There was a certain rhythm to Isaiah Briscoe’s defensive game before he came to Kentucky.
“Take a couple trips off,” Briscoe said. “Might play defense three trips in a row, then take another couple trips off.”
Defense, you see, was an opportunity for Briscoe to take a break from carrying the offensive load for his high-school and AAU teams. Times have changed with John Calipari coaching him.
“Growing up I just wasn’t forced to play defense,” Briscoe said. “But coming here, Cal, he’s holding everybody accountable for what they know how to do.”
It just so happens Briscoe is capable of more than anyone else.
Game tracker: Wright State at Kentucky, 8 p.m., Friday. TV/Radio: SEC Network, 98.1 FM WBUL.
“He thinks I can be the best defender in the country,” Briscoe said. “So he’s going to push me to be that.”
Calipari’s confidence appeared well placed on Tuesday, as Briscoe was given the task of tailing Duke’s Grayson Allen. The gifted 6-foot-5 sophomore was averaging 27 points entering the showdown between the Wildcats and Blue Devils, but Briscoe handcuffed him.
Allen didn’t score until the 12:08 mark of the first half. For the game, he turned it over four times and scored just six points on 2-of-11 shooting, well below the 10-point limit Kenny Payne set for Briscoe before the game.
“He’s been tremendous,” Calipari said. “He’s confident and he’s comfortable in his own skin, so he really doesn’t worry about anybody else. He knows what he is.”
Briscoe might know what he is, but his friends from back home in Newark, N.J., were surprised to turn on the Champions Classic and see their formerly offensively oriented friend going all out on every defensive possession.
“‘Since when?’ ” Briscoe said, recalling his postgame text messages. “That’s all they said. ‘Since when did you start playing defense?’ Ever since I got here Coach Cal has been making me.”
And perhaps even more surprisingly, Briscoe is even starting to enjoy it as UK (3-0) prepares for a Friday-night game against Wright State (1-2).
“It gets me in the game early and my adrenaline is always rushing and just knowing that I’m playing the best offensive player on the other team, no room for error,” Briscoe said.
The role of defensive stopper has been filled in previous years by the likes of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and DeAndre Liggins. Comparisons to those two are high praise, but Coach Cal says to be careful with them.
“He’s totally different than those guys, and he gives you so much offense with the ball, he’s so creative,” Calipari said.
Briscoe represents one-third of UK’s three-headed point-guard monster. He starts alongside Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray and has scored in double figures in each of his first two college games. Calipari anticipates opponents focusing more of their attention on his backcourt mates, but they will be doing so at their own peril.
“Now, there may be people that say, ‘Well, we’re not going to play him,’ ” Calipari said. “Good luck. He did average 25 a game in high school. He did shoot like 38 percent from the 3 in high school.”
To this point, the only things that have significantly slowed Briscoe were the full-leg cramps that had him receiving treatment through much of the second half against Duke. Calipari – in addition to making sure Briscoe drinks water and eats an extra banana or two – will be using that as a teaching point.
“Now, Isaiah went so hard – cramped up,” Calipari said. “So my point to him today is, you got to go harder in practice if you expect to play that hard in a game. If you don’t go harder you’re gonna cramp up every game. Your body’s got to get used to that kind of pace.”
That’s all with the goal of helping Briscoe realize his potential in mind, even if it’s potential he didn’t know he had.
“We’re just trying to define him in a way that everybody wants to watch and say, ‘Wow, I love that kid.’ ” Calipari said. “And it’s beginning to happen. The way he can defend, the way he can rebound – he’s so fast and strong physically, so good with the ball.”
Single-game tickets available for next five games
Single-game tickets for Kentucky men’s basketball’s next five homes games (Wright State through Arizona State) are available and on sale to the public.
Ticket prices vary depending on the game and all tickets are located in 200 level. Tickets can be purchased through the following options:
· Ticketmaster.com
· Calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000
· Statewide Ticketmaster outlets
· Calling (800.928.2287) or visiting the UK Ticket Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
· Calling (859.233.3535) or visiting the Rupp Arena Box Office (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Also, tickets for the eRUPPtion Zone will be available to the public UK’s game vs. Boston, which occurs Tuesday at 9 p.m. during the university’s Thanksgiving break. Tickets in the eRUPPtion Zone will be $5 each (cash only) and are limited to one per person (must be present at time of purchase).
Fans will be allowed to start lining up for eRUPPtion Zone ticket sales on Tuesday at 4 p.m. outside of the Rupp Arena Box Office. Fans in line will receive a numbered wristband and must return to line at 7 p.m., two hours prior to tip-off.
Tickets will then go on sale 90 minutes prior to tip-off at the Rupp Arena Box Office and are available on a first-come/first-serve basis.
From UK Athletics
From UK Athletics