Are we overhyping Quaintance?

[kyjeff1]

Has he been overhyped ? No. Will he help the team improve over his time on the floor… definitely. Projected lottery pick.

Look at the difference adding Lowe and Mo D had and they are still shaking off rust . Now we will have 3 “new” additions getting the minutes.

You just said he's not being overhyped, then made the statement that he's a projected lottery pick.

That's what I'm getting at, everyone is focused on him being a projected lottery pick, so they think he's going to do dynamic things. You said it without saying it.

Of all the fans that should know that a "projected lottery pick" doesn’t = productivity in college, it's UK fans. We have seen "projected lottery picks" suck badly.

I hope he plays to lottery pick type numbers, but a lot of fans are expecting it and when they don't get it, this place is going to be unbearable.

 

[kyjeff1]

I think he's a huge difference maker from the get-go! One he's the only player besides Mo and Oweh that has the physical strength that won't be pushed around by SEC talented teams. The Cats won't be bullied in the paint. As we saw Mo playing like a beast made others around him like BG and JLo play like beasts. This team was playing scared until IU game and Mo put them on his back. JQ gives crazy energy, timely big dunks and put backs. He's going to block shots and alter shots when players drive in the paint. You won't have to double bigs and risk wide open jumpers from opponents, He also ensure BG and Malichi have to play harder or sit. He gives you second chance points through offensive rebounds. They will doble him and he can pass out to open perimeter looks. He fills a huge hole. I think our outside shoot improves with him due to defenses doubling him. He's a space eater and JLo will feed him near the basket like feeding a fat kid doughnuts. Game one all this? Nope, but by the time we are in the meat of SEC play, yes. I also think Pope needs to reduce his subbing and put the best five on the floor to start and make more 1-2 strategic subbing. Go Cats.

Exhibit A

 

[KyKevin]

My only worry is we don't have the great passing guard to utilize his talent.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

It's come to searching for a reason not to believe. Shame on some of you. We have a unicorn top 10 NBA pick about to take the floor. Not good enough for you?

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Every time he mixes it up in the paint, goes up for a block, or cuts, I'm going to cringe.
I can't imagine what his parents are going to be going through.

Every single time Lowe goes into a screen I cringe. He actually screens pretty well but the hit I am like ouch!

 

[TeamAmerica]

No. Just going by DA’s progress.

it takes a while to get back in game shape - real games. There is also a mental aspect. .

 

[kyjeff1]

Every single time Lowe goes into a screen I cringe. He actually screens pretty well but the hit I am like ouch!

Yeah and he dove hard after a ball the other night. I get why he did it, but in his condition, don't be a hero.

 

[travisbickle]

JQ has physical gifts and things he can do on the court that no current player on the roster can do. He will be rusty but even while he’s getting back into playing shape he will do things that we have not seen from anyone on the team this season.

Whether that coalesces with the rest of the team in time to make a deep run is a different story.

But with what he will bring as an individual defensively, I think he’s being underhyped, not overhyped.

 

[KYSouthpaw]

I still have flashbacks of watching Derrick Jasper dragging his leg up court. I was so disappointed and disgusted with everyone who allowed him to play. Please don’t let this happen again.

Billy G literally shamed Jasper into playing way too soon. His poor little quad muscle wasn't close to being strong enough to run, jump, protect his knee, or return to basketball. I don't know that any of the medical staff actually cleared him to play or if he just couldn't take anymore harassment from coach.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

He may be, but we need lottery potential play from him to salvage our season. I won't judge him too hard on his first few games back if he is rusty, though.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

JQ could make a huge difference on defensive end of floor. I have no idea if he will help us offensively. I do know that when he gets the ball around the basket opposing teams will not strip the ball out of his hands like the do Moreno about 3 or 4 times a game. That itself will be an improvement

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I feel like most of the 3's we take, are wide open, which is what makes the misses and airballs so shocking.

We have shot 50, 59, and 61% from 3 this year so the ability is there. However, those work get scrub teams. So to me it's mental versus ability. I believe there's a better chance to fix mental than there is technique. At this point of the season.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Even at less than 100% we have to be a better team with him than without.

 

[Vismund]

JQ is a projected lottery pick because of his defensive prowess. He is clearly an elite rim protector and his presence in the post alone will swallow up a lot of the straight line drives we give up. He seems to be an aggressive rebounder and an energy guy.

The first few games will be rough because he needs to get his legs under him and play confidently, but once we get him rolling it will be like what we saw with Mo D against IU x 100 because of the freak athleticism and skill JQ has.

 

[ukjeepin]

He won't be a rockstar game one, but I think he will advance quickly. I also think it will be worth watching how well he shoots free throws? He has had a lot of time to work on dribbling and shooting.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Taking bias out of the equation. Here are the players ranked right behind Quaintance in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings:

Robert Wright
Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Ian Jackson
Ryan Conwell
Bryce Hopkins

Take the vision/role/stats out of the equation. If UK was about to add any of those names right now, people would be ecstatic. The injury, shooting splits(which were both known at the time of these rankings), combined with general negativity is preventing folks from seeing JQ in the same light as the names above.

Our two top ranked transfers have played less than 100 minutes total this season…

I’m much more worried about Jaland Lowe staying healthy than I am about JQ.

 

[akaukswoosh]

 

[Possum]

it takes a while to get back in game shape - real games. There is also a mental aspect. .

Yeah that’s why. i said this

“ By the time SECT rolls around, he will he rounded into full form.”

SEC Tourney is March 11-15th 2026….3 months from now.

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

he wont give us things we dont have, (besides talent)

BUT he does what we are good at x50 (rebounding,defence,inside scoring)

A shot blocker. We do not have that now.

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

May be grasping at straws. The kid has not played in a year.

It's March already?

 

[kyjeff1]

We have shot 50, 59, and 61% from 3 this year so the ability is there. However, those work get scrub teams. So to me it's mental versus ability. I believe there's a better chance to fix mental than there is technique. At this point of the season.

Our guys are definitely pressing. They are really feeling the pressure.

 

[kyjeff1]

Taking bias out of the equation. Here are the players ranked right behind Quaintance in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings:

Robert Wright
Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Ian Jackson
Ryan Conwell
Bryce Hopkins

Take the vision/role/stats out of the equation. If UK was about to add any of those names right now, people would be ecstatic. The injury, shooting splits(which were both known at the time of these rankings), combined with general negativity is preventing folks from seeing JQ in the same light as the names above.

Our two top ranked transfers have played less than 100 minutes total this season…

I’m much more worried about Jaland Lowe staying healthy than I am about JQ.

Sure, we would all love it if any of those other players were joining the team, but the caveat you left out, was that they aren't coming back from a blown ACL. If they were, we would have the same concerns I would think.
If JQ was coming in and hadn't just lost 10 months due to his acl tear, I wouldn't have started this thread.

 

[Vek96]

If anything, we’re under hyping JQ. He will dominate the game like no one since Michael Jordan.

It’s game on dude.

 

[Anon905031]

Nah. I’ve only seen one or two doing that on here.

Seems like most are of the mindset our issue are well beyond the things that JQ’s skill set is going to fix. He’s not a shooter for one. And that’s probably issue #1. He’ll help with defense in rebounding for sure which are both pretty big problems but he’s not the type of player that takes you from “barreling towards a losing season” to “title contender” which is what the expectation is at UK.

I believe if every one plays

I wish we were good at those things. We have been getting abused because we are soft in the middle . With Q and Mo we won't be soft.

I think Kentucky will have one if not the best defence in the country when he returns hands down as long as they can play defence at the level they did against Indiana !! Mo was a beast even B.G kicked some *** that game and the smile on his face after that poster dunk brought a smile to my face because he is a big dude and i knew he had it in him

 

[bcin06]

The difference he will make is that we will have a true low post threat. Right now Malachi is that at times but that’s it. He’ll force teams to pack it in and it will open up shots for the perimeter guys. If they miss we’ll have the two best rebounders on the court to grab it in him and Mo.

it’s a big deal. One thing not getting discussed is him being able to beat the piss out of Malachi everyday in practice. That’s going to be big for his potential long term.

He may not score 20 a game but he’s going to be a walking double double and he’s going to wreak havoc like Noel and Davis did on the defensive end… well maybe not quite that level but pretty close.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

JQ is an elite athlete with a great motor. He's 6' 10.5" and weighs 255 wih a 7' 4" wingspan. He's an elite defender and shot blocker. He has been dribbling a basketball non stop since he got here. I literally saw him in a group of students in front of Memorial wearing a backpack, clearly walking away from class, dribbling basketball the entire time. By all accounts he is highly intelligent and mature for his age (he has a year of college under his belt) and is the same age as many freshman this year.

Acl surgery is a very standard procedure these days and very successful.

This guy is a man child who will have an immediate impact on this team. I've written this same thing in about 3 threads already.

When it comes to JQ, you guys need to look beyond the cloud hanging over the program right now, the seriously bad effort from this team, and the recruiting issues we are having (Mitch/JMI) and appreciate what this player will do for this team. You will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[mhs1964]

I think we’ve seen enough to realize that we will be one hard shoulder check, another high ankle sprain or twisted knee from collapse. Our sphincters will be clenched tight every game.

 

[TrueBluePhil]

I think he will add some offense also. He is so good on defense that people have a tendency to overlook his offense.

Take a look at this video of him last year at 17 years old. He will make a big impact on this team in more than one way.

 

[Agent Redbone]

I think he will add some offense also. He is so good on defense that people have a tendency to overlook his offense.

Take a look at this video of him last year at 17 years old. He will make a big impact on this team in more than one way.

Agreed, I think he has a high upside offensively as well as being a monster defender. It’s just gonna take a few games to get closer and closer to 100%. He’s fun to watch

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

Ye of little faith.

 

[One2Three]

Clearly some of us were wrong…

 

[Kingslayer07]

DELETE!!

 

[Johnnie Africa]

He’s a stud

 

[CELTICAT]

Can you overhype a BAMF?

 

[kyjeff1]

Well, the OP is an idiot.

 

[TortElvisII]

I am going with no.

 

[Blue Jesus]

For months I've been seeing comments about how JQ is going to dominate when he starts playing.
I think we should temper our expectations a little. He hasn't played in a long time, his conditioning is going to be down, he's going to be rusty and I have to believe he's going to have to get used to playing on a surgically repaired knee. That can't be easy to do.
I think he will eventually be a force, but I don't think we should expect him to come in like the ultimate warrior and save the day.
At this point, I just want him to stay healthy and eventually get to the point where he can get back to his normal.
I doubt he's going to fix what's wrong with this team, not at first anyway.

apparently not

 

[Blue Jesus]

Well, the OP is an idiot.

Takes one to know one!