Matt Jones's opinion on Jasper
- Thread starter chasingwildcat
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I mean… my thoughts are the kid is making a lot of money, and grew up a UK fan… so he should do whatever is necessary for the team’s best shot at a title. He will play a lot, whether he starts or not. 20+ mpg on a loaded team is nothing to sneeze at for a freshman.
I think Jasper is great and going to surprise many. But now that matt jones is saying it I may have to rethink?
I think he will have to earn a starting spot like anyone else on the team.
Yes, he needs to earn it, he needs to prove he is better than Aberdeen/Chandler in practice
If he is good enough, he should start. If he still needs to improve a lot, he needs to be on the bench to learn
I think he can beat Chandler out. I’m not so sure he will beat Aberdeen but I can tell you it’s a great problem to have.
Wasn't Matt awe shucks with Reed and Dilly coming off the bench?
He either is better than Aberdeen or he isn’t? The best player in practice will get the spot. And if he isn’t better than a senior with national championship experience that’s okay and not a negative referendum on his game. We are going to be a defense first team next year so if he doesn’t guard there is little chance he starts over Aberdeen who has elite defensive metrics.
He’s talented, and I hope he does great, but as far as not wanting to come off the bench, he’s still probably the odd man out if we get Oweh back as most expect. Lowe and Aberdeen didn’t come here to be on the bench either, and I don’t see us playing a four guard lineup with the options we have at the 4 spot, so it’s just simple math that not everyone can start.
I would bet Matt Jones has never seen Jasper play a full game.
Kid reminds me of Dillingham in that it’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor. He’s one of those dudes everybody said we needed to get.
He can prove it in practice. He has the talent too.
I think Pope starts out starting his upperclassmen. All Juniors and Seniors.
G Lowe(6’2 JR)
G Aberdeen(6’5 SR)
G Oweh(6’5 SR)
F Dioubate(6’7 JR)
F Garrison(6’10 JR)
I think there’s a good chance Quaintance moves into the starting lineup if he gets healthy, replacing either Dioubate or Garrison.
Johnson, if he is elite, might replace Aberdeen, but I have to see that to believe it. Aberdeen starts last season on just about every team in the nation. The only reason he didn’t start for UF is that they were absolutely loaded at guard.
G Lowe(6’2 JR)
G Aberdeen(6’5 SR)
G Oweh(6’5 SR)
F Dioubate(6’7 JR)
F Garrison(6’10 JR)
I think there’s a good chance Quaintance moves into the starting lineup if he gets healthy, replacing either Dioubate or Garrison.
Johnson, if he is elite, might replace Aberdeen, but I have to see that to believe it. Aberdeen starts last season on just about every team in the nation. The only reason he didn’t start for UF is that they were absolutely loaded at guard.
If Jasper is better than Aberdeen, we will be extremely good next year
My current hope is he can be like 6th man, to maximise his offensive power, just like Pettifold in Auburn
Aberdeen didn't leave Florida to come here to not start. Johnson making that much isn't coming here to not start. And oh yeah, Williams is a 2026 first round pick potentially apparently.
Good problems to have.
Good problems to have.
Matt Jones basketball opinions carry no weight with me. I have no doubt he knows some things sometimes by virtue of his position. But there are a lot of posters on this board who know a lot more basketball than he does.
Thanks for the compliment.
It's kind of a goofy statement to say "he didn't come here to come off the bench."
Did Aberdeen come here to come off the bench?
Did Lowe come here to come off the bench?
It's like the team USA basketball team. Really good players expect to start and have to accept a bench role.
I hope Jasper the best player in college next year. I hope he dominates everyone and starts. I hope he goes #1 in the draft. But I hope the same thing for everyone else on the team. And I think our older guys are also very good.
I don't think anyone (except Acaden Lewis's dad) is sweating who starts and who comes off the bench.
I envision Jasper like a Lou Williams of Jamal Crawford off the bench.
Did Aberdeen come here to come off the bench?
Did Lowe come here to come off the bench?
It's like the team USA basketball team. Really good players expect to start and have to accept a bench role.
I hope Jasper the best player in college next year. I hope he dominates everyone and starts. I hope he goes #1 in the draft. But I hope the same thing for everyone else on the team. And I think our older guys are also very good.
I don't think anyone (except Acaden Lewis's dad) is sweating who starts and who comes off the bench.
I envision Jasper like a Lou Williams of Jamal Crawford off the bench.
I keep saying this. Jasper will play as much as his defense allows. However, he is going to have to make serious strides defensively to get on the floor. Aberdeen may not give you the offensive potential as Johnson. But, he is going to be solid on defense and good on offense.
I remember read somewhere that Pope thinks Jasper has a ton of defensive potential
Probably Pope will teach Jasper about defense in summer
We will see how it turns out
I agree. He has the potential. He just has to put in the effort and take it personal. I am pulling for him because if he beats Aberdeen out for the starting spot, that means we are likely going to have a higher ceiling.
I normally trust Matt with his UK opinions but not on this. If Jasper is starting then we aren’t as good as we hoped. He’s not an elite level recruit and it showed in the Hoops summit. He didn’t even look like he belonged on the same floor with the rest of the players.
Only way him starting should even be an option is if Oweh left.
As for the “he didn’t come here to come off the bench” thing… there’s no way in hell I’m letting a borderline 5 star dictate my starting lineup if I’m Pope. The only way I even consider that is if it’s a top 5 player/superstar talent.
Only way him starting should even be an option is if Oweh left.
As for the “he didn’t come here to come off the bench” thing… there’s no way in hell I’m letting a borderline 5 star dictate my starting lineup if I’m Pope. The only way I even consider that is if it’s a top 5 player/superstar talent.
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Disagree. JJ will get plenty of minutes but we got some dudes that will be starting. Is JJ starting over Lowe, Aberdeen, or Oweh? I didn’t think so
Disagree! Too much talented experience for him to get the nod. JJ will carve out a role but he'll need to take a backseat early. This ain't Cal's KY.
Yes. What he knows, he knows not by virtue of watching and studying (or playing) the game over a lifetime - what he knows is because of who he knows. And that’s no slight, just a distinction. Issue is for the last several years of Cal he’d been effectively excommunicated, so he didn’t really know much at all. What he’s been able to accomplish with his UK fandom he’s done by general intelligence, ambition and force of personality. All good.
Heck, he has some pretty stiff competition for 6th man. Williams and Chandler are right there as well. Our bench is just insane, especially if JQ is ready to go.
This team is a legit 3 deep at every position.
No team is ever injury proof (see 2015), but Pope has done everything he can to keep injuries from derailing this season like it did last season.
It's just a guess based on nothing other than being highly rated in HS. It's a long spring/summer, so you gotta create some content. Wouldn't put much stock in his prediction either way.
Johnson
Moreno
Jelavic
Hawthorne
I thought recruiting was suppose to take a huge hit without Cal in the driver’s seat.
Guess not.
Moreno
Jelavic
Hawthorne
I thought recruiting was suppose to take a huge hit without Cal in the driver’s seat.
Guess not.
Might as well consider Jelavic a transfer. He’s closer to that than a freshman.
There is absolutely no chance Chandler starts on next years team. He's good and I like his game but he isn't better than Aberdeen or Jasper. He just isn't.
He is a Freshman, though. Dude that played Center at Duke (Maluach) is probably about the same age. LOL!
I really don't get the big deal on who starts between Lowe, Aberdeen and Jasper because all three will get starter minutes at the 1/2 spots regardless of who starts the game. I believe these three will hog almost all of the minutes at these spots, and will all be interchangeable.
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