Kentucky Basketball: Strengths and Weaknesses of Wildcats' 2016-17 Roster

It's a new year and a new team for Kentucky basketball, which is both a good and a bad thing for the Wildcats.

Fans of the program shouldn't be surprised to see a whole bunch of roster turnover from this past season. The squad will lose a handful of key players to the NBA, something that has become an annual tradition in Lexington. Of course, this is also followed by the usual additions of elite freshmen ready to contribute right away.

So what should people expect from the latest version of Kentucky basketball? There will obviously be some good and bad, although a lot more positives than negatives as the team looks to bring home another national championship.

While a lot will change with the team as the year progresses, here is an early look at some of the strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2016-17 season. As discussed last week, there is a continued assumption that Isaiah Briscoe will return next year while Marcus Lee will remain in the draft.

Strength: Defense

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John Calipari's best teams are the ones that defend at a high level. According to KenPom.com, his teams have finished the year in the top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency in seven of the last 11 years. All of those squads were No. 1 or No. 2 seeds in the NCAA tournament. 

The other years featured two No. 4 seeds, one No. 8 and one missed tournament, when the team ranked just 129th in this category.

After finishing last season just 53rd in the country, next year's team should represent a big improvement if the group plays to its ability. The backcourt of Briscoe and De'Aaron Fox could be among the best in the country with their quickness, instincts and aggressiveness on that end of the court. They will limit penetration, cut down on passing lanes and make every shot difficult for whomever they are guarding.

Even after losing shot-blockers Skal Labissiere and likely Lee, the frontcourt should still do its job with Edrice "Bam" Adebayo, Wenyen Gabriel, Sacha Killeya-Jones and Isaac Humphries all capable of protecting the rim. It won't exactly be as difficult as it was trying to score inside two years ago against Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, but opponents will have a similar hopeless feeling in the post.

The talent for an elite defense is there, but it will all come down to dedication if these Wildcats want to mirror Calipari's best teams on that end.

Weakness: Passing

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The team can get over losing the scoring of Jamal Murray, but the play of Tyler Ulis might be tougher to replace. The sophomore point guard didn't always put up huge numbers, but he was a leader on the court and at times could be in complete control of a game.

No one on the team next year is likely to match his 3.57 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Fox definitely has the skills to be a point guard but is still best when looking for his own shot. The same could be said about Briscoe, who averaged a solid 3.1 assists per game last year but also 1.9 turnovers per game. As for top recruit Malik Monk, he is an elite pure scorer who likely won't spend much time creating for others.

No one on the roster will be the pure point guard Ulis was, with the same pass-first mentality and the vision to find any open player on the court. He made everyone around him better and will be sorely missed during the upcoming season.

While the Wildcats will still be able to find ways to score, everyone on the court will have to work harder on every possession without Ulis to lead the offense.

Strength: Frontcourt Depth

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Kentucky's coaching staff was limited this past year when it came to options in the frontcourt. Alex Poythress, Lee and Labissiere weren't perfect, but there weren't many alternatives. The problem became even worse when one or more of those players got into foul trouble, which seemed to happen often.

That won't be an issue this season, as Kentucky is loaded with possibilities down low.

Incoming freshmen Gabriel, Adebayo and Killeya-Jones will join returning players Humphries and Derek Willis, both of whom should have an expanded role after sitting for most of last year. Tai Wynyard could also have an impact after sitting out his entire first year in Lexington.

This list doesn't even include Marques Bolden, the 5-star recruit, per 247Sports, who is still deciding between Duke and Kentucky. If he decides to join the Wildcats, the 6'11", 250-pound center wouldn't just have an early impact—he could legitimately start from day one.

In addition to providing depth, these players all bring something different to the table. If Kentucky wants to stretch the floor, Willis and Gabriel could spend time in the post. If it's necessary to have some size down low, Adebayo and Humphries will be useful.

There will be a lot of versatility in the post, and at no point should the Wildcats run out of options in the frontcourt.

Weakness: Backcourt Depth

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The frontcourt players will be battling for playing time, but those in the backcourt might struggle to get any rest.

The roster doesn't feature any true small forwards, with potential options like Willis and Gabriel best suited to play the 4. This likely means the team will once again go with three guards in the lineup, presumably Briscoe, Fox and Monk.

Now, these three players could represent one of the best backcourts in college basketball. Briscoe should improve heading into his sophomore year, while Fox and Monk will provide elite scoring, ball-handling and defense. It will be a different style than last year's guard lineup of Ulis and Murray, but they could still dominate.

The problems happen when any of those players need a rest or, in the worst case, get injured.

Charles Matthews, Dominique Hawkins and Mychal Mulder all played sparingly last season, and while they have their roles, they don't bring a lot to the table. They are all relatively one-dimensional players and are unlikely to help for extended periods of time.

Ulis and Murray both averaged over 35 minutes per game during conference play last season, something Fox and Monk could be forced to replicate in 2016-17. While you always want your best players on the court, this takes a lot out of young players and could limit their effectiveness down the stretch.

This could force Calipari and his staff to get a bit more creative with the lineups.

Strength: Inside Scoring

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There are a few quality outside shooters on the roster, but the real strength of this team will be its ability to score in the paint.

We've already discussed the amount of frontcourt options this team will have next season. Still, not every big man can create offense inside. Labissiere was seemingly allergic to the paint last year, while Lee was usually only scoring on offensive rebounds and putbacks.

Next year's squad will add a few back-to-the-basket scorers in Adebayo and Killeya-Jones as well as a player who can run the floor and finish at a high rate in Gabriel.

Still, the key will be the penetrating ability of each of the guards. Briscoe has the toughness of a bulldog with the ball in his hands, getting into the lane and using his physicality to score. Fox has more length and athleticism that will give him plenty of room to finish over people. Monk will be the quickest player on the team, always capable of creating space for himself in either the mid-range area or at the net.

No matter who has the ball, Kentucky will find a way to get it close to the basket and attempt an easier shot.

The Wildcats ranked 35th in the country while shooting 52.9 percent from two-point range last year, a mark they can easily improve upon during the upcoming season.

Weakness: Experience

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This is a common problem for Kentucky, which usually relies heavily on freshmen. This has worked out in many cases, but we have also seen that everyone develops at different rates.

Fox might be ready to contribute right away, but someone like Gabriel might need some time to reach his potential. The problem is all five freshmen (and possibly six with Bolden) are expected to play a major role with only two key contributors—Briscoe and Willis—returning from last year.

Ulis and Murray combined to average 37.3 points per game this season, representing 46.3 percent of the total scoring for the season on their own. Add in likely departed players Labissiere, Poythress and Lee, and that's 73.7 percent of the points from last season.

The incoming class has a lot of work to do to get this program back to the level it is used to.

Meanwhile, there will also be a question of leadership throughout the year, with Willis being the only upperclassman expected to play major minutes. Poythress won't be around to add intensity on the court and lead by example, while Ulis, also a confident leader, will likewise be absent.

Someone will have to take over that role in order for this team to be successful during the regular season and into the NCAA tournament.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.