Kentucky Basketball: What Each Projected 2015-16 Starter Brings to the Table

Constant turnover in the starting lineup is expected at Kentucky from year to year. Ever since head coach John Calipari arrived in Lexington and began bringing in top-notch recruits, the revolving door has always been moving.

This year will be no different, as the Wildcats will lose all five starters (if you don't count Alex Poythress before the injury) from last year's undefeated regular-season team. Luckily, we have an idea of what Kentucky's starting lineup will look like in 2015-16, thanks to returning players and yet another loaded recruiting class. 

Each player has a unique quality associated with them. The question is what are those qualities and what does each projected starter bring to the table. We'll take a look at that. This is what each projected Kentucky starter in 2015-16 brings to the table. 

Tyler Ulis: The Intangibles

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You know all those little things that change games but don't show up in a box score? That's exactly what Tyler Ulis brings to the table. 

Whether it's toughness—see the above picture, where he was bloodied in the Louisville game and went on to have the best game of anyone—or being a coach on the floor, Ulis can do it all. He's a traditional point guard in every sense of the word, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where he constantly looks to set up his teammates.

He won't always record the assist, but it's usually his playmaking or extra passes that get an easy bucket for the Wildcats. He often looks for the open man, passing up a good shot for a better one. He won't blow anyone away with his stat sheet, but he's a must-have player on any team. 

Isaiah Briscoe: Scoring

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Isaiah Briscoe has always played the point guard position. That will change this year when he's moved to the shooting guard spot so Calipari can play Briscoe and Ulis together. This isn't a bad thing, as Briscoe is an electric scorer.

He showed off his shooting ability by winning the three-point contest at the Ballislife event with ease. He didn't even need to take the last several shots. He also plays bigger than his size (6'3", 200 lbs), allowing him to finish in the lane and take contact.

Briscoe is physical and has long arms for his size, allowing him to take advantage of mismatches by going into the post. At Roselle Catholic, Briscoe would post up opposing point guards if he felt he had that advantage. This is something Calipari can draw up as he did a little bit with Andrew Harrison.

Don't be surprised if Briscoe leads the Wildcats in scoring next season. 

Alex Poythress: Versatility

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Poythress will never live up to the hype he had coming out of high school. However, he's been a solid player for the Wildcats and has found his niche as one of the most versatile players on the roster. 

He's become strong defensively because he can guard at least three positions due to his length and physical attributes (6'8", 238 lbs). He's quick enough to stick with wing players and guards, but he's also strong enough to bang in the post. He's turned into a strong shot-blocker who can help protect the rim.

Offensively, you can play him both on the wing or in the post. He's not going to kill anyone off the dribble creating his own shot, but he can get to the rim and finish with authority. As we saw during the run to the title game in 2014, Poythress has no problem sending in thundering dunks off of alley-oops or taking advantage of putback dunks. 

Marcus Lee: Energy

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You know that annoying guy who is always clapping on defense, waving his arms to get a crowd excited and generally bouncing around? That's Marcus Lee at all times on the basketball court, which is a good thing for Kentucky.

Lee is the guy who will commit a foul for being too hyped up, but at the same time, he'll turn that energy into 10 points in a half off of dunks and hustling. He's not afraid to dive after loose balls, mix it up in the paint and just be a nuisance.

Every team needs someone like Lee in its rotation, and this will be Lee's strength with this specific roster. He needs to be the guy who is playing at full speed for 40 minutes, as he'll be the main rim-protector taking over for Willie Cauley-Stein.

Skal Labissiere: The Guy Who Can Do It All

There's a reason Skal Labissiere is regarded as a future No. 1 overall NBA draft pick. He's 6'10" and can step out for a shot from 22 feet but also play inside. 

Sure, he's not built like a traditional center, but he's an excellent shot-blocker who will fit in right away with Calipari and Kentucky's defensive system. He's going to have opposing centers guarding him, allowing him to step away from the lane and draw a defender out. That either leaves the lane open for Ulis and Briscoe or allows Labissiere to beat his man off the dribble.

He's not as good as Anthony Davis, but his ability to guard the perimeter and even block shots out there is excellent. He will be called upon early as a freshman to be the star of this team, and his versatility and skill set should allow him to do just that.  

Labissiere should make a push for Player of the Year while securing another No. 1 overall pick for Calipari to brag about.