Kentucky Basketball: Biggest Things to Look Forward to in 2015-16

One part of the Kentucky basketball season is officially over, which for most programs signals the end of the year. However, things are different in Lexington, where the offseason is just as important. 

With seven players—Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Willie Cauley-Stein, Karl-Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker—declaring for the NBA draft yesterday, the Wildcats will be a completely different team in 2015-16. 

It's not all bad in Lexington, though. The team will still return three former McDonald's All-Americans and bring in yet another top recruiting class. John Calipari is still the head coach of Kentucky, which means the Wildcats have a chance to make their fifth Final Four since Calipari took over the program. We'll take a look at the biggest things to look forward to in 2015-16 for Kentucky. 

Tyler Ulis Taking Over the Team

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Fan favorite Tyler Ulis is going to be in control of the 2015-16 Kentucky team. The 5'9" guard from Ohio was told earlier in the week by Calipari that he plans on building the team around Ulis. 

As great as Andrew Harrison was this year, the fans always seemed to enjoy having Ulis play the point guard position more. He's the definition of a traditional point guard, who looks to pass first, but he showed he's capable of hitting the big shot when needed. He's also a defensive headache for opposing teams, often mixing it up in the backcourt.

Ulis might only be 5'9", but he's not afraid of a fight. The story of Ulis trying to fight former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins in a pickup game is the epitome of his heart. It will be entertaining as a fan to see Ulis in control of the team next year, with his ability to get into the lane and find an open teammate. 

Marcus Lee's Breakout Season

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Marcus Lee should be the person most looking forward to the 2015-16 season. The former McDonald's All-American has been relegated to backup duty due to the plethora of NBA talent around him. 

However, next year he should be in the starting lineup, and he provides exactly what Willie Cauley-Stein did. Lee is a great shot-blocker and rebounder, even going back to his high school days when he grabbed over 19 rebounds a game as a senior at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, California.

If Lee can develop some offensive moves, he could end up being one of the biggest stars in the country next year. Right now, his offensive game has been limited to dunks and offensive rebounds. While that's great to have, he needs to be a presence in the post to keep defenders honest and keep himself on the court. 

Lee's energy is off the charts as well, as he's usually the one on the bench celebrating with his air guitar or helping teammates up off the court. He could be one of the best stories of college basketball as well, due to his patience and kindness off the court. 

A New Player to Love

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While a lot of people will knock the one-and-done culture at Kentucky, saying things like the fans don't really get to know the players, you might want to take a trip to Lexington. These fans are fully invested in anyone wearing the blue and white, and there's been plenty of characters throughout the years.

Whether it was John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins in Calipari's first year or Karl-Anthony Towns and his make-believe friend Karlito this past year, the personalities are abundant. There will definitely be someone in the class of 2015 to take over that role. The only question remaining is who that player will be.

As the roster fills out—with spots now open for Calipari to sign players—we'll have a better idea of what to expect. But for now, let's just say high-scoring guard Isaiah Briscoe from Union, New Jersey, could fill that role quite nicely.