With Isaiah Briscoe returning to Kentucky for his sophomore season, head coach John Calipari now has the most versatile, explosive, and arguably tough backcourt in the country heading into the 2016-17 season.
Kentucky is bringing in five-star prospects De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, forming a duo that many were ready to call among the most explosive freshmen backcourts we’ve seen in recent memory. With the addition of Briscoe to the fold, that group can now add a proven defender and physical presence that should perfectly complement the talents of both Fox and Monk.
Briscoe is not a guy Calipari will have to run plays for on the offensive bend. He’s not the type of point guard who needs to dominate the ball or take many shots to leave an impact on the game. Where he is at his best is pulling down rebounds, getting down into a defensive position, and making winning plays that don’t necessarily show up in the box score.
There’s no doubt that Briscoe’s role will be slightly diminished with the kind of talent coming into Lexington next season. His minutes per game could decrease and his role will likely become more narrowly defined. But every team, no matter how talented, requires the services of glue guys who get to loose balls, box out on key positions, and most importantly, push younger players in practice.
If UK is to challenge for a national title next season, like many think they are able to, Briscoe will be a large part of their success. What remains to be seen, however, is just what kind of role he’s willing to play.
