Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Top Players at Each Position in the John Calipari Era
Dec 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis (3) brings the ball up court during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
#4 Tyler Ulis
To start off the first day we will start with number five. Coming in at 5 foot 9 from Lima, Ohio, maybe one of the scrappiest players to ever lace up his shoes in Lexington, Mr. Tyler Ulis.
Coming into his first season many were unsure what to expect. Having to play behind Andrew Harrison, and being a second option on the recruiting trail behind Emmanuel Mudiay, Ulis came in with a chip on his shoulder.
Playing with the “second unit” his stats are not overwhelming, but he was efficient when on the court. In just 23.8 minutes per game, he was able to come up with 137 assists on the year while shooting an efficient .429 percent from behind the arc. Being a pass first guard, he was never looking to score, but when he needed to, he could be counted on to hit the shot.
Hitting those big shots came in clutch to the Wildcats success this season. Not losing until the final four, with out Ulis, the second SEC game of the year would have been lost in overtime to Texas A&M ending any talks of being undefeated very early.
This year he was the perfect compliment to a 6’5 Andrew Harrison. With two polar opposite players, Kentucky could guard any type of player, and found themselves very hard to guard. Calipari has now handed the keys to Ulis for next season, he has earned the trust of his head coach and his fan base.
Ulis really one the hearts of the Big Blue Nation when he took over the game in the Yum Center this season to help secure a win over the Louisville Cardinals. CBS sports reminds us of the day he had against our rivals.
The 5-foot-9 freshman scored 12 of his 14 points in the final 18 minutes while turning a one-possession game into an eight-point win. He made shots beyond the arc. He made shots inside the arc. He created opportunities for others and never got rattled despite taking a shot to the head that left him cut and unavailable for postgame interviews.
Ulis could not meet with the media.
Why?
Because he was getting three stitches above his right eye.
This season should be a fun year with Ulis running the show.
Next: Twin running the team