Experts: How Kentucky adapts
— -- Kentucky's depth -- arguably its most important differentiating factor this season -- took a significant blow when veteran forward Alex Poythress suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Thursday in practice.
Poythress was averaging only 5.5 points (eighth on the team) and 3.8 rebounds in a little more than 20 minutes per contest, but can his impact on the Wildcats be effectively measured by numbers? He's a veteran who is viewed as a calming influence and was a significant factor in last season's run to the national title contest.
How does Poythress' absence alter the complexion of the Kentucky Wildcats? Should John Calipari abandon his platoon system? If not, who should move into the starting lineup in Poythress' place? ESPN's Jeff Goodman reached out to those who would know best: ESPN's Seth Greenberg and primary SEC analyst Sean Farnham, as well as ESPN analyst Jay Bilas and a handful of head and assistant coaches who have already faced the Cats this season.
Biggest Impact
Seth Greenberg: His experience and his voice. He's vocal by his actions, and he always does the right thing. He doesn't just do the right thing on the court, but off the floor. He's a great kid, and his impact can be felt as much in the locker room as on the court. ... He also generates energy. He makes plays that create energy, whether it be tip-dunks or blocking shots. He's like a shot of espresso at a time when they need it.
Sean Farnham: It hurts you from an experience standpoint more than anything. He's been around the program and has assumed a leadership role. It doesn't mean he can't still be a leader, though. To me, Alex Poythress was the stabilizing glue. I know his motor wasn't always great, but he had a way of blending in and it never being about him. You need guys like that.
Jeff Goodman: It's all about the intangibles with Poythress. He wasn't a vocal guy, but he is the poster boy for the "lead by example" mantra. He's also a guy who didn't seem to be worried about "getting his," which is important on a team with so many mouths to feed. Poythress doesn't always play with energy, but when he does he's a game-changer. They'll miss him in certain games, but now Calipari can put his best players on the court even more, which is ultimately what you want to do.
Who takes his minutes?
Greenberg: You're going to see Trey Lyles get more time. You'll also see more of Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis. Against a team like Louisville, you can go with Ulis and the [Harrison] twins, or Booker with the twins, or even Booker with one of the twins and Ulis. They'll have plenty of flexibility at that spot.
Farnham: It completely depends on the team they are playing against and the style of the game. I believe in late-game situations if I had to put the ball in one guy's hands, who do I feel confident in? Tyler Ulis. He makes the best decisions and is a calming influence.
Goodman: I'd hand them to Lyles and/or Ulis -- depending on the opponent. You want to go small, toss Ulis in there. You want to go big, you have Lyles. Ulis is the best point guard on the team and Lyles is so skilled.
Can Trey Lyles play the 3?
Greenberg: He's so skilled and has shown he can put the ball on the floor and pass. The way Kentucky guards it shouldn't make much of a difference. You're not afraid to get beat when you play in the gaps ... the whole idea of pressuring the ball and shrinking the gaps. They have the length, quickness and guys who protect the rim. They'll be better offensively with Lyles.
Farnham: He was playing that position for the other platoon, anyway, and for the most part, the 2s, 3s and 4s for Kentucky are pretty much interchangeable anyway.
Goodman: Seth makes a great point. On a normal team, you'd worry about Lyles on the defensive end in terms of being able to stay in front of quicker wings. However, with guys like Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns around, that won't be quite as significant. I think Lyles is tremendous -- even though he's a natural 4-man -- and will be as effective as Poythress at the 3.
Do you abandon the platoon system?
Greenberg: Cal will tweak it now. He's got flexibility with it. It's a concept, a philosophy. But it's not etched in stone. John's smart enough to understand time and score, and those things will dictate how he subs. He'll adjust his lineup accordingly. Personally, I'd put Trey Lyles in there, especially with Booker hurt right now. But I wouldn't be afraid to put Booker or Ulis in that position. I'd go with Lyles, though, because no one else has to change their positions and roles. If you put Ulis in, Andrew Harrison has to move over and so does Aaron.
