So do we get Kansas at home next year?

[Matt Dillon]

What's wrong with Briscoe's season other than he can't shoot?

I think by and large he's had a very solid season even with the putrid shooting. Maybe the best defender Cal has had as a freshman and one of the toughest young players I've ever seen at Kentucky.

He shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Skal.

I suppose there's nothing wrong with having a guard that can't shoot.

[catfaninin]

What's wrong with Briscoe's season other than he can't shoot?

I think by and large he's had a very solid season even with the putrid shooting. Maybe the best defender Cal has had as a freshman and one of the toughest young players I've ever seen at Kentucky.

He shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Skal.

Looking back at the game thread from just a week ago there are these opinions of him

"Briscoe does nothing, not even a lockdown defender. .. "
"Nope, his defense is crazy overrated. Not sure how/why Cal plays him except that there is no other option. "
"Yep, he literally can do nothing but grab the occasional offensive rebound. If his defense isn't good (like tonight) Cal has to try another option. It's 4 against 5 on offense with him on the floor"

I would tend to agree with your assessment.

[Joneslab]

I suppose there's nothing wrong with having a guard that can't shoot.

Briscoe still helps the team because he's not just a good defender, he's an incredible defender.

He controlled that game Saturday for long stretches. (IMO he didn't get nearly enough credit for the way he played.) That wasn't the first time he's done that. Like all freshmen he's put up some duds but you can still count on him to play hard.

Skal's been a complete bust so far. Not so with Briscoe.

[Joneslab]

Looking back at the game thread from just a week ago there are these opinions of him

"Briscoe does nothing, not even a lockdown defender. .. "
"Nope, his defense is crazy overrated. Not sure how/why Cal plays him except that there is no other option. "
"Yep, he literally can do nothing but grab the occasional offensive rebound. If his defense isn't good (like tonight) Cal has to try another option. It's 4 against 5 on offense with him on the floor"

I would tend to agree with your assessment.

Kentucky fans aren't known for objectivity as the game is going on.

They also fall for tiny sample sizes. If a guy plays bad for a game or two, or sometimes even for a half, they write him off.

We forget these guys are 19 years old and are still learning how to play the game. We stack all of them up against the John Walls and Anthony Davises of the world, and that creates this unbelievable standard.

I remain baffled by Briscoe's shooting but he plays hard. I feel the same way about Marcus Lee. He is what he is--a raw, virtually unskilled big man--but he helps the team because he plays hard most of the time. Notice what happens when Lee goes out with fouls. The whole thing usually collapses.

The guys I look to as disappointments and enigmas are Skal and Poythress. The others I think have done what I kind of expected them to do this season, and a couple of them have overachieved.

[catfaninin]

Briscoe still helps the team because he's not just a good defender, he's an incredible defender.

He controlled that game Saturday for long stretches. (IMO he didn't get nearly enough credit for the way he played.) That wasn't the first time he's done that. Like all freshmen he's put up some duds but you can still count on him to play hard.

Skal's been a complete bust so far. Not so with Briscoe.

I totally agree about the defensive part. I thought Tuesday night he controlled a lot of the game. Steals, drawing offensive fouls and just in general frustrating the Miss St guy he was guarding. lots of time stuff that doesn't show up in the boxscore. Also seemed to me that he played at the top with the ball a lot more, letting Ulis and Murray play on the wing. Think we will see more and more of that. He seems to be really good at getting the ball to the open guy. Just opens it up more for him to drive. Now he just has to make the foul shots.

[Joneslab]

I've almost given up on the foul shots. Think we're far enough in that it's going to be really hard to change.

Though he has hit four or five mid-range jumpers the last two games. (One he banked in, but still.) If he can do that it really changes his entire game and makes him virtually impossible to stay in front of.

Easy to forget he's learning a new position. Guy came in as a point guard and is having to play off the ball because of Ulis. I think he'd be a much better point guard but obviously you can't take Ulis out of that spot.

And guards who can't shoot are rare but not unheard of. Wall couldn't shoot. Wayne Turner couldn't shoot. The only disappointing thing about Briscoe is that if he could shoot, he'd be a star.

[JFCats22]

I wouldn't say Briscoe has been a disappointment. Skal definitely has, Poythress definitely has, and Ulis' shot has been disappointing.

I think Briscoe's defense is overrated. Best defender Cal has had as a freshman? MKG laughs hard at that notion.

He's a good defender but has gotten lit up a few times this year, see Alabama game.

If his offense continues as it has recently I think it's a difference maker for this team. If he's a threat to make shots then it totally changes things for Murray, Ulis, even Poythress.

I really like Briscoe, think he will get destroyed in the NBA, but I really like him as a college player.

[Joneslab]

I think Briscoe's defense is overrated. Best defender Cal has had as a freshman? MKG laughs hard at that notion.

He's a good defender but has gotten lit up a few times this year, see Alabama game.

He's right there with MKG.

They all get taken from time to time. Obasahan got them all at some point in that game. No shame in that. Really good player.

I've never seen anybody at UK as a freshmen who's willing to get his nose in there like Briscoe other than MKG. Briscoe will play guys chest to chest for 94 feet. That's extremely rare.

[JFCats22]

He's right there with MKG.

They all get taken from time to time. Obasahan got them all at some point in that game. No shame in that. Really good player.

I've never seen anybody at UK as a freshmen who's willing to get his nose in there like Briscoe other than MKG. Briscoe will play guys chest to chest for 94 feet. That's extremely rare.

I agree with Briscoe getting after it and not backing down. Dude isn't scared of anybody or any situation.

With him and Ulis you would think some of that would rub off on Skal and Poythress. Wishful thinking I guess.

[Joneslab]

The closest comp to me with Briscoe is Eric Bledsoe.

Bledsoe was a much better shooter obviously, but Bledsoe was also prone to weird games where he almost couldn't stand up without falling over.

Like Briscoe, Bledsoe was having to learn a new position. But they're both bulldog tough, and some UK fans swore that Bledsoe would be eaten alive in the pros. I remember fans showing consternation and outright bafflement that he was even considering going.

We get too close to these games. It's hard to be totally realistic about a guy when every mistake he makes stabs you in the heart.