draft soon, so the paint will be Noel's to patrol.

Joining Noel will be Ryan Harrow, the dynamic point guard transfer. Harrow figures to step right in for Marquis Teague, providing Teague declares for the NBA draft as expected. Also joining Noel will be highly touted recruits Anthony Poythress (PF), Archie Goodwin (SG) and another big man, Willie Cauley.

As you can see, the Cats are nearly ushering in an entirely new starting five.

Still—Noel is the obvious gem of the bunch, and here is how he should impact the Cats' title defense:

On Defense

This is Noel's specialty.

At 6'10", with tremendously long arms and great timing, he can be the type of defensive presence Davis was this past season.

Though Noel is a good athlete, he isn't quite the gazelle Davis is, so his defensive style will be that of a more traditional center. Noel's length, instincts and athleticism allow him to cover an enormous amount of ground. He's thin, but his low-post defense is superior to Davis'. And, like Davis, Noel is a beast on the boards.

Overall, the transition from the unibrow to the high-top fade will be a smooth one on the defensive end. Believe it or not, Noel will probably be an even better defensive player than his predecessor.

Scoring

Noel is underdeveloped on this end at this stage in his career. He doesn't possess the perimeter potential Davis does, as he is a true and traditional center.

Although Noel is developing a nice baby hook with either hand, he currently depends on athleticism and length to score. Wildcats coaches may work with him on developing a go-to move, but many of Noel's contributions on offense will come from rebounding, transition buckets and lobs.

Noel's role will be similar to the one Davis played this past season, minus the 20 three-point shots the unibrow hoisted up.

Passing

Noel is a solid interior passer, which is such an underrated skill for big men. Playing next to a solid and explosive PF like Poythress, Noel could have a few high-assist nights this season.

Noel is unselfish, and he'll be an asset to the team in this department.

Intangibles

Noel is more of a character than Davis—and I don't mean that in a bad way. He has tons of charisma, which, if utilized properly, could make him a very effective leader for this young team.

The best part of the Wildcats' championship team was the players' unselfishness. Noel will bring that same element in his game, and it's likely that it will permeate throughout the entire roster.

Predicted Stat Line: 15 PPG, 11 RPG, 4.5 BPG, 3 APG

Sound familiar?