Farnham: I'd keep it and put Lyles on the blue (the first) platoon, and move Derek Willis to the white platoon. Willis is very talented and can shoot the 3 and get into the paint. On anyone else's roster, he'd be a significant role player and play in every game. He just needs more confidence. I'd start with the platoon system and just sub more liberally, which is what Calipari did against Texas. But I wouldn't scrap the platoons.
Goodman: I'd continue to use the platoons, but primarily in the first half to help determine what lineups and players are most effective. However, down the stretch you have to just put out the five guys who give you the best opportunity to win. The best lineup for me is Aaron Harrison, Tyler Ulis (with the ball in his hands), Trey Lyles, Karl Anthony-Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein. However, the danger of doing that and sitting Andrew Harrison is potentially losing his brother. That's a difficult situation for Calipari.
Does it change your view on Kentucky winning it all?
Greenberg: Nope. It's the one team that can survive this.
Farnham: No. Not at all for me. It is a significant loss, but is there a roster able to sustain this better than Kentucky? The answer is no.
Goodman: I don't have them winning it all, but as tough of a blow as it is for Poythress and the team, when you take the emotion out of it I actually think it could help Kentucky -- now it will be easier to play their best players more minutes. They were already a terrific defensive team, and now they can get guys like Lyles, Ulis and Booker on the floor more, which gives them a better chance to put points on the board.
Thoughts from Jay Bilas
Bilas: Losing Poythress is a big blow to Kentucky. Of course, it is not devastating, but it is a big blow. No team has more talent in reserve to overcome a loss of a junior leader, transition athlete, offensive rebounder and versatile defender. Poythress is not a great player, but he does a lot of things to help a team win. Specifically, he plays hard, he runs the floor and he attacks the glass. Losing a leader on your team is never easy, and this will not be easy.
However, for Kentucky, it comes at a time when the Wildcats can pivot and deal with it. I feel awful for Poythress, as I do when any player is injured. It is important that he doesn't step back from the team and retreat into his own thing. It is always difficult to keep "in it" when you're injured, but Poythress can still help this team win, and still be a leader and positive voice for Kentucky.
Thoughts from opposing coaches
Jeff Goodman canvassed coaches who had faced Poythress during his career, including this season, and were willing to offer anonymous takes on the injury:
1. "[Poythress is] a freak. He runs you down, he's physical, he plays way above the rim. They lose his defensive presence and energy. He got blocks, deflections -- he was a max-effort guy. He's also been through it before. It hurts them more in intangibles than points on the board. Offensively, they'll be better when they put in a skilled guy. Booker can shoot it, but he only affects the game in one way. Poythress changed it in multiple ways ... John's going to have to abandon the platoons once he gets into league games. The SEC stinks, but he won't be able to go with it, because they'll be in some close games."
2. "Honestly, Lyles is a better scorer and now you have less of 'have to play everybody' problems. It's hard to play 10 guys equally. Normally you want an eight-man rotation with the ninth and 10th being guys that play two to three minutes some games and maybe 15 or so in a game here and there. By having to play 10 guys equally, it gets hard to get in a rhythm as a unit. Now Cal doesn't have to worry about it, and Lyles is more of a perimeter threat who will open things up for the guards and bigs."
3. "I feared Poythress' energy and activity. He gets a lot done on the floor without them ever calling a play for him. His explosiveness in the open court energizes their team. He is underrated at this level and how he is projected as a draft prospect in my opinion prior to the injury. The only good news for UK with this is that it provides an excuse to abandon the platoons."
4. "He's another athletic body. I think the bigger loss is their guard, Booker [who missed the Columbia game due to injury]. They need his shooting along with the twins'. The entire key to their team is guard play, not their bigs. A team with great guards and perimeter play can hurt them, someone that plays with a perimeter 4-man that can spread them out. It's hard to play the power game with them."
5. "He's a very good player, but their depth will allow them to keep moving forward. It may disrupt their platoon system and allow Ulis and the Harrisons to play more together, which I feel is their best lineup."