Kentucky Basketball: Toughest Matchup Projected Starters Will Face in 2015-16

The 2015-16 college basketball season is right around the corner, which means we can start previewing the upcoming year in earnest. 

This week, we take a look at the toughest individual matchups the members of the Kentucky Wildcats starting lineup will face during the next five months. 

The Wildcats have plenty of quality opponents on their nonconference slate, but due to the influx of talent across the SEC, they will also face a good amount of tests once the calendar flips to 2016. 

Here's a look at the toughest matchup each of the Kentucky starters will face during the 2015-16 campaign. 

Tyler Ulis vs. Derryck Thornton

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Tyler Ulis' sophomore season begins with two easy home games against Albany and NJIT before he faces his most difficult opponent on November 17. 

The second-year stud, who will control the Kentucky offense from the point this year, will square off against Duke's dangerous freshman point guard, Derryck Thornton, in the Champions Classic. 

Thornton brings plenty of speed and talent to the court, and it will be up to Ulis to limit his explosiveness on offense as the rest of the Wildcats lineup deals with the other talented stars on the court for Duke. 

Ulis' defensive skills will be tested in the early-season nonconference clash, but if he can dictate the pace of the game on offense, he has a chance of silencing the Duke offense for long stretches of the game. 

Ulis will also face a stiff challenge in nonconference action later in the season as he goes up against the dangerous set of guards in the Kansas lineup. At any point in the January 30 showdown, Ulis could face Wayne Selden, Frank Mason or Devonte Graham. 

Isaiah Briscoe vs. Bryce Alford

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When the Wildcats venture out to Pauley Pavilion on December 3, Isaiah Briscoe will be tasked with a challenging assignment against UCLA's Bryce Alford. 

Alford showed just how dangerous he could be from three-point range during the Bruins' time in the 2015 NCAA tournament. If Alford is even a shell of himself from March, the Wildcats will have a tough time dealing with his shooting from downtown. 

The good news for Briscoe is if he holds Alford to under 10 points in the first half, UCLA's entire offense could shut down early enough for Kentucky to pull away with a big victory. 

But if the opposite happens, Alford could enjoy one of the most prolific games of nonconference play. There is a chance Jamal Murray will shift over to Alford at times, but expect the two shooting guards to be on each other for most of the contest. 

Another matchup worth watching in nonconference play involving Briscoe will come in the Duke game as the freshman faces the likes of Matt Jones, Luke Kennard and Grayson Allen. 

Jamal Murray vs. Malik Newman

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Jamal Murray could boost his NBA draft stock against fellow star freshmen on two occasions during the 2015-16 season. The Canadian will face a test from Duke's Brandon Ingram, but we're more intrigued by the potential matchup against Mississippi State's Malik Newman. 

Unlike the possible showdown with Ingram on the wing in the Champions Classic, Murray will have a bit of a size advantage on the top recruit in Mississippi State's class of 2015. 

Murray stands at 6'4" and weighs 207 pounds, while Newman is listed at 6'3" and 190 pounds. The pair of versatile scorers could light up the scoreboard against each other on January 12 in Lexington. 

The reason we think Murray will guard Newman instead of Ulis is Murray has a bit more athleticism than the point guard. With that being the case, we expect to see the freshman play a major role in quieting the top threat in the Bulldogs offense. 

If he is unable to control Newman, the Bulldogs could earn a landmark win in Ben Howland's first season. 

Alex Poythress vs. Perry Ellis

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Believe it or not, Perry Ellis is still playing at Kansas. The experienced Jayhawks big man will take on Kentucky's own veteran, Alex Poythress, in the Big 12-SEC Challenge at Allen Fieldhouse on January 30. 

Both players know the ins and outs of the college game, which means we should be treated to a fantastic duel at the power forward position. 

Unlike past seasons, Ellis may not be relied on to make a play on every possession given Kansas' wealth of talent this year. Poythress may face a somewhat similar situation if the talented guards in the Kentucky starting lineup live up to their potential starting in November. 

One advantage Poythress has in this matchup is the height and power of a teammate. Poythress may be able to overwhelm Ellis offensively if he and Skal Labissiere (6'11", 225 lbs) can effectively work a double-team against the big man early in the game. 

However, if Ellis gets going early and carries the Jayhawks like he has in previous big games, Kentucky could leave Lawrence with a bad loss in its escape from conference play. 

Skal Labissiere vs. Ben Simmons

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We mentioned an intriguing freshman backcourt matchup earlier, but the freshman duel that will take place on January 5 in Baton Rouge and two months later in Lexington should easily outshine the showdown of guards referenced before. 

Kentucky's Skal Labissiere and LSU's Ben Simmons are expected to be two of the first players taken in the 2016 NBA draft, and unlike Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor last season, the pair of freshmen will face off in the thick of the regular season. 

The first meeting between the two highly touted young players may have more charge to it since it will take place at the start of the SEC schedule at LSU. With the Tigers eager to make a statement against the top team in the conference, expect a big game out of Simmons against Labissiere. 

The second showdown between the big men who are expected to dominate the SEC will come on the final Saturday of the regular season at Rupp Arena. Conference standing may not be on the line on March 5, but the first pick in the NBA draft might be if both players thrive throughout the regular season. 

If we're lucky enough, Labissiere and Simmons could go at it a third time in the SEC tournament.