Anybody able to watch (or have stats maybe) and can give us some thoughts on Johnson's play? I didn't realize that game was played until it was over, and not sure I have the streaming services or whatever to have watched it anyway.
Jasper Johnson Iverson Classic?
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Acuff is the real deal. Going to be interesting to watch him at Arkansas this year. I think Acuff and Wagner could be a very good backcourt together.
Arkansas will be very good next season.
Could win the SEC, if Cal doesn’t get in their way. LOL!
Arkansas will be very good next season.
Could win the SEC, if Cal doesn’t get in their way. LOL!
I'm not sold on him. He looks like a slightly better Wagner to me, they are very similar. Neither are 1st round/High level Pros IMO.
We will see how it works out at Ark
The iverson classic is notorious for absolutely zero defense..... even more so than the other all star games. The 2 arkansas guards are going to be good, they arent Fox and Monk level good though, at least not yet.
Today I learned there was a Jermaine O'Neal Junior.
Acuff is good, but JJ was “guarding” him and Acuff’s team looked more interested in winning. 164-151 in OT, 4 - 10 minute quarters and 5 min OT. Believe it or not, there were some challenges at the rim. But all in all really bad D everywhere.
JJ can be special. He just has to get to work on D and he will be tough to keep off the floor.
JJ can be special. He just has to get to work on D and he will be tough to keep off the floor.
I’m afraid JJ is going to want to be OAD regardless of how he performs. Hope I’m wrong, because he needs at least two years, IMHO. Just based on what little I have seen/read, mind you.
I am hoping NIL money will keep him at UK next season. If he can make a few million and be 15 minutes from mom’s home cooking and be a hero in his hometown and home state. Kind of sounds like a no brainer to me unless you are a guaranteed first rounder.
I would also think it’s more fun playing at Rupp in front 20,000 than playing in the G-League in basically an empty gym.
I am hoping NIL money will keep him at UK next season. If he can make a few million and be 15 minutes from mom’s home cooking and be a hero in his hometown and home state. Kind of sounds like a no brainer to me unless you are a guaranteed first rounder.
I would also think it’s more fun playing at Rupp in front 20,000 than playing in the G-League in basically an empty gym.
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I like Pope’s roster construction a little better. I feel like having guys that can play multiple position is a bonus. Arkansas’ two best players are both best suited as PG’s and are at their best with the ball in their hands. That will take some adjustment.
Defensively. I like UK a little better. A lot of those guys are known for their defense and have done it at the highest level in college. Oweh, Aberdeen. and Dioubate are proven SEC level defenders. Same for Chandler. Williams has a lot of potential and so does Lowe. Quaintance is the key inside defensively.
Offensively, if Cal can figure out how to best play Wagner and Acuff together, they will be hard to handle. If Knox is back, that will also help.
Big questions for both teams. UK has to wait and see on Quaintance and Arkansas could get Thiero back. Both could make big impacts on their squad and make them a legit contender.
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The thing I'm saying about Coach Pope is that he has simply gone and done this :
He has amassed a talented squad with depth and experience at every position and multiple backups that can crossover positions. AND ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS BE THEMSELVES.
ie - we don't need anyone to be anything BUT be the best version of themselves. Nobody should NEED to have to do something extraordinary for the team to be great.
That said, having a breakout talented freshman phenom (like Fears or Flagg last year) can provide the extra level of confidence and talent to a team to put it into the category of GREAT.
When you look at the national championship teams of the recent past, they have been deservedly so, the best. Florida clearly had "that look" like the UConn teams of the last 2. And so on. dUKe had a great season, but ultimately fell short, though, even with a transcendent freshman phenom. And one epic choke job. But that's another story.
Those teams simply had guys that stepped up and won big games at big moments. Multiple guys. We have a team like that for next year. I'm just sayin.
tldnr :
JJ should just come in and play to the best of his abilities, and simply be himself. If he plays within himself, his game can flourish with the playmakers around him, and they have much experience for him to draw upon.........
He has amassed a talented squad with depth and experience at every position and multiple backups that can crossover positions. AND ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS BE THEMSELVES.
ie - we don't need anyone to be anything BUT be the best version of themselves. Nobody should NEED to have to do something extraordinary for the team to be great.
That said, having a breakout talented freshman phenom (like Fears or Flagg last year) can provide the extra level of confidence and talent to a team to put it into the category of GREAT.
When you look at the national championship teams of the recent past, they have been deservedly so, the best. Florida clearly had "that look" like the UConn teams of the last 2. And so on. dUKe had a great season, but ultimately fell short, though, even with a transcendent freshman phenom. And one epic choke job. But that's another story.
Those teams simply had guys that stepped up and won big games at big moments. Multiple guys. We have a team like that for next year. I'm just sayin.
tldnr :
JJ should just come in and play to the best of his abilities, and simply be himself. If he plays within himself, his game can flourish with the playmakers around him, and they have much experience for him to draw upon.........
Thiero is officialky gone.
I hadn’t heard that. That is good news for us.
They were hoping to get him back.
Agreed. Don't forget the Malek Thomas kid too. I think that's the kid's name. He's also pretty tough.
Some of you idiots are still looking at Calipari teams and thinking having talent means a F’ing thing. He’s washed up. He can’t coach in this era. His roster is lopsided.
Can not reed too much in these games
Wagner looked like "goat" in these show up games
Dilly was "way behind" Wagner before college
We have seen how it turns out...
Wagner looked like "goat" in these show up games
Dilly was "way behind" Wagner before college
We have seen how it turns out...
Acuff shot 23 times in 27 minutes in an all star game lmfao.
Scored 32 points and dished out 11 assists, with an almost 3 to 1 ratio. And his team won comfortably. Pretty nice state line.
32 points on 23 shots isn’t that great. He was very efficient though I will give him that. Overall he had a great game. My main point is that he is a PG and on a team like Arkansas that will be a problem if he takes that many shots. They already have little shooting, if he doesn’t distribute the ball it could be trouble. Then you have a ball dominate guard like DJ who also needs the ball a lot and he’s a Junior so he will get his as well.
He was 12 of 18 from 2 or 66% and 2 of 5 from 3 for 40%. What exactly do you consider great?
11 assists sure sounds like someone who distributes quite a bit.
I’m saying a PG taking that many shots in that limited time is crazy. I do consider it good and gave him credit. What are you the Acuff fan club?
Do you have to be in the fan club to provide an honest assessment of his performance?
He was dialed in and having a great game, and clearly the hot hand on his team. A player on the opposing team shot 2 less shots. I would be willing to bet if Jasper put up those numbers, you would have a different take.
Taking that many shots and making 61% overall while also dishing out the many assists (11) is also impressive.
I gave him props though, I don’t know what else I can say. The number of shots he took stood out to me in minutes played. Obviously the pace had a ton to do with it and I doubt a lick of defense was played in a 166-151 game. Probably contributed to his FG% on a ton of layups.
I don't think you have to say anything. You can have whatever opinion you want on it. I was just questioning what exactly you thought was negative about his performance which you seemed to be alluding to. Like I mentioned, I have a feeling if he was a UK recruit, we would have a 10+ page thread about how awesome it was. And rightfully so. I think Jamal Murray shot a similar number in the Hoops Summit. We all loved it so much we couldn't wait to sign him.
That’s a real good analysis. The other thing Cal still will be lacking is reliable consistent shooting. They’ll still be reliant on attacking the rim and it would be a big boost to get Knox and Thiero back for sure.
We may not be as good shooting as we were last year either but have better IMO.
And we haven’t seen what Popes offense can look like with a better defensive team that can get more possessions for it and some transition. We should be built for that.
I have full faith he will find his defense at UK. He's going to be surrounded by defensive players and will gain that mindset when he's practicing against them.
As long as UK handcuffs Acuff I don't care what he averages for the year. If we play them 1 or 4 times and he averages 0ppg, 10 TO per game and such. lol
I Just do not get wrapped up in the players on other teams except when they play us.
I Just do not get wrapped up in the players on other teams except when they play us.
He’s good, but again Cal will have a lot of talent but also 3 guys who need the ball all the time. Acuff and Wagner may have a contest every game for who shoots more. Does Cal go with Wagner who he has basically had his back since he’s been in college or his next freshman phenom? First time he’s had that in a while. I mean Boogie last year a lttile but he got hurt so Wagner took over. They were pretty bad together most of the year.
Guarantee you Arkansas still loses 10 to 12 games. How many times did we watch this story when Cal was here. Not hating on Cal, just simply stating a fact.
